The center square meter will be monitored for percent cover of grass seedlings in year 1 (it is extremely difficult to distinguish perennial grass species in the seedling stages), and non-seeded species (i.e., annual grasses and forbs). Cover of grasses by species will be monitored in year 2. The largest dimension axis of transplants will be measured in both the first and second years as a measure of vigor.

Because the hair mats release nitrogen slowly, composite soil samples will be collected from each plot outside of the center square meter, and tested for inorganic ammonium and nitrate immediately after the first wetting rains of the second growing season. Inorganic nitrogen is very low during the peak growing season in spring and early summer because of rapid plant uptake, and slow decomposition over the summer leads to accumulated N followed by a pulse of nitrogen mobilization when soils are rewetted in the fall. Available N at the beginning of the second growing season is a robust measure of treatment effects.

Statistical analysis

The design is well-suited for analysis of variance (ANOVA) with appropriately transformed response variables, or a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) with an appropriate function. If transformation is not effective, then a non-parametric analysis will be done. A key aspect to analyzing and interpreting restoration experiments is that the effects should be large and obvious and insensitive to the nuances of statistical analysis. If there is a gradient across the plots, then inclusion of X and Y coordinates as covariables will account for it.

October 2021 Comparing straw mulch with hair and control plots.  All had the same sun, rain, seeds, time..

March 2024 Before and After – 2.5 years into the study!  Wild Barley native remediating grasses thrive with the hair mulch!

March 2024 View opposite direction

June 2023 dried by the spring summer heatwave – still lots of green in the plots almost 2 years into the study

All plots had the same seeds, water and time.  Hair is clearly an advantage to the soil.

The Presidio is very happy with these results on this hard soil that used to be a military scrap area full of heavy metals and toxic chemicals where nothing grew.

It is no accident that shearing season is also when seeds and pollinators are all active.  From humans to pets to rodents to molting birds… we all shed in Spring!  Herds cross the plains stomping with their hooves, leaving dollops in the ground to collect rain and build groundwater reserves, they leave behind manure and urine as fertilizer and fiber.  Wool, pelts, fur, feathers…  all fall to the ground providing a slow nitrogen release, hydrophobic and shade inducing substrate for protecting seeds. Also a natural pest repellant.  Bugs that like plants don’t like crawling on fur and birds don’t like picking through fur to eat seeds.  This gives these plants an extra chance to sprout and grow.  Mother Nature is so wonderful and symbiotic, we keep finding new ways in which her cycles are interconnected! – Lisa Gautier – President,  Matter of Trust

In December 2023… NEW PLOTS

With the Presidio Trust we began researching comparison plots of Hair Mulch, Chemical Fertilizer, Compost and Control plots.  Again, everyone was stunned by the soil reaction to the hair mulch!  We laid it all out in December of 2023 and San Francisco had terribly windy rainy storms in January and February.  Surprisingly, all of the hair mulch was still there throughout.  The wind and rain felted it naturally and the microbes in the soil with the fungi / mycelium coating grabbed onto the substrate of the fibers and held tight!  This was loose hair from salons and fur from pet groomers that we, at Matter of Trust, had gone through to make sure all was 100% debris free.  There were no synthetic extensions, no pins, garbage, food, aluminum foils, cigarettes etc. etc.  Then it went onto the ground in handfuls – pure haircuts and groomer clippings.  Excellent news for everyone everywhere that this is possible and works so well!