Soil compaction, remediation and mulching, the rhizosphere

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

So, seemed worthy of a thread this one, a subject lots of us are talking about, derailing about and generaly pretty keen to promote, discuss and develope.

 

There can be no doubt that enhancing/remediating the Rhizosphere can and does have profound effects on tree vitality and resillience to stresses, be they biotic or abiotic factors.

 

So hopefully we can all share eachothers little snippets of wisdom, links to valuable resources etc and maybe come to some sort of model format for work within the rhizosphere.

 

Compaction is of course the obvious and major factor effecting our urban trees, and also those vets within the heritage sites of the U.k which draw millions annualy BECAUSE of these green monuments.

 

But compaction isnt just a concern for trees, it is a concern of particular interest to flood managment in biult up areas, it is no coincidence that the most popular, highly valued and populated areas are the flood plains on the inside bends of the major rivers of our blue planet, so lets not lose sight of the wider implications as we discuss compaction.

 

Nor should we lose sight of the importance of carbon sequestration within soils! up to an estimated 80% of global carbon is held within soils!

 

So whos first?

Edited June 24, 2010 by Tony Croft aka hamadryad

[David Humphries]

It's a facinating subject for sure, but the thing that puzzles me is the lack of visual evidence currently available/accessable.

 

As this is probably what will attract/sell it to the mainstream arbs, I would of thought

 

Do people work these trees, then not bother to follow up over the proceeding years.

Are we all so impatient for the buck, that we don't look to return & monitor the work ?

 

 

You can talk science till the cows come home to fertilize your trees (sic)

But what I'd be really interested in, is hearing from people who have worked on Tree soil and gone back and seen/recorded the impact of their work over time.

 

Probably should go and trawl some american sites (Ribeiro etc...) for some anecdote & visuals

 

 

 

.

[nepia]

It's a facinating subject for sure, but the thing that puzzles me is the lack of visual evidence currently available/accessable.

 

 

The first I ever saw anything visual on the subject was an episode of 'Kew' where they ripped up a roadway, decompacted, then relaid a porous surface with non-compaction material below. The effect on the (200+-year old) tree was staggering. What was it - an acacia of some kind? Fascinating stuff I thought.

[David Humphries]

It's a facinating subject for sure, but the thing that puzzles me is the lack of visual evidence currently available/accessable.

 

 

The first I ever saw anything visual on the subject was an episode of 'Kew' where they ripped up a roadway, decompacted, then relaid a porous surface with non-compaction material below. The effect on the (200+-year old) tree was staggering. What was it - an acacia of some kind? Fascinating stuff I thought.

 

 

Ginko

 

 

 

.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

It's a facinating subject for sure, but the thing that puzzles me is the lack of visual evidence currently available/accessable.

 

As this is probably what will attract/sell it to the mainstream arbs, I would of thought

 

Do people work these trees, then not bother to follow up over the proceeding years.

Are we all so impatient for the buck, that we don't look to return & monitor the work ?

 

 

You can talk science till the cows come home to fertilize your trees (sic)

But what I'd be really interested in, is hearing from people who have worked on Tree soil and gone back and seen/recorded the impact of their work over time.

 

Probably should go and trawl some american sites (Ribeiro etc...) for some anecdote & visuals

.

 

Well I have tried in the past to elude to these guys, Ribeiro, Klinger etc and wonder if i can get some permission to reproduce some of the TEP talks here? will try because we are all wanting the same thing, to push the limit of what we know. These guys have done exactly what you ask David, worked and monitored, with some repeated and remarkable results.

 

I am sold on the whole subject, the profound effects of Rhizosphere manipulation or bio manipulation i have seen for myself on enough occasions to have no doubts about it.

 

However, like you say, it is communicating this to the "others" that we need to do, and i want to consolidate my own theories and locate sources to back up my own views and confirm my suspicions. This is one area we need to consolidate, incorporate and promote as widley and universaly as we do pruning regimes.

[chris cnc]

who are the "others" ?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

who are the "others" ?

 

The others Chris, being the everyday Arbs that seem happy to spend thousands on art products, winches or power barrows but arent spending a penny in the direction of what is going to make the most profound difference to tree health and longevity in the built environments or agricutural systems or the great parks.

 

If a tree is in good health, if it has all the resources it needs, has a well structured soil rooting environment and a bio diverse soil flora it will be more robust, ride through drought better, adapt to mechanical defects efficiently and fend off pathogenic agents and pests.

 

And some may say I am preaching to the converted, but am I?

 

Ive been trying to source work in this area for some time now, and havent so much as ONE lead, Why?

[chris cnc]

The others Chris, being the everyday Arbs that seem happy to spend thousands on art products, winches or power barrows but arent spending a penny in the direction of what is going to make the most profound difference to tree health and longevity in the built environments or agricutural systems or the great parks.

 

If a tree is in good health, if it has all the resources it needs, has a well structured soil rooting environment and a bio diverse soil flora it will be more robust, ride through drought better, adapt to mechanical defects efficiently and fend off pathogenic agents and pests.

 

And some may say I am preaching to the converted, but am I?

 

Ive been trying to source work in this area for some time now, and havent so much as ONE lead, Why?

 

sorry i wasn't being cheeky there but reading it back it might sound like im trying to get at you.

 

i think for many arborists, especially those on the tools, prolonging the longevity of the tree without remedial surgery is a bit of a conflict of interests?

 

i remember a thread about the future of arb, or something along those lines, refering to eco arb etc, where a couple of people were posting things like "there'l be nothing left for us to do!"

 

that might explain some on the lack of interest?

 

Not saying i agree with em! to me it sounds fascinating and i look forward to watching where this goes

 

chris :thumbup1:

[BatiArb]

i think for many arborists, especially those on the tools, prolonging the longevity of the tree without remedial surgery is a bit of a conflict of interests?

 

that might explain some on the lack of interest?

 

Not saying i agree with em! to me it sounds fascinating and i look forward to watching where this goes

 

chris :thumbup1:

 

 

 

This IS the future of arboriculture, and were we get the opportunity to practice true tree care.......

 

A tree condition assessment looks at these symptoms and should recommend remedial action that helps the tree. However, tree work above ground just treats the symptoms and does not deal with the real issues which are more often than not below ground.

 

This is when the arborists needs to get the AIR-SPADE out and dig down to find out what is going on.

 

Just take the dead wood out of a tree without finding out what is causing it and there will be more dead wood next year and the year after. Yes, this is more work for the 'tree surgeon' but is it tree care?

 

Is it why the client is calling in a specialist for advice?

 

Answers on a post care please........

[Amelanchier]

Just wondering but perhaps there is a cost resistance from the residential client? We undertake a considerable amount of root investgation and decompaction work through commercial developers but very little in the residential sector.

 

I suspect there are financial incentives during development that aren't realised by / sold to residential customers.