There has been a dramatic increase in the outbreak of Red Band Needle Blight in Britain since the 1990’s. Red Band Needle Blight affects coniferous trees. Until recently, it was found more in the Southern hemisphere. However, with climate change causing warmer Spring temperatures and higher rainfall in Spring and Summer in Britain, Red Band Needle Blight is more widespread.
So how do you recognise Red Band Needle Blight (Fungus Dothistroma Septosporum) in coniferous trees including Corsican Pine, Lodgepole Pine and other Pines and Larches?
Firstly, this catastrophic disease causes the browning of the ends of pine needles.
It is easiest to spot in May to July when new needles are growing.
Needle defoliation usually starts in lower crown of trees.
Here’s how to recognise Red Band Needle Blight.
Do your coniferous trees look red/brown and the needles are dying off?
Are the defoliating needles leaving bare patches on the branches?
Other signs to look for;
• In late Autumn, yellow bands or tan spots start at the point of infection. These bands soon turn red/red brown.
• End of needles die back to the lowest point of infection.
• *Characteristic browning at distal ends of needles whilst the base remains green.(This is especially easy to spot on needles of 1 year or older.)
• Best time to look for signs of Red band Needle Blight is May- July with new needle flush.
• Defoliation starts in lower crown in plantations where disease is active.
• Disease commences on older needles, (though foliage of any age can be affected.)
• Lower branches can lose all their needles.
• In Autumn, once needles are shed, the tree crowns look sparse as old needles drop off.
• Isolated tufts of current year’s needles are left and remain at branch tips.
Pines are the most economically significant tree species in the world (Ian Noel, pers comm.)Red Band Needle Blight causes catastrophic lowering of forestry yields and economic loss as well as a considerable aesthetic loss to woodlands and the decline in visual and landscape amenity.
The disease has its most pronounced effect on Corsican Pine (Pinus nigra ssp Laricio) Corsican pine is the main conifer grown in Britain as it makes up 21% of Britain’s coniferous planting.
It also causes lasting damage to Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta var Latifolia.)
Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) can be susceptible when it is located close to stands of wood with a high concentration of infected trees. The worse affected trees are also the three most planted Pines species grown in Britain. So, the recognition of Red band Needle Blight is vital in its control.
Other species affected;
Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)
Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata)
Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
Austrian Pine(Pinus nigra)
Bishops Pine (Pinus muricata)
Maritime Pine (Pinus maritime)
Weymouth Pine (Pinus strobus)
Pinus Mugo ssp Uncinata (Mountain Pine) and Pinus Peuce (Macedonian Pine.)
Apart from Pines, other conifers affected are;
European Larch (Larix decidua)
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Norway Spruce (Picea Abies)
Sitka Spruce.
These are affected when located close to a highly infected crop.
The seedlings of these trees are also affected.
• This disease has a striking effect on diameter and height growth in trees as well as the loss of aesthetic value. (A mean crown infection of 70% resulted in a 68% decrease in mean annual volume.) (Brown, unpublished data.)
• Once crown infection exceeds 40%, the increment loss is more than 40% (Forestry Commission statistics.)
• Control is by thinning trees, stand manipulation, pruning and by reduction in dense understorey which cause higher humidity levels at base of crown and favour development of the pathogen (Villebonne & Maugard, 1999)
There is currently a moratorium in Forestry Commission plantations on planting of Corsican Pine.
Moreover, there is no replacement species for timber production. Strangely enough, the much maligned Leylandii could become our new timber tree!
As 10 hours or more of needle wetness is required for infection by Dothistroma Septosporum, we will need to continue to adjust our management of coniferous woodlands. Judicious management will be needed to help to slow down this disease which could also affect genetic diversity of the Pinus species.
Without intervention, aesthetic landscape value will continue to be eroded with economic losses caused by Red Band needle Blight in British Woodlands, if the current climatic trend towards warmer British Springs and wetter British summers continues.
Showing posts with label Global warming deforestation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Global warming deforestation. Show all posts
Friday, 20 November 2009
Friday, 2 October 2009
Soil carbon’s role; CO2 emission & flood alleviation.
Soil carbon’s role; CO2 emission & flood alleviation.
Peter Smith of Aberdeen University has found that we can reduce CO2 emissions by 30% if we add more carbon to the soil. What is soil carbon?
Dr Julia Cooper of UEA describes carbon sugars; readily available to plants in the soil, as well as soil fauna and flora, flesh, plant residues, fresh manure, all forms readily absorbed by growing plants. Then there is mature plant residue carbon, well composted manure and peat; this is more stable. Finally there is biochar, black carbon, eg charcoal. This can take thousands of years to be taken up by living plants. So, each type of carbon varies in its ability to be taken up, the rate at which plants can absorb it and in its stability.
Why should we care about soil carbon?
How is it important in climate change and slowing global warming?
Despite tendency of soils to reach equilibrium of carbon levels, there is still ample room for many soils to accept and store more carbon. Soils that have been well managed for years tend to have higher levels of carbon stored in them, but there is room for improvement, especially on other less well managed soils, or soils that have been regularly cropped as arable, and not put down to ley grassland or protected by management as woodland. More carbon stored means less CO2 released into the atmosphere- thus slowing global warming.
Not only will increasing the carbon stores in the soil be good in reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, it is also proven that increased organic matter in the soil replenishes the nutrient balance and restores soil structure.
Why is this improving soil structure important?
Improving carbon levels and improving the structure of the soil creates a stable equilibrium in soils, with less soil erosion, less runoff and thus less flooding – soil carbon and organic matter acts like a sponge, soaking up water and retaining the nutrients in the soil. This combats flooding, as increased organic matter types of soil carbon slows water runoff rates, increases soil ground water infiltration as well as slowing global warming.
If we add organic matter to the soil, we can greatly increase the general health of the soil, one effect is encouragement of mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi increase plants’ nutrient uptake (especially of phosphorus). This helps to protect the plant from pathogens and also encourages healthy growth, with increased yields.
So, what kinds of carbon can we add to the soil? Adding a full diversity of different kinds of carbon to the soil is important. Slowly available carbon such as mature plant residues in the form of recycled, well composted Greenwaste, plus also adding some of the more stable forms of black carbon or biochar, will improve soil structure, plus soil and plant health.
Overall ecosystem health-Adding recycled Greenwaste to soil as an improver and a mulch, minimises the amount of greenwaste going into landfill, as well as having the potential of slowing global warming by reducing CO2 emisssions by 30%. Research shows that adding soil organic matter prevents and minimises the effects of soil erosion and flooding. We have a responsibility to safeguard and improve the soils of the world for our children and their children, so that they will be in a better position to tackle effects of climate change. At Landvision, we will continue our long standing practice of use of recycled Greenwaste as a mulch and soil improver on all landscape schemes; improving soil structure and plant health whilst lessening CO2 emissions & the effects of flooding.
Peter Smith of Aberdeen University has found that we can reduce CO2 emissions by 30% if we add more carbon to the soil. What is soil carbon?
Dr Julia Cooper of UEA describes carbon sugars; readily available to plants in the soil, as well as soil fauna and flora, flesh, plant residues, fresh manure, all forms readily absorbed by growing plants. Then there is mature plant residue carbon, well composted manure and peat; this is more stable. Finally there is biochar, black carbon, eg charcoal. This can take thousands of years to be taken up by living plants. So, each type of carbon varies in its ability to be taken up, the rate at which plants can absorb it and in its stability.
Why should we care about soil carbon?
How is it important in climate change and slowing global warming?
Despite tendency of soils to reach equilibrium of carbon levels, there is still ample room for many soils to accept and store more carbon. Soils that have been well managed for years tend to have higher levels of carbon stored in them, but there is room for improvement, especially on other less well managed soils, or soils that have been regularly cropped as arable, and not put down to ley grassland or protected by management as woodland. More carbon stored means less CO2 released into the atmosphere- thus slowing global warming.
Not only will increasing the carbon stores in the soil be good in reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, it is also proven that increased organic matter in the soil replenishes the nutrient balance and restores soil structure.
Why is this improving soil structure important?
Improving carbon levels and improving the structure of the soil creates a stable equilibrium in soils, with less soil erosion, less runoff and thus less flooding – soil carbon and organic matter acts like a sponge, soaking up water and retaining the nutrients in the soil. This combats flooding, as increased organic matter types of soil carbon slows water runoff rates, increases soil ground water infiltration as well as slowing global warming.
If we add organic matter to the soil, we can greatly increase the general health of the soil, one effect is encouragement of mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi increase plants’ nutrient uptake (especially of phosphorus). This helps to protect the plant from pathogens and also encourages healthy growth, with increased yields.
So, what kinds of carbon can we add to the soil? Adding a full diversity of different kinds of carbon to the soil is important. Slowly available carbon such as mature plant residues in the form of recycled, well composted Greenwaste, plus also adding some of the more stable forms of black carbon or biochar, will improve soil structure, plus soil and plant health.
Overall ecosystem health-Adding recycled Greenwaste to soil as an improver and a mulch, minimises the amount of greenwaste going into landfill, as well as having the potential of slowing global warming by reducing CO2 emisssions by 30%. Research shows that adding soil organic matter prevents and minimises the effects of soil erosion and flooding. We have a responsibility to safeguard and improve the soils of the world for our children and their children, so that they will be in a better position to tackle effects of climate change. At Landvision, we will continue our long standing practice of use of recycled Greenwaste as a mulch and soil improver on all landscape schemes; improving soil structure and plant health whilst lessening CO2 emissions & the effects of flooding.
Monday, 21 September 2009
What sort of world do we want our children and grandchildren to live in?
As global temperature has risen 0.8 degrees since the late 19th century and we have had 10 warmest years since 1990, with 2001-2007 being 7 of the 8 warmest years on record and Carbon dioxide CO2 has increased by more than 25% since 1700 (pers comm. Peter Cox, Exeter University), now is the time to act.
If we don’t, then we may not be in a position to act in 10-15 years time - when we really need to. This is because Climate has memory and it is on a track to increase temperatures between 2 and 6 degrees by 2050. So, it will be approximately 10-15 years before our current actions are felt- this therefore means that we need to start acting to determine climate in 15 years time.
What we need to do
1)Active management and reforesting – will tie up CO2, as only actively growing trees take in CO2. When they stop growing, they stop taking in CO2 We should therefore increase our managed woodland cover as much as possible.
2) Stop deforesting- Global warming is accelerated by destruction of tropical rainforests- which is happening at an alarming rate- More than ½ the world’s biodiversity is stored in these rainforests and when they are cut down all those plant, animals and insects are lost forever. These are a vital biodiversity resource for future generations and research and should not be destroyed. Also, the total removal of tropical rainforest is increasing the release of CO2 into the atmosphere and speeding up global warming- so this really needs to stop now.
Avoiding deforestation could save 20% of CO2 emissions and protect ½ the world plant and animal species. Reforestation also has a slowing down effect on global warming.
Whatever we start doing now will directly affect the kind of world our children live in; plus, their ability to have an effect on the sort of world that they live in.
If we don’t, then we may not be in a position to act in 10-15 years time - when we really need to. This is because Climate has memory and it is on a track to increase temperatures between 2 and 6 degrees by 2050. So, it will be approximately 10-15 years before our current actions are felt- this therefore means that we need to start acting to determine climate in 15 years time.
What we need to do
1)Active management and reforesting – will tie up CO2, as only actively growing trees take in CO2. When they stop growing, they stop taking in CO2 We should therefore increase our managed woodland cover as much as possible.
2) Stop deforesting- Global warming is accelerated by destruction of tropical rainforests- which is happening at an alarming rate- More than ½ the world’s biodiversity is stored in these rainforests and when they are cut down all those plant, animals and insects are lost forever. These are a vital biodiversity resource for future generations and research and should not be destroyed. Also, the total removal of tropical rainforest is increasing the release of CO2 into the atmosphere and speeding up global warming- so this really needs to stop now.
Avoiding deforestation could save 20% of CO2 emissions and protect ½ the world plant and animal species. Reforestation also has a slowing down effect on global warming.
Whatever we start doing now will directly affect the kind of world our children live in; plus, their ability to have an effect on the sort of world that they live in.
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