Couple of arb questions

toby_crispin

Hello there, I hope someone can help me. I have a couple of questions:

1.) Concept of "mass energy ratio"

2.) Concept of "phenology"

If anyone has any spare time to help out on these questions i would be grateful.

Cheers,

Barry

Garry Brockley

What is it that you want to know.

Phenology is the study of the timing of natural events. Common examples include the date that migrating birds return, the first flower dates for plants, and the date on which a lake freezes in the autumn or opens in the spring. Phenological records help alert us about the events of nature and provide interesting comparisons between years and among different geographic regions. If recorded carefully and consistently, these records also have scientific value for understanding the interactions between organisms and their environment and for assessing the impacts of climate change.
also try Static & dynamic mass (Mass energy ratios)

__________________

Bermy

Very simply, Mass : Energy Ratio

As a tree grows and increases its mass, it needs to produce enough energy initiate the growth and then to sustain that mass, then save some for future growth.

Its like 'money in the bank'. if you want to increase your mass, (buy another house) do you have enough stored energy (money in the bank) to 'fund' the initial production (downpayment), then once you have the extra mass in the form of increased girth, more branches (extra house) do you have the potential to produce enough energy to sustain it - leaves for photosynthesis for active growth plus conversion to starch for storgage to provide energy for the next cycle. (a good job that pays you enough to pay your mortgages, bills AND put some in the bank for savings)

A young tree usually can produce sufficient energy to 'fund' initial growth, sustain it and store enough for future growth. An old declining tree loses vigour, it has reached its maximum mass, but twig extention and leaf production are no longer sufficient to sustain the large mass. That's when you see dieback, the tree is reducing its mass to the energy it now produces can sustain what's left MASS : ENERGY ratio in the natural setting.

We can drastically alter the Mass: energy ratio by incorrect pruning...you have to have an idea of what a species is able to tolerate when you make pruning decisions.

Over pruning, removing too much leaf area and branches - can overstimulate flushing and watersprouts...looks good, the tree is green again, but at what cost to the 'savings in the bank' the stored energy that was banked for next years mass increase, and the 'earning potential' of the photosynthetic surfaces? Also we remove deposits of stored energy in branch removal, so the tree has to get it from somewhere else...starts to rob Peter to pay Paul. Again a young tree or very vigourous species can adjust, others, old, slow growing, stressed, compromised trees can't and they head into decline.

__________________
Keep smiling, people will wonder what you are up to! (especially if you're gunning a chainsaw!)

Garry Brockley

very well put bermy

__________________