What Trees Need

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Healthy Trees and the Need for Energy Tree Care Advisor Core Course Training 2012


Energy Drives All Tree Functions    

Growth Tolerance Reproduction Recovery


Energy for Growth  

One Cell Becomes Two Each New Cell Enlarges


Energy for Tolerance ď Ż

Healthy Trees Tolerate Extremes Better


Energy for Reproduction

•Flowering •Fruit/Seed Production •Germination


Energy for Recovery


Energy Begins with the Sun


Light Energy is Converted to Chemical Energy


Energy Doesn’t Come in a Bag


I. Photosynthesis: The Conversion of Light Energy into Chemical Energy


Photosynthesis: Limiting Factors ď Ż

Amount of Chlorophyll A

Photo: Gary Wyatt


Chlorophyll A


Chlorophyll A


Little to No Chlorophyll A‌Little to No Energy

Photo: Dave Hanson


Little to No Chlorophyll‌Little to No Energy


Little to No Chlorophyll‌Little to No Energy


Little to No Chlorophyll‌Little to No Energy

Mid July: Japanese Beetle Damage


Little to No Chlorophyll‌Little to No Energy

Mid July: Apple Scab Defoliation


Little to No Chlorophyll‌Little to No Energy

Early July: Decline-Induced Die Back


Indicators of Chlorophyll Content    

Live Crown Ratio Characteristic Crown Density Crown Symmetry Leaf Color and Size


Live Crown Ratio: >60% (Deciduous) *c/T = LCR %

Crown Height (c) Total Height (T)


Live Crown Ratio: >75% (Evergreen) *c/T = LCR %

Crown Height (c) Total Height (T)


Characteristic Crown Density

Honeylocust vs.

Basswood


Crown Symmetry


Characteristic Leaf Color & Size


Photosynthesis: Limiting Factors ď Ż

Water


Limited Root System: Limited Water

Photo: Dave Hanson


Limited Soil Volume: Limited Water


Limited Soil Volume: Limited Water

Photo: Dave Hanson


Limited Soil Volume: Limited Water


Limited Capacity: Limited Water


Limited Capacity: Limited Water

Nicollet Island “soil�: bulk density > 1.65; O.M.% < 0.5; pH 7.8-8.6.


Photosynthesis: Limiting Factors ď Ż

Heat Extremes


Abnormal…but Functional


Abnormal and Dysfunctional


Dysfunctional Root System: Limited Water


Dysfunctional Root System: Limited Water


Dysfunctional Root System: Limited Water


Dysfunctional Root System: Limited Water


Dysfunctional Root System: Limited Water

Sugar Maple with Stem Girdling Roots


Dysfunctional Root System: Limited Water Linden with Stem Girdling Roots


Damaged Transport System: Limited Water


Damaged Transport System: Limited Water


Damaged Transport System: Limited Water


II. Storing Energy Complex Carbohydrates Stored Throughout the Tree 

  

Buds Twigs Branches Stems Roots


Compromised Energy Storage   

Reduced Root Systems Decay Over-Pruned Crowns


Reduced Root Systems


Reduced Root Systems

What’s Beneath the Surface?


What’s Beneath the Surface? 

“…root biomass differs beneath porous and impervious pavements but only in the absence of a compacted subgrade and gravel base” “…coarse root abundance, like root biomass, increased beneath porous pavement, but only in plots without a compacted subgrade and gravel base.” Morganroth, Justin. 2011. Root Growth Response of Platanus orientalis to Porous Pavements. Arboriculture and Urban Forestry, 37(2).


Compromised Energy Storage: Decay


Compromised Energy Storage: OverPruned Trees

Photo: Dave Hanson


Respiration: The Release of Energy

Errr, no, this is perspiration!


III. Respiration: The Release of Energy


Respiration 

Occurs in all Living Cells  

Growth Recovery Reproduction


Respiration Essentials    

Adequate Oxygen Adequate Water Moderate Temperatures Chemical Energy


Respiration Essentials Met?


Respiration Essentials Met?


IV. What Do Trees Need for a Healthy Energy Cycle? 

Functional:  

 

Root Systems Transport Systems Energy Storage Crown


Functional Root Systems  

Supply Water and Nutrients Anchor Trees for Stability


Functional Transport Systems


Functional Energy Storage


Functional Crown


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