August 2023 – Hub Site Updates
- Access to the site has been fine since the ground dried out in May.
- A self-propelled trimmer has been used. Good at avoiding the crop plants but cuts quite high.
- The Herbidome 350 has also been used. Generally good but among the Robinia pseudoacacia varieties (which are quite close together)
- Mowing has been performed around all of the plots but as yet no sowing has taken place. So, the herbage is under control. The farm team has been asked to help with preparing and sowing the SFI mix over a substantial area in the middle of the site.
- The deer-proof fence has been inspected and is intact. We are not spraying along it as we want the grass to grow into the rabbit net. This incorporates the net into the root zone and makes it harder for animals to burrow under it.
Black Locust ‘Turbo Obelisk’ rows mowed and sprayed.
Crop reports
SRF Demo Block (Alder and the Black Locust ‘Turbo’ and ‘Turbo Obelisk’)
- Gylphosate was applied with Herbidome on 16th August.
- Some losses of ‘Turbo Obelisk’ (numbers not yet clear – two confirmed so far).
- Weeds: predominantly PRG with some mixed perennial weeds.
SRF Poplar
- Gylphosate was applied with Herbidome on 16th August.
- One tree had its top broken off in the wind. Otherwise very good.
- Weeds: Thin covering of PRG and mixed perennial weeds.
SRF Eucalyptus
- Gylphosate was applied with Herbidome on 16th August.
- There have been some losses of trees that never got going after late planting in dry ground.
- Approx 50% of Eucalyptus of all species starting to grow strongly away – the other 50% are still in the bottom half of their tree guard
- Weeds: predominantly PRG with some perennial weeds mixed in.
SRC Poplar
- Gylphosate was applied with Herbidome on 16th August.
- Weeds: PRG and mixed perennial weeds.
- NB. Herbicide was applied alongside rows ,not between plants as too close together.
Miscanthus giganteus
- Post-emergence spray was applied on 18th August.
- Uniform emergence and growth. Approx 50 – 60%.
Miscanthus ‘Athena’
- Post-emergence spray was applied on 18th August.
- Small amount of grazing damage – seems to be from birds.
SRC Willow commercial trial
- We have started to remove Fat Hen (Chenopodium spp.) by hand before it sets seed and causes a bigger problem. Otherwise weeds are not bad here.
- Plants in good overall health.
- Some stems now over 6ft tall.
- Some gaps due to gaps in planting.
Sida
- The bigger rhizomes have all emerged and are growing away strongly.
- The smaller rhizomes have not emerged yet.
- Weeds are germinating across the plot. Mostly creeping buttercup. To be sprayed next week if smaller rhizomes are still dormant.
Perennial Grasses Plot
- 30% covering of creeping buttercup.
- Plan to spray off with backpack sprayer and glyphosate in September before sowing Reed Canary Grass seed which is all we have here so far.
SRC Willow variety trial
- Some varieties (approx. 15%) have not established. They were planted into hard, dry ground and never set roots. Most likely cause hot dry ground
- Those that have established are on average around 75 cm tall.
- Generally, weed-free. Some hand weeding has been necessary to remove Redshank.
2023 Miscanthus variety trial
- Varied but generally poor emergence.
- Masses of varied weeds, with creeping buttercup dominating.
- Post-emergence spray applied on 18th August:
- Plug plants established quite well in contrast to Rhizomes. They were all planted before the ground dried out – planting and planters themselves churned the ground up into a mud bath, destroying soil structure.
Miscanthus Variety Trial.
