February 2024 – IBERS, Aberystwyth Demonstrator Hub Update
Aberystwyth Site Plan
Generally across the IBERS site things have been looking healthy whilst dormant over the winter. Conditions have been very wet except during cold snaps when it has been below freezing.
There has been some rabbit damage to certain crops and wind damage to others.
Crop Diaries
Click on the titles below to find out how each of the crops are progressing.
Alder
- The dead plants in the Alder plot at IBERS have been replanted.
- There is grass around the base of the trees which will be sprayed once conditions are appropriate.
- There is no sign of pest or disease.
Black Locust
- The SRF Black Locust ‘Turbo’ and Black Locust ‘Turbo Obelisk have not been affected by the recent strong winds.
- There has been a little rabbit damage on some edge plants.
- The grass around the base of the trees will be sprayed once conditions are appropriate.
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- SRF Black Locust ‘Turbo’
Eucalyptus
- Strong winds have blown some the Eucalyptus plants over to approx. 45˚. The trees have that been blown over have been staked with bamboo canes.
- An extended period of freezing and windy conditions has caused damage to some the tips of leaves.
- The grass around the base of the trees will be sprayed once conditions are appropriate.
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- Eucalyptus
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- Eucalyptus
Poplar
- Strong winds have blown some the SRF Poplar plants over to approx. 45˚. The trees have that been blown over have been staked with bamboo canes.
- The grass around the base of the trees will be sprayed once conditions are appropriate.
Miscanthus
- The plants in the MxG plot have senesced and are begging to drop the leaves. The plot will soon be ready for winter topping.
- Grass and broadleaf weeds are growing between the rows of the plot.
- These will need spraying prior to the Miscanthus emerging in the spring.
- The plants in the M.Athena plot have senesced but have not started to drop the leaves. The plot will soon be ready for winter topping.
- As with the Mxg plot there are grass and broadleaf weeds growing in between the rows of the plots.
- These will need spraying prior to the Miscanthus emerging in the spring.
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- Miscanthus Athena
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- Miscanthus Giganteus
- All hybrids in the variety trial have senesced.
- Some hybrids have dropped a majority of leaves whilst some of the hybrids (GNT 43 and GNT 3) have a lot of leaves remaining.
- There is no sign of disease or damage from pests.
Willow
The 0.5 ha SRC Willow shows no signs of any disease and there has been limited rabbit/hare damage. Some parts of the plot have no weeds whilst some areas have a mix of broad leaf and grass weeds.
There has been no additional rabbit damage to that described in previous reports in the SRC Willow variety plot. Some areas of the plot are very wet and currently have standing water. The plot has been harvested and guards have been cut back. Grass weed will be sprayed after the plot cut back.
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- SRC Willow variety trial
Gallery
