March 2024 – IBERS, Aberystwyth Demonstrator Hub Update
Aberystwyth Site Plan
The buds are beginning to break across the IBERS site in Wales and Spring is just around the corner. It’s been a long, wet winter but things should change soon.
Crop Diaries
Click on the titles below to find out how each of the crops are progressing.
Alder
- The SRF alder buds are beginning to break, and leaves are emerging.
- 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.
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- SRF Alder at IBERS Demonstration Hub, March 2024
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- SRF Alder at IBERS Demonstration Hub, March 2024
Black Locust
- The grass around the base of the SRF black locust ‘Turbo trees will be sprayed once conditions are appropriate. There is no sign of pest or disease.
The SRF Black Locust ‘Turbo Obelisk’ have been removed. There is standing water on the plot. The grass will be sprayed once conditions are appropriate.
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- Black Locust ‘Turbo’
Eucalyptus
- Wind continues to cause some damage to leaves.
- Some plants have been rocked by the wind causing a wide hole around the base of the trunk. This has filled with water.
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- Eucalyptus
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- Eucalyptus
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Poplar
- The grass around the base of the SRF poplar trees will be sprayed once conditions are appropriate.
The SRC poplar plots shows no sign of disease and there is no additional damage from rabbits noted in previous reports. The grass around the base of the trees will be sprayed once conditions are appropriate.
Miscanthus
- Both 0.5ha Miscanthus plots have been sprayed glyphosate and topped.
- Weeds and grasses have been killed by glyphosate and new buds are emerging.
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- Miscanthus giganteus
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- Miscanthus giganteus
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- 2023 Miscanthus Variety Trial
- 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
- Leaves are emerging from all plants in the 0.5 ha SRC willow plot. There is no sign of disease and there is no additional damage from rabbits noted in previous reports.
- The SRC willow variety plot remains very wet with standing water in places. Buds are beginning to emerge from the cut stems.
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- SRC Willow
Gallery
