Hub Site Update – SRUC Edinburgh – October 2023

October 2023 – Hub Site Update

The SRUC Edinburgh site was very wet, windy, and cold in October. There was a mild start to the month but it turned cold after storm Babet. The storm itself caused some damage as highlighted below.

All plots have been strimmed and tidied. Glyphosate has been applied to the Miscanthus Athena 2024 plot and to paths/corridors.

Observations from the different plant plots

SRF Alder

• Rust – Most of the alder trees have rust 3-5 on the scale.
• Leaves under the tree guards are struggling.

SRF Black Locust ‘Turbo’ and Black Locust ‘Turbo Obelisk’

• No signs of disease.
• Some insect nibbles but not extensive.

SRF Poplar

• Storm Babet: Some casualties from the wind. We have uprighted the wind-blown trees – hopefully, they’ll survive. Some have broken low down on the stem.
• No sign of rust.

SRF Eucalyptus

• Storm Babet: Some branches/tips have been blown off by the wind.

SRC Poplar

• No signs of disease.
• Some rows are still quite small.
• Some deer damage (but we don’t think it is new damage).

SRC Willow

• The SRC Willow is growing very well and is now very tall.
• Inter-row weeding was completed on 25th October 2023.
• We haven’t seen any rust – actual rust observations will be performed soon.

Miscanthus

• The Miscanthus Giganteus  is growing well. Couch grass patches have been hand-r0gued.
• Glyphosate was applied to the Miscanthus Athena plot on 17th October.
• The Miscanthus Variety Trials are growing well (some are taller/denser than others). Glyphosate was applied on 17^th October.

Grasses Demo plot

• The large Sida rhizomes are growing well.
• The small Sida rhizomes are not growing. Only 3 plants have emerged so far.
• Inter-row strumming of the grasses plot was carried out on 25th October.
• Reed Canary Grass seed has been received but not sown yet.

SRC Willow Variety Trial

• Some varieties are still small.
• No signs of rust yet.
• Inter-row weeding was completed on 25th October.

General Observations

• The main weeds are OSR/charlock in the willow plots

Read more about the Biomass Connect SRUC Edinburgh Hub Site