September 2023 – Hub Site Update
The following crop observations were made on a site visit on 27th September 2023
Demo plot SRF
- Alder growth is OK – the plants have emerged from tree guards.
- The Black Locust ‘Turbo’ is doing OK and has recovered from early brown hare grazing.
- The Black Locust ‘Turbo Obelisk’ has not established well. Brown hares hit the plants hard early on before the fence was erected and only a few small plants remain. We may consider replanting this area.
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- Alder
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- Black Locust Turbo Obelisk
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- Black Locust Turbo
SRF Poplar
- The SRF Poplar is growing OK.
- There are some low-level weeds, but no need to control them until next years growing season.
SRF Poplar
SRF Eucalyptus
- The SRF Eucalyptus is growing OK.
- There are some low-level weeds, but no need to control them until next years growing season.
Eucalyptus
SRC Poplar
- The SRC Poplar plants have established well. Growth is OK and maybe better than the SRF culture.
SRC poplar
SRC Willow
- Weed control in this plot is very good in the SRC Willow plot.
- Very poor willow growth.
- There are some large gaps. Some are caused by cuttings not taking and some due to cuttings that were not planted in specific areas.
- The plot will need gapping up.
Miscanthus Giganteus
- The Miscanthus Giganteus is growing well.
- There is one gappy area which is due to a planter miss. The area is approx. 3m (the width of the planter) x 109 m long. It has been agreed that the team should visit and replant this area by hand next spring.
- The plot would have benefited from post-emergence spray.
Miscanthus Giganteus
Miscanthus Athena
- Miscanthus Athena establishment is poor, but not as bad as anticipated. A plant count will be made.
- It is unlikely that spraying and ploughing will be conducted due to wet weather.
- The plant count will dictate if this should be grubbed up or not.
Miscanthus Athena
Grasses Demo plot
- Reed Canary Grass was not planted this autumn and conditions are now unlikely to be dry enough.
- The site is weed free and sat in furrows.
Demo plots area
General
- The grass aisles have been sown and are looking good.
Grass aisles
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