ICFR CENTRAL REGIONAL INTEREST GROUP FIELD DAY PROGRAMME

Transcription

1 ICFR CENTRAL REGIONAL INTEREST GROUP FIELD DAY Date: Wednesday 5 th March 2008 Venue: Goede Trouw and the Mondi BP Nursery, Piet Retief Time: 08h30 for 09h00 PROGRAMME 08h30 09h00 09h05 09h20 Meet for at Goede Trouw (Philip & Michelle Day s farm) for tea and coffee In-field Presentations Welcome to the field day Introduction to Goede Trouw, the economics of growing wattle and the Mimosa Central Co-operative (MCC) Travel to the field stop Regional Interest Group rep Philip Day TWK MCC 09h30 Black Wattle Production Seed Orchard Update Sascha Beck-Pay ICFR 10h05 Sirex in South Africa the status of the threat and its control Philip Croft ICFR 10h35 Pitch canker in mature pine stands and new threats from abroad Jolanda Roux FABI 11h05 Travel to the Mondi Nursery, Piet Retief (Cooldrinks on arrival) 11h35 Indoor Presentations Value of ICFR research to the Forestry Industry, highlighting future trends Colin Dyer 12h05 Nutrient supply and demand in hardwood crops Steven Dovey ICFR 12h35 Breeding of improved Eucalyptus nitens Tammy Swain ICFR 13h05 Lunch kindly sponsored by TWK, NCT and CTC Directions to Goede Trouw (Philip & Michelle Day s farm): Take the Wakkerstroom road out of Piet Retief, past the turn off to the Mondi and TWK nurseries. Travel for approx 15km along this road, and then at the sign to Philip and Michelle Day s farm, Goede Trouw, turn right. (ICFR signboard will be up) Travel along the tar road until you reach the farm, (FM radio tower landmark). ICFR The next ICFR Regional Interest Group Field Day will be held at Seven Oaks, Umvoti,, KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday 18 th March. For more information contact Keith Little (keith.little@icfr.ukzn.ac.za) ICFR Central Region Field Day ICFR 2008 Page 1

2 An introduction to the Goede Trouw & Kroonplaas onplaas farms Philip Day Introduction Goede Trouw and Kroonplaas farms are close to 2000 ha and are farmed by the partnership, K.B.Day & Sons. 700 ha is under timber and the rest is utilised for cropping (maize and soya) and beef, in equal proportions. We have an abattoir on the farm and we mill maize meal. The timber component is split roughly as follows: 100 ha wattle 300 ha eucalypts 300 ha pine The wattle and eucalypts are grown on a 10-year rotation, predominantly for pulp, and the wattle bark for the tannin industry. The pine is grown on a 25-year rotation for sawtimber. Wattle has been and still is the most profitable of the three species per hectare. Although pine has long been the Cinderella of the three species, it has, in the last three years, come into its own. At present, pine sawtimber gives wattle a good run for its money. As a comparison, Philip will present the costs and income from the three species. Figures are derived from submissions to the Forest Economics Services (FES) who analyse the data and provide a comparison with other panel members and regional groups. Philip has used last financial year s figures, escalated costs by 10%, and used present timber prices. R/ton Wattle Pine Eucalypts Timber Price Growing Harvesting Transport Overheads Total Cost Nett Profit R/ha Profit potential If MAI sold These figures clearly show the difference in profitability between the three species.

3 The Mimosa Central Co-operative operative (MCC) Philip Day The Mimosa Central Co-operative (MCC) is the wattle bark industry in South Africa. The members consist of NTE Ltd and the Union Co-op Ltd, who own the processing factories. The Union Co-op factory is situated in Dalton and NTE has a factory in Hermansburg and one in Iswepe. Growers are shareholders in these manufactoring facilities and therefore share in the profits in the end product via dividends. Bark production used to be the driving force in the wattle industry in South Africa in the past, but today, the timber has assumed that role, as it is a sought after species in the Japanese pulp and paper markets. In recent years, the surge in the international vegetable tannin market and the growth in the South African share market, has resulted in bark being a very attractive product for wattle growers. As we talk today, the manufacturers are running at full steam and need all bark in the country to be supplied in order to meet the export orders. The traditional and more important products from wattle bark extract are for the vegetable tan market. South Africa nevertheless developed an alternative product called Bondite, so as not to be so dependant on the world vegetable tan market, which up until a few years ago was a declining market. Bondite is used predominantly as a resin for the chipboard and plywood board industry. More than 95% of the wattle extract is exported to countries all over the world. Some of the more important markets are India, Italy, China and Australia, the latter being for the Bondite market. MCC is responsible for the development of new products and the marketing of our products all over the world. Being an export market, the returns are very dependent on international exchange rates. It takes roughly 5 tons of timber to produce 1 ton of bark and at R600 per ton for the bark, this makes an important contribution to the bottom line of wattle production. MCC makes a significant contribution to research via the ICFR to ensure that we maintain our position as world leaders in growing wattle.

4 Black Wattle Production Seed Orchard update Sascha Beck-Pay Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, P O Box Scottsville, 3209 Summary Currently all improved black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) seed is produced by seed orchards situated at Bloemendal. This seed is superior to that used in commercial line sowing operations, providing growers with potentially higher timber and bark yields. As these orchards are very old and their continued seed production cannot be guaranteed, new production seed orchards (PSOs) have been established on a number of other sites, and are currently, or will become productive within the next year or two. Establishing PSOs outside of Bloemendal also safeguards against the possible total destruction of the seed-supplying capabilities of this programme. With PSOs on sites other than Bloemendal, it has become necessary to develop a set of guidelines to help landowners with establishment, management and seed collection from these orchards. A detailed orchard management plan has been developed, outlining these issues and addressing the cost of seed orchard management, specifically with respect to reimbursement of landowners for having the orchard on their land. In this way the supply of improved black wattle seed to the South African wattle growers will be sustained into the future. In brief, the costs of establishment, weeding, thinning, general site maintenance as well as sweeping operations, will be borne by the landowner. All costs incurred for the above mentioned operations should be recorded, as this will provide an accurate estimate of the cost to the landowners per kilogram of seed. At present this amounts to R220/kg seed, which does not include seed cleaning or treating costs (which will be done at Bloemendal). To cover the costs of the orchard management as well as seed cleaning and treating, a selling price of R350/kg has been set. Should any of the variables, such as seed yield, change dramatically, the Acacia Research Steering Committee will make recommendations to the Industry to re-evaluate the price. As of February 2006, the ICFR has taken over from the Mimosa Central Co-operative (MCC) in selling all black wattle seed (commercial and select/improved). All money collected by the ICFR from seed sales will be accounted for by orchard (with a specific code), and these proceeds will be used to reimburse landowners for the orchard contributions. Any surplus will be channelled back into the ICFR to be used solely for black wattle tree breeding research. The ICFR will keep a record of when orchards are swept, how much seed was swept per orchard, where the seed comes from and germination percentages. Seed will then be sold per orchard with all this data. All the families in these PSOs are improved families which have undergone progeny testing. There are 12 PSOs which will be supplying the Industry with improved seed. Eight of these twelve PSOs were established in the late 1990s and have started to come on line as of Six of the eight new PSOs are situated outside of Bloemendal. Each orchard will be swept every three to four years and approximately two orchards will be swept per year. Prior to a sweeping operation, a seed count will be conducted by the ICFR, and provided there is approximately 50 kg seed per hectare, the orchard will be swept. It is critical to ensure that maximum seed is swept and properly sieved, and that the operation runs smoothly. In addition, the following must be adhered to: Prior to sweeping operation (May/June), the forester in charge prepares the site as outlined in the document; Staff sweeping the orchards have the correct equipment (provided by the ICFR); Staff sweeping the orchards are trained for a day by Bloemendal staff OR sweeping will be contracted out to the Bloemendal staff;

5 The sweeping operation is closely monitored to ensure that only seed within the orchard boundaries is swept; Seed is clearly labelled and sent to Bloemendal for cleaning and treating; and All costs incurred for the management and sweeping of the orchard are recorded. In 2005, two new orchards were swept, one was situated at Bloemendal and the other at Hlambeet (MondiBP). As this was the first year that an orchard outside of Bloemendal was swept, this operation was closely monitored to ensure that all obstacles were overcome and future sweeping operations and reimbursement to landowners, run smoothly. The value of these orchards to the wattle growing industry cannot be over- emphasised. It is therefore vital that they are very carefully managed. They should be treated as special plantations, with the wellbeing of the orchards residing with the particular landowner or forester responsible for the orchard.

6 Sirex in South Africa the status of the threat and its control Philip Croft Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, P O Box Scottsville, 3209 This presentation serves to raise awareness around Sirex and discuss the latest operational activities within the South African Sirex Control Programme (SASCP). Issues covered in the presentation include: Introduction to the Sirex The Insect - Identification Tree mortality Where is Sirex now? Bio Control developments in South Africa Inoculation results 2006 / 7 Sirex Trap results Trap Tree Trial 2008 Program Identifying Sirex Damage to pine compartments results in financial loss and fibre or timber loss to the Industry. How do we know if the damage is caused by Sirex, i.e. how do we know if a trees is Sirex-infected? The first symptom to look for is a brown crown during February to June. Secondly, look for resin droplets on the tree where the wasp laid her eggs. These droplets are distinct and visible, especially in pulpwood stands where they appear lower down the stem of the tree. Thirdly, look for wasp abdomen parts still attached to the tree where the female wasp laid her last egg before dying. The head and wings fall off leaving the ovipositor and abdomen stuck onto the tree. Lastly, cut into the tree to see if there are any larvae and tunnels. From July onwards, a yellow fungus is visible in the cross section of the tree usually with a tunnel through the centre of the fungal infection. Movement of Sirex The Sirex wood wasp has moved north and is now beyond Vryheid, and near Nongoma. It has also been identified at Kwambonambi. Biocontrol and Monitoring As a result of the biocontrol programme inoculating with nematodes, there has been an improvement in the parasitism rate from around 5.5% in 2006 to 20% in inoculated logs and 10% natural spread of the nematodes in Traps to assess the presence or absence of Sirex were spread around the country from Pietermaritzburg to Sabie and Swaziland. The Pietermaritzburg traps were set up to determine the effectiveness of the imported lure that was used. Sirex wasps were caught in these traps and at Vryheid, Nongoma and Kwambonambi. A trap tree trial is currently in progress and the first assessments will be made in March This trial is designed to find a replacement herbicide for Dicamba which is not FSC approved in forestry conditions in South Africa. Dicamba is used in Australia to stress pine trees which attract the Sirex female. The wasp then lays her eggs in the trap tree, which is then inoculated with nematodes. The focus in 2008 will be on inoculations to boost background parasitism levels and introduce nematodes into newly infested areas. The traps will again be set to determine the spread of Sirex during the 2008 flight season, and new trap trees will be created. Monitoring must continue annually to determine the spread of Sirex as well as the population density which can only be seen in the number of trees that die due to Sirex attack. Should there be any queries please contact Philip Croft at Philip.croft@icfr.ukzn.ac.za, cell: , or at the ICFR

7 A B C D E A. B. C. D. E. A panel trap housing the kairomone lure to attract female Sirex wasps. Ibalia wasp released onto a pine tree. Insectory built at Tokai to capture Ibalia wasps from Sirex-infested logs. Ibalia wasps mating. Releasing Ibalia wasps in KwaZulu-Natal.

8 Pitch canker disease of pines in South Africa Jolanda Roux, Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria In 2007, the first report of pitch canker on mature Pinus radiata in Tokai plantation in the Western Cape was published. The affected trees were between five and nine years of age and symptoms included resinous cankers on the main stems and branches, flagging of branches and shoot tip dieback. On later field trips to the Eastern Cape, 12 to 15-year-old P. radiata trees in the George area were noticed showing similar symptoms to those observed in Tokai. Similarly, P. greggii (Southern provenance) in the Ugie area also showed typical symptoms of pitch canker. Isolations from these trees, examination of cultures for morphological features and DNA sequence comparisons confirmed the presence of the pitch canker fungus, Fusarium circinatum, on mature trees in these areas. The origin of the F. circinatum inoculum for the new outbreaks is not known, but insect transmission is suspected because the deodar weevil, Pissodes nemorensis was found at all sites. Research is currently underway to trace the source of these field infections. The majority of the affected compartments were those that had not undergone the prescribed thinning, indicating that the trees were affected by stress. However, detailed surveys and mapping of outbreaks are required to make useful conclusions regarding these worrying field outbreaks of pitch canker. Foresters are urged to monitor trees for symptoms of pitch canker and to report observations to the TPCP immediately. The occurrence of F. circinatum on mature pine trees is of great concern. Not only does it threaten the productivity of plantations, but it also has implications for seed production in seed orchards. It is well known that the pitch canker pathogen is seed-borne and up until now, South African pine seed that has been screened has been free of F. circinatum. This is presumably because stem and cone infections are needed to result in seed being contaminated With the first outbreaks of full-blown pitch canker in South Africa it has become more crucial for all forestry companies to prioritise the screening and selection of trees that are tolerant/resistant to infection by this pathogen. This will be the only sure means to avoid dramatic losses in the longer term. WE URGE ALL FORESTERS AND FARMERS TO PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU SEE ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS OF PITCH CANKER.

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10 Value of ICFR research to the Forestry Industry highlighting future trends Colin Dyer Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, PO Box , Scottsville 3209 Summary The South African Forest Industry is faced with an ever-changing environment in which it operates. These pressures include political, social and environmental factors and these are like to increase into the future. From a forest research perspective we are only able to influence a few of these factors directly. What are these and how can we influence them? The need to improve productivity in the broad context of climate change and biological risks is probably the single biggest challenge facing the Industry in the future. Although we have already embarked on the route of intensive forest management, this is very likely set to intensify further. The role of research and particularly the application of research is one of the key tools that forest owners can use to continue to grow forest products in a sustainable and responsible way. Another aspect is that around Government s broad Land Reform policies. There is no doubt that the ownership of plantations will change significantly in the near future. The challenge to the Industry is to retain and grow access to a sustainable wood supply. To do this there is a need to create mechanisms to support new entrants in the tree growing business, particularly the technical aspects. To remain relevant to a changing forest industry the ICFR must align itself to the future needs of the Industry. In a broad sense, our research effort must be focused at: Knowledge generation level. Directed research at the systems level is critical to managing plantations effectively and efficiently. Productivity improvement level. The potential productivity for each broad site type should be achieved. Risk abatement level. Broad risk (pests and diseases, climate change, fire) needs to be managed within a silvicultural systems context. Innovation level (achieving value). The real value of research can only be achieved through implementation of research findings.

11 Nutrient supply and demand in hardwood crops Steven Dovey Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, PO Box , Scottsville 3209 Biogeochemical Nutrient Cycling Study As a forestry industry, we are reliant on sustainable timber production to ensure that present and future market demands are met. To do this we need to increase on or at least maintain current productivity, with decreasing management and resource inputs. Forest managers and owners, in partnership with researchers, depend on reliable research data when choosing between various site management operations. This partnership has formed through managers becoming aware of possible negative impacts that new silvicultural operations may have on future productivity. To assess management impacts on productivity ty we need to know: What resources are required, in what quantity and at what times to meet growth demands for best productivity; We need to understand site supply potential and tree demand over time with the impacts of management; We need to relate resource supply, demand and management interactions to tree growth and future productivity; Then, through reviewing all the operations and processes, find opportunities for improvement. Nutrient resources and tree growth We all know that leaves grow trees, resources grow leaves and that management practices manipulate resources. The site dependant resources are energy in the form of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), carbon, hydrogen oxygen, (air and water) plant nutrients; nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, and a number of micronutrients. A plantation forest derives nutrients from the earth (soil), the air, decomposing plant material, possibly groundwater and fertiliser. A nutrient accretion approach has been adopted to determine the quantity, rate and timing of nutrient uptake into planted tree crops. The first nutrient accretion study has been completed for the Karkloof trial site and will be implemented on a number of other sites into the future. The data from the Karkloof study indicates that the period prior to and just after canopy closure is a period of great nutrient demand. Biogeochemical nutrient cycling Nutrients move between and within the soil - plant atmosphere continuum. We manipulate nutrients and the cycling processes intentionally through, and as a consequence of, plantation management and tree growth. These manipulations can temporally or permanently affect the availability or accessibility of nutrient required for plant uptake. Plant uptake is responsible for the largest quantity of nutrients extracted from the various site sources. These nutrients are stored, recycled and locked up in the trees and litter (and roots). We know that considerable quantities of nutrients are lost during harvesting. Further losses also occur as a result of residue management, nutrients leaching out of the soil, de-nitrification and volatilisation processes, soil erosion and fire. The important thing to remember is that what we do now has an impact on current and future productivity!

12 The Dukuduku biogeochemical nutrient cycling study This project will attempt to quantify changes in nitrogen fluxes on a sensitive site after felling, through the inter-rotation period, planting (and beyond). The aim is to determine the extent to which the nutrient flux processes can be influenced by management practices on a sensitive site. The ultimately intention is for the complexity of the nutrient cycling and management interactions to be placed into a simple system of soil, plant and litter indicators for our a site classification system. This will be used to inform managers of the consequences of various management choices on current and future productivity. Dukuduku This is considered a high risk site because it has potential for rapid nitrogen loss and small soil and litter nitrogen reserves as a consequence of: Low clay and soil organic matter High rainfall and high temperatures Rapid growth and litter decomposition This site has the added benefit of security and excellent technical support. Experimental approach The study will attempt to exert a nutrient pressure on the system during stage of greatest loss, the inter-rotation period, then again by using residue burning as a tool. A number of key nutrient cycling processes will be monitored throughout. Some research outcomes will be: Nutrient flux monitoring and modelling data Water volume flow and ecosystem solute chemistry data Data describing nutrients in each system component Data describing biomass, litter fall, decomposition and nitrogen-mineralisation processes Data describing changes in soil and litter chemistry Possible implications of this research The data will be used to: Assess the impact of management operations on nutrient supply and demand Develop nutrient cycling models to describe the system, potentially to extrapolate to other sites by gathering additional basic data for those sites. Generate indicators or warning signals of excessive nutrient loss and possible productivity decline Understand the timing of nutrient requirements for optimal productivity Know when to manipulate nutrient availability (fertiliser/management)

13 Breeding of improved Eucalyptus nitens Tammy Swain Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, PO Box , Scottsville 3209 Summary Introduction Eucalyptus nitens remains the most important commercial cold tolerant eucalypt species currently grown in the summer rainfall regions of South Africa. Of the provenances grown in this country, significant variation exists for snow, frost and cold tolerance, as well as flowering, seed production and pulping properties, making this species ideally suited to improvement. These characteristics can be utilised, together with breeding for growth, to supply the requirements of the diverse forestry sites in South Africa, as well as the range of end products required by the Forestry Industry. A partial E. nitens 2 nd generation trial series (A) was established by the ICFR at the beginning of 1999 at two sites; In de Diepte (Sabie, Mpumalanga) and Mt Gilboa (Howick, KwaZulu-Natal) (Table 1). This trial series comprised only those families which had flowered and produced seed at time of establishment, thus including 90 seedlots collected from ICFR 1 st generation BSOs at Jessievale, Jaglust and Helvetia, plus 10 controls. Since then, seed has been collected from the majority of the remaining selected families, and established in a further series of progeny trials (B) at the beginning of Comprehensive measurements were done in the progeny trials (A) at 87 months after establishment, and these results have: 1. Provided an indication of how progeny of certain families and individuals were performing in the 2 nd generation. This, in turn, assisted with selection of families and individuals to be included in progeny trials (B). 2. Allowed for calculation of actual versus predicted gain in the 2 nd generation. A series of genetic gain trials were established at the beginning of 2001 to quantify the gains made by the ICFR s E. nitens breeding programme. These trials were planted on three sites; Sarsden (KwaZulu- Natal Midlands), Lion s Glen (Amsterdam, Mpumalanga) and Lothair (Mpumalanga). Diameter at breast height (dbh) and height measurements were done in these trials 51 months after establishment, and volumes calculated. Table 1. Site and trial design details of 2 nd generation E. nitens trials and genetic gain trials. Locality In de Diepte, Sabie Mt. Gilboa, Howick Trial type 2 nd generation progeny trial & BSO 2 nd generation progeny trial Planting Latitude Longitude Altitude MAP MAT Soil depth date (S) (E) (m) (mm) ( o C) (mm) 02/2/99 25 o 02'15" 30 o 41'39" /1/99 29 o 15'24" 30 o 17'38" >900 Design 10x10 lattice, 4 reps, 6 trees/plot 10x10 lattice, 4 reps, 6 trees/plot Results The results of the two progeny trials showed: In terms of improvement, results suggest an increase in dbh in the top 15 families over the commercial controls of 20 to 31% at In de Diepte, and of over 40% at Mt Gilboa, o This is supported by comparison of the improved ICFR bulks with the industry commercial bulks (Table 2), 2 where marked improvements were noted. All of the local and international E. nitens controls performed below both the trial average and the majority of progeny at both sites. Both of the improved South African seed orchard bulks performed above average at both sites and better than any of the local and international

14 controls, with no significant differences existing between the two bulks, Family differences were significant at Mt Gilboa, but not at In de Diepte, Approximately 50% of the top families were common to both sites, Stocking/survival of the progeny was far better than that of the controls, and Overall growth was better at Mt Gilboa than In de Diepte. Included in the progeny trials were progeny of the same 1 st generation family, but originating from different South African Breeding Seed Orchards i.e. Jessievale and Jaglust. Results showed that not only was there no significant differences (α>0.001) between seed orchard of origin, nor were there any significant differences (α>0.001) attributed to the 1 st generation mother families at either site for dbh. However, at the In de Diepte site, where heights were measured, there were significant differences (α<0.001) in volume due to 1 st generation mother families. The significant provenance effects that were present in the 1 st generation E. nitens trials appears to have been markedly diluted in the 2 nd generation, as summarised in Figure 1. 1 This was expected, due to outcrossing between provenances in the South African 1 st generation Breeding Seed Orchards. Apart from the Nelshoogte provenance from South Africa being significantly better (α>0.001) than the Glenbog provenance from Australia for dbh, there were no significant differences between the Australian provenances. Table 2. Dbh gains of 2 nd generation E. nitens over 1 st generation material at 2 sites at 87 months. In de Diepte, Sabie Mt Gilboa, Howick Gain comparison Increase in dbh (cm) % increase in dbh Increase in dbh (cm) % increase in dbh Jaglust bulk over Select A Jaglust bulk over industry commercial Jaglust bulk over 1 st generation bulk Jessievale bulk over Select A Jessievale bulk over industry commercial Jessievale bulk over 1 st generation bulk * indicates treatments are significantly different from each other. (α < 0.001) 120 * Dbh (cm)/ Height (m)/ Vol (m 3 ha -1 ) * * * IDD dbh IDD Ht IDD Vol 0 Nelshoogte B Tops Bendoc Barren Mtn WoodBush Badja Ebor Talla Glenbog Nelshoogte B Tops Bendoc Barren Mtn WoodBush Badja Ebor Talla Glenbog In de Diepte Provenance Mt Gilboa Figure 1. Effect of Australian provenance origin in 2 nd generation E. nitens progeny trials

15 Take home points Gains of 14 to 45% for dbh were realised in the 2 nd generation E. nitens trials. Significant gains can be expected by using an improved E. nitens bulk over local commercial material - at present, the bulks comprise seed from the top 70% of families, and indications are that future commercial bulks made up of the top 20% of families, for example, would have even greater gains over the base population material. Neither Australian provenance origin nor South African seed orchard of origin appear to be playing a role in the 2 nd generation