Back
 AS  Vol.9 No.3 , March 2018
Identifying Sustainable Practices for Tapping and Sap Collection from Birch Trees: Optimum Timing of Tapping Initiation and the Volume of Nonconductive Wood Associated with Taphole Wounds
Abby K. van den Berg1, Mark L. Isselhardt2, Timothy D. Perkins1
Show more
Abstract: Experiments were conducted to determine two pieces of information essential to identify practices necessary to ensure tapping trees for birch sap collection is both sustainable and profitable—the selection of the time to initiate tapping birch trees to obtain maximum yields, and the volume of nonconductive wood (NCW) associated with taphole wounds in birch trees. The yields obtained from various timing treatments varied between sapflow seasons, but indicate that using test tapholes to choose the appropriate time to initiate tapping is likely to result in optimum yields from birch trees. The volume of NCW associated with taphole wounds in birch trees was highly variable and generally quite large, averaging 220 times the volume of the taphole drilled, and requiring relatively high radial growth rates to maintain NCW at sustainable levels over the long-term. However, more conservative tapping practices, including reduced taphole depth and increased dropline length, as well as thinning and other stand management practices, can be used to reduce the minimum growth rates required. Producers can use this information to ensure that they use tapping practices that will result in sustainable outcomes and obtain the maximum possible sap yields from their trees.
Keywords: Birch Sap, Birch Syrup, Maple Syrup, Tapping, Compartmentalization
Cite this paper: van den Berg, A. , Isselhardt, M. and Perkins, T. (2018) Identifying Sustainable Practices for Tapping and Sap Collection from Birch Trees: Optimum Timing of Tapping Initiation and the Volume of Nonconductive Wood Associated with Taphole Wounds. Agricultural Sciences, 9, 237-246. doi: 10.4236/as.2018.93018.
References

[1]   Farrell, M. (2013) The Sugarmaker’s Companion. Chelsea Green, White River Junction, USA.

[2]   Svanberg, I., Soukand, R., Luczaj, L., Kalle, R., Zyryanova, O., Denes, A., Papp, N., Nedelcheva, A., Seskauskaite, D., Kolodziejska-Degorska, I. and Kolosova, V. (2012) Uses of Tree Saps in Northern and Eastern Parts of Europe. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae, 81, 343-357.
https://doi.org/10.5586/asbp.2012.036

[3]   van den Berg, A.K., Perkins, T.D., Isselhardt, M.L. and Wilmot, T.R. (2016) Growth Rates of Sugar Maple Trees Tapped for Maple Syrup Production Using High-Yield Sap Collection Practices. Forest Science, 62, 107-114.
https://doi.org/10.5849/forsci.15-019

[4]   van den Berg, A.K. and Perkins, T.D. (2014) A Model of the Tapping Zone. Maple Syrup Digest, 26, 18-27.

[5]   Chapeskie, D., Wilmot, T.R., Chabot, B. and Perkins, T.D. (2006) Maple Sap Production—Tapping, Collection, and Storage. In: Heiligmann, R.B., Koelling, M.R. and Perkins, T.D., Eds., North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 81-116.

[6]   Marov, G.J. and Dowling, J.F. (1990) Sugar in Beverages. In: Pennington, N.L. and Baker, C.W., Eds., Sugar, a User’s Guide to Sucrose, The Sugar Association, Inc., New York, 198-211.

[7]   Rasband, W.S., (1997-2016) ImageJ. U. S. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/

[8]   Houston, D.R. (1971) Discoloration and Decay in Red Maple and Yellow Birch: Reduction through Wound Treatment. Forest Science, 17, 402-406.

[9]   Shigo, A.L. and Sharon, E.M. (1968) Discoloration and Decay in Hardwoods Following Inoculation with Hymenomycetes. Phytopathology, 58, 1493-1498.

[10]   Bauch, J., Shigo, A.L. and Starck, M. (1980) Wound Effects in the Xylem of Acer and Betula Species. Holzforschung, 24, 153-160.
https://doi.org/10.1515/hfsg.1980.34.5.153

 
 
Top