Shade Tree Laboratories

Amherst, MA 01003

RESEARCH PROGRESS REPORT-1992

TITLE: EFFECTS OF THE BIOSTIMULENT ROOTS AND THE WETT1NG

AGENT NO-BURN ON ROOT DEVELOPMENT IN BARE-ROOT

TRANSPLANTS OF SUGAR MAPLE, Acer saccharum.

 

Principal Investigator: Terry A. Tattar, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003

 

Introduction:

There has been increased interest in the nursery, landscape - and aboriculture professions in compounds that may enhance root development in recent transplants of ornamental trees and shrubs. Biostimulents have been used by some tree care professionals clinically to attempt to increase the amount of root growth after transplanting.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the biostimulent ROOTS, alone and in combination with the organic wetting agent NO-BURN, on the development of roots in recently tranpianted sugar maple trees.

Methodology:

The experiments were conducted at the University of Massachusetts Research Nursery in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. The trees used in this study were 12 sugar maples of 2 to 2 1/2 inch caliper. All the trees were dug on 6/22/92. Most of the soil was shaken by hand from their roots. The roots were then pruned and the trees were immediately replanted as bare root stock at the same site.

The following treatments were applied to trees: ROOTS, ROOTS and NO-BURN, or water control. Each of the three treatments was replicated 4 times. Treatment dates were 6/22, 7/20, and 9/21/92. ROOTS was applied at a rate of 2 oz. per inch trunk diameter. NO- BURN was applied at a rate of 1 oz. per inch trunk diameter. Both products were were diluted in tap water at a 1:100 rate. Control trees received the water treatment atone. All treatments were applied topically on the soil over the root systems.

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