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CHEMJET®
- Why Trunk
Injection |
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Plant protective fungicides, insecticides
and nutrients applications has become an indispensable component of quality
assurance in arboriculture, in which the control of insect pest, fungal and
canker infections. CHEMJET® , micro-injection targets the problem directly
within the tree itself. Control sanctions on chemicals, application methods of
plant protection will become more severe in years to come. It is this new
awareness for the environment, that will demand and dictate, the use of better
chemicals and application methods in the treatment for trees.
Texas A & M protocol for flare root
injection is to remove 3-4 inches of soil around the root flares in-order to
perform the injection, upon completion replace the soil and debris back around
the root flares. This introduces pathogenic infections into the dill sites which
all too often resulting in canker infections that delays wound closure.
Supposedly, the injection in the root flares, provided bi-directional movement,
root pressure was also a consideration to assist faster uptake and faster wound
closure. All these conclusions are wrong; root pressure has no effect on uptake,
photosynthesis pulls the water up to produce food in the leaves. Movement
downward occurs only when the water column in the tree is broken by air that is
allowed into the tree during drilling. Movement downward is not extensive and
should not be counted on to provide significant control below the injection
site.
Furthermore, when the injection sites
are covered over with dirt and debris, we are not aware of the extent of all the
damage inflicted both the internal and external. We do not visualize, the insect
invasion, bark separation, wound closure failure, weeping caused by wet-wood,
canker growth or soil borne pathogens. Injuries in the root flare below soil
level tend to be slow to recover because of all the above factors, and the
greatest drawback is the tree’s lack of ability to stimulate only limited wound
closure.
The root or trunk flare is the
critical transition area from the roots to the trunk, supplying water and
nutrients to the canopy for food production. This critical zone is the life line
of the tree. Excessive and repetitive damage can and will cause eventual death.
This has been well documented in Tree and Turf articles regarding the damage
caused by lawn, landscape equipment and weed eaters, which is one of the leading
causes for tree death. Repetitive injection with the numerous 5/16"drill
portals causes similar results as previous mentioned regarding insect and
disease invasion.
The injection application on a 12 inch
diameter tree around the root flares, would require upto approximately 20 drill
portals of 5/16” diameter. With trunk stem injection, it would require only 12
injector syringes spaced 3" apart around the trunk stem, the drill size is
11/64". Which is half the size and almost half the number of drill portals.
I was fortunate to discuss this
dilemma with two Plant Pathologist from Australia, one in Italy, and one in
Germany and none had too many favorable comments about below soil injection.
They explain the logic and reality of trunk stem injection, in simple terms of
getting the job out of the dirt, away from soil borne pathogens, insect
invasion, canker infections, reducing the drill size and number of drill portals
and much faster wound closure. Equally important was the uptake from trunk stem
injection, it achieved greater efficiency and distribution throughout the tree's
canopy, as it is beginning of the constricted bottleneck of the upper trunk
stem. In Oak trees the water movement is at the rate of 92 feet per hour and
therefore, providing a thorough and a very rapid chemical distribution, with
minimum overall damage to the tree. The one most important factor is that wound
closure is much faster and more efficient up the trunk stem extending from above
the trunk base to upper branches as it is associated with stem growth and the
annual increase stem diameter.
Meristem cells (similar to
stem cells in humans) display an important role in regeneration and wound
closure ... and the tissue layer known as cambium.....
The Chemjet Injector
Syringe, (Australian made) one of the best micro injection systems that is now
available on the market. Chemjet® has more that twenty five years of field
application and is used worldwide. The injector can be filled to 5,10, 15,and 20
mils providing a more accurate prescription application. It is a re-usable,
spring loaded syringe which is very practical, and unlike the pre-filled
injection capsules, are one time use disposable products. The Chemjet® can be
re-used 1000 times with proper care and handling.
The Chemjets, delivers
the same prescribed volume of the fungicide ( Propiconazole 14.3 % MEC ) at the
preventive rate of 10 mils per diameter inch, in a 50% concentrated solution
measured at 20 mils per injector and placed 3" apart around the tree above the
trunk flare. Unlike the macro injection system, with a very high volume water at
the rate of 10 mils of fungicide diluted per liter of water. Often times, the
tree will not absorb the full prescribed amount of fungicide / water solution,
leaving as much as a 1/3 or more of the product in the tank. The Chemjet
procedure with the higher concentration is much like a booster shot of an
antibiotic, only with far more effective results, as the application uses the
water within the tree for dilution and transport to the leaves and distribution
throughout the entire tree. The damage factor with the Chemjets, are far less
invasive and the wound closure, due to the small shallow holes 11/64" will close
within a few short weeks. The macro drill size 5/16"takes a longer time for
closure partly due to the dirt at the drill sites. Excessive damage to the trunk
flares, limits the water and nutrient movement to and from the roots and can rob
the tree from vigor, good health or cause eventual death.
The most rapid
movement of water is up through the trunk stem from the roots to the canopy.
Concluding, the trunk stem is the most effective location for injection sites,
maximizing uptake and distribution, and at the same time minimizing wound
effects, pathogenic infection and all the while protecting the ENVIRONMENT.
After more than a year, I am satisfied
with the performance of the Chemjet Tree Injectors. They provide very efficient
delivery, minimal wounding, protective of the environment and very labor saving.
The chemjet® is reusable, and is used worldwide for more than 25 years on annual
injections and the trees continue to prosper showing vigor and good health. |
