Trees, Roots, Fungi, Soil (Part 2)
Towards a model of good soil practice for arboriculture
Venue: Linnean Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BF
Date: 30th June 2009
There is much to be gained from an effective dialogue between ecology and arboriculture if we are to reach a meaningful understanding of health and pathogenicity in relation to soil and roots.
Understanding the soil rooting environment should be the first port of call for all practitioners involved in tree care. Arboriculture to date has been poorly served by 'science' with regard to the soil. While there is common use of expensive trunk decay investigation devices, there is no available conventional toolkit for looking at the soil as a matter of routine
Without a clear understanding of functioning soil ecology, there is no ecological basis for restoration, where tree stress implies problems with the soil. One consequence of this is a focus on pests and diseases, inputs and outputs and agrichemical solutions. This seminar explored these themes and the prospects for a meaningful dialogue between adherents to the inputs-outputs and eco-system models.
Speakers
Professor David Cutler, President of the Linnean Society
Welcome and Introduction
Dr Alan Rayner
The Dynamic Relationship of Trees and Fungi: Symbiosis and pathology
Dr Ken Thompson, University of Sheffield
If Trees Could Speak, What Would They Be Trying to Tell Us? An ecologist wonders why trees fail
Dr Vinodh Krishnamurthy, Laverstoke Park
An Organic Diagnostic Model: Testing soils, understanding functioning, managing deficiencies
Dr Lee Klinger, Independent Scientist and Consultant, California
Forest Vegetation and Soil Succession: The natural process of change
Dr Olaf Ribeiro, Ribeiro Tree Evaluations Inc, Seattle
Notes from a Soil Laboratory: Soil analysis first, treatment of trees second (pathogenicity and remediation)
Professor Clive Edwards, Ohio State University
Understanding Earthworms: Indicators of soil quality and productivity and their use in bioremediation
Dr Declan Barraclough, Environment Agency
G. K. Chesterton and the Soil Problem: Is there a relation between soil properties and tree health?
