Dry borax applicator operator's manual.

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1999

OSTI ID:819829

Annosum root rot affects conifers throughout the Northern Hemisphere, infecting their roots and eventually killing the trees. The fungus Heterobasidion annosum causes annosum root rot. The fungus colonizes readily on freshly cut stumps. Partially cut stands have a high risk of infestation because the fungus can colonize on each of the stumps and potentially infect the neighboring trees. Wind and rain carry the annosum spores. Spores that land on freshly cut stumps grow down the stump's root system where they can infect living trees through root grafts or root contacts. Once annosum becomes established, it can remain active for many years in the Southern United States and for several decades in the north. About 7% of the trees that become infected die. When thinning, stumps can be treated successfully using a competing fungus, Phlebia gigantea, and with ''Tim-Bor'' in liquid formulations. These liquid products are no longer approved in the United States. Only the dry powder form is registered and approved by the EPA. Stumps can be treated with a dry formula of borax, (Sporax), significantly reducing one of the primary routes by which Heterobasidion annosum infects a stand of trees. Sporax is used by the USDA Forest Service to control annosum root rot. Sporax is now applied by hand, but once the felled trees are skidded it becomes very hard to locate the stumps. A stump applicator will reduce error, labor costs, and hazards to workers.

• Research Organization: USDA Forest Service, Savannah River, New Ellenton, SC
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
• DOE Contract Number: AI09-00SR22188
• OSTI ID: 819829
• Report Number(s): na; 99-38-R
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
BORAX
CONIFERS
FORESTS
Heterobasidium annosum
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
RAIN
SPORES
Sporax
TREES
US EPA
application equipment
borax
feller bunchers
forest health
forestry machinery.
root rot