Boswell
Matsutake Solar Studies Southwest Oregon
Observations, statistics, and publications strongly
indicated the quantity of sunlight, (canopy closure)
reaching the forest floor influences fruiting. 70%
closure considered to be ideal. Further observation
indicated a shirro receiving more direct sun, during
formation period, fruited more often.
"Can direct sun, during
formation, influence fruiting reliability?"
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Traditional method to measure
canopy closure has been a densiometer. (Left) Canopy
reflects on concave, polished metal surface. However, for
the purposes of this study, an instrument with the
ability to measure hours of direct sun, for any day, in a
specific shirro, was needed. |
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A solar pathfinder was
chosen as the instrument to quantify direct sun for each
hour of each day, Oct. 1 - Nov. 15. Horizontal arced grid
indicates month, vertical, hour. Built in compass and
level are used to orient.
Goals of the study were to
collect solar exposure data for individual shirro and
compare with fruit reliability, not number produced, but how often. |
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In 1997 13 reliable shirro were chosen to examine for
solar exposure. Aspect, elevation number produced were
also noted. |
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Resulting evaluation found no correlation between direct
sun and reliability, or number produced. Statistics did
indicate sunnier aspects slightly more reliable. South
aspect producing 91.62% of 3 years and East 83.25%, 1995
-1997. Reliability 5 years, 1994 -1998, much lower. South
aspects 58% and east 50%. |
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15 additional shirro, east
aspect, were examined (left), and treated by removing
small portions of canopy for a "window of sun"
during formation, (right). |
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Five years of monitoring have indicated no significant
increase in reliability or number produced. Monitoring
continues. |
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