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Photos and illustrations
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Copyright Chemjet Trading Pty,Ltd, Australia |
The Chemjet®
syringe versus Macro Injection
The CHEMJET®
A simple, hand-held, plastic liquid injector for trees bears a likeness
to an overgrown syringe and works on much the same principle. The system
is a cost efficient method for injecting insecticides, fungicides,
fertilizers, and trace elements into any limb or trunk of 2 in. diameter
or greater. After an injector has been filled by submerging its tip in
solution and pulling up on the spring-loaded
"T"
handle which is then 1/4 twist locked, it is ready
to be tightly inserted into a pre-drilled hole and unlocked. The
internal spring then applies steady pressure delivering the injector's
contents, usually in 3 to 5 hours depending on weather and sap
viscosity. Once empty, The CHEMJET®
injectors with their bright red handles
are easily seen, quickly retrieved, cleaned, and ready for use again.
The CHEMJET® Micro-injection technique
requires a good understanding of how a tree system absorbs nutrients,
fungicides and insecticides, compartmentalizes wounds, and recovers from
the small injury created during the process. To follow the basic
guidelines of micro-injection, the arborist / technician must know proper
placement, size, and depth of the injection hole, and the acceptable
conditions under which proper injections should take place. When these
chemicals are injected into the sap stream of the tree, the material moves
quickly throughout the entire vascular system. The individual components
go directly to where they are needed for optimum benefit to the tree.
The CHEMJET® Micro-injection is a type of trunk
injection in which small amounts chemicals, are introduced into shallow
trunk wounds around the base of a tree. Within a few hours after
injection, the chemicals are distributed systemically to branches, leaves
and roots by sap movement within the tree. It has been suggested that
because the xylem of the tree accepts the liquids based on its porosity,
the term infusion is more appropriate than
injection when describing the movement of systemic liquids into
trees.
The Chemjet®
Tree injector saves labor, time and money... For a 24" diameter tree it
takes less than 10 minutes to drill and place and unlock the 24 injectors
around the trunk stem 4-6 inches above the soil line.
The Macro Method
take about 1 1/4 hours
to expose the root flares,4-6 inches below the soil level and another 1/2
hour to drill 72 holes and connect up the harness and get the whole
apparatus working.
The Chemjet®
Tree Injectors with the higher concentration 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% water/chemical solution measured at
20 mils per injector. Each
injector is placed every 3" apart around the trunk stem 4-6 inches above the
trunk flare. The entire job is out of the dirt.
The Macro Method
requires 24 Liters of water, 240 mils of propiconazole,
(This is a very low concentration ratio) 2
or 3 pump-up garden sprayers with pressure regulators and gages, on - off
valves, and 72 inter-connected injection tees with PVC tubing, which is
about 75 feet long. That is a lot equipment, a lot of drilling and
tapping in the tees, and all the while, the job is in the dirt, and
......work, work, work, etc, etc, etc.........
The Chemjet®
Injectgion procedure, with the higher
concentration is much like a booster shot of an antibiotic only with far
more effective results using the tree's natural transport system and using
the sap within the tree for dilution and distribution throughout the entire
tree to the areas where they are most
effective.
The Chemjet®
drill size:
11/64"
= O
which is half the diameter size of
Macro drill size:
5/16" =
O
Note: The volume comparison, the 11/64” drill portal
is 75% less than the 5/16" drill portal.
The
Damage Factor : For
treating a 24 inch diameter tree.
The Chemjet®. with the 11/64" dirll
it only requires just 24 small drill portals, if placed end to end would cut
a gash only 4 inches long 3/4" -1" deep and 11/64 " wide and have a
75% less, the total volume.
The Macro Method
with the 5/16" drill employs
a minimum of 72 drill portals, if placed end to end, that would cut a gash
only 24 inches long 3/4" -1" deep and 5/16" wide and have a total
volume of more than 75%.
The Chemjet®
provides with a minimum of amount of collateral damage which is far less
invasive and the wound closure, due to the small shallow holes will close
within a few short weeks. The tree can focus less energy to recover from the
fewer and much smaller drill portals.
The Macro Method T he
dirt and debris is replaced over the root flares, filling many drill portals
creating vectors for soil borne pathogenic infection, tissue degradation and
canker infection. Wound closure is slower in the root flare area due to lack
of chemical ability. Excessive damage to this most critical transition area
of the trunk flares, limits the sap and nutrient movement to and from the
roots and can cause serious loss of vigor or eventual death.
The Chemjet®
Requires placement of one injector per diameter inch, that relates to one
injector placed every 3" apart around the circumference of the tree. e.g. :
24 inch diameter tree equals 24 drill portals using a11/64' drill bit.
The Macro Method,
requires three drill portals for each diameter inch placed around the root
flares area and that adds up to 72 large holesat 5/16" dia and that is
twice the diameter of the The Chemjet® system and each hole is 75% greater
in volume. For retreatment 2 years later that doubles the amount of damage.
The Chemjet®
technique is focused on
new developing systemic formulations of insecticides, fungicides and mineral
nutrients that are very effective in low volumes, maximizing uptake and
distribution and at the same time minimizing wound effects. Inadequate
distribution will leave the trees poorly protected.
The Chemjet®
is very effective in the
treatment of Oak Wilt and other tree deficiencies.
The Macro Method:
Is limited only for the treatment of Oak Wilt and the Dutch Elm Disease.
The Chemjet ®
All in All........ Your tree wins ! !
Which is better ?…. This"
O
"
or this
"O"
See... no contest ..!! “ The
Chemjet®
The Macro Method: Has been
around for more that 50 years and has evolved from the more outrageous, 55
gal. barrels, 5 gal plastic jugs and anything that might fit the bill and
even douche bags, tied up in the tree on a gravity flow system. It was
inherited from the Eastern United States, which was marketed
by Elm Research Institute, Harrisville, N.H. to treat trees for Dutch
Elm Disease. The macro method slowly evolved to the more modest use of the
garden pump up sprayer. Researched…. NO it has strictly evolved from trial
and error and passed down from the 50's and 60's era to the present day.
That is all the facts behind what ever you call the in-depth research about
the Macro Method with the philosophy that more damage is better.
Texas A. & M. did not research this idea, it was a hand me down from
centuries past. It is toted and demonstrated as an original idea and method
to treat Oak Wilt and is now the only method that Texas A. & M. and the
Texas Forest Service endorse as their HALLMARK treatment method. As
this method was used through all their research on to acertain the best
solution to fight oak wilt. This application no doubt will be here for
another 50 years unless they change.
The CHEMJET®, Injector Syringe,
(Australian made) one of the best micro injection systems that is now
available on the market. 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 CHEMJET®,
has 30
years in the field application, world wide from Australia, Micro Asia, India
to South Africa, every country throughout Europe, in the tree and wine
industries in California, for Sudden Oak Death, the avocado and wine
industries. It is opening doors in Texas and is becoming a fine tool for the
home / land owners to treat our majestic oaks trees for the devistationg
disease of oak wilt.
I have used the
CHEMJET®,
for more than two years. I have
sold over 2000 and like all my customers are more than satisfied with their
effective injection techniques which maximize uptake and distribution and
minimize any effects of invasive wounding by more that 85%, and labor by 80%
. The CHEMJET®,
is a simple tool and method that can be put in the hands of the land / home
owner that many would not consider to treat their trees and many trees, that
otherwise would have slipped through the cracks and scum to oak wilt because
people don't feel comfortable with the
Macro Method. It
all comes down to Time, Labor,
Ecomomics, Reduced Damage and the Enviironment
The Chemjet Advantage
Simply The
Best - Treatment of Choice for Professional Arborist.
No Complicated Cumbersome Equipment or Expensive Devices. No
Tissue Damage From High Pressure Injections
Safest Device Available
Low Pressure Infusion - 23Lb Spring Force Applying Constant
Low Pressure
Prescription Formulation Dosages of Insecticides - Fungicides
and Nutrients 5,10, 15, or 20 mil. A More Accurate Prescription
Application
Efficient Formulation Products Moves Quickly to Where it is
Needed Within The Tree
Environmental Friendly - Injection Targets Directly Within The
Tree - No Exposure to the Surrounding Area
The treatment is
entirely within the tree and the dosages are determined precisely by the
size of the tree.
The material does not
have to penetrate the soil, the leaves or the bark to be come effective,
it goes to work immediately.
Economical, Totally Reusable Hundreds of Times - No Disposable
of Apparatus After Use - No waste of Product. Formulation Products Are Use
In Much SmallerQuantity Amounts and Will Last Up To 2 years.
Few Tools Required - Cordless Drill and Wood Chisel - No
Cumbersome Macro Injection Equipment And Digging Tools Required
User Friendly - Faster and Easy to Use - No Applicator
Frustration - Hands on Training. Injection can be a welcome alternative
for the Home / Land owner, their neighborhoods for the green industry
professional.
Reduced Drill size 11/64 or 4.2 mm - Reduced Tissue Damage -
Faster Wound Closure
Scientifically Proven Field Tested for Over 30 Years - Used
World Wide.
No air, Soil or Groundwater Contamination Occurs--Unlike Other
Method, Birds, Fish, Beneficial Insects And Surrounding Foliage Aren't
Harmed. Can Be Applied Under All Weather Conditions, Hot, Dry, Windy or
Rainy Conditions And Over Open Water.
A macro-injection wound
as defined, is a wound that has a diameter 3/8"
or greater and penetrates into the xylem one to several
inches .
A micro-injection wound
is one that has a diameter of 3/1 6" or less and penetrates into the xylem
3/4" or less.
Risk/Benefit
Clearly the smaller the
wound the less potential for the "degree of injury caused by the wound"
to come into play. Accordingly, if we have procedures that will reduce the
wound effect these should be employed. Several researchers have evidence to
demonstrate that the potential risk from macro-injections is quite high when
weighed against the benefit. Well documented research by Shigo has shown
that micro-injection wounds caused by the injection technology can be well
tolerated by the tree even when made in trunk flare and up the stem to
approximately 4.5' above ground.
More recent research has demonstrated that the
accepted Micro Injection technique has been improved upon by reducing the
drill size to
11/64" diameter bit in a portable drill to make the wound in the
root flare. The resulting drill wound is cleaner edged and the depth is
under more precise control. These factors greatly facilitate wound closure
because the degree of injury resulting from the mechanical wound is
minimized. In addition the injected material is more rapidly translocated
away from the injection site. It should be clear from the above that when
injecting trees, micro-injection offers the greatest
benefit to the tree, while significantly minimizing the risk inherent in the
macro-injection technique.
Size and
type of wound. The wound should be
as clean edged, small and shallow as possible. Several investigators make a
strong case for this type of wound.
Areas requiring more research.
Of equal importance is the phytotoxic potential of the chemicals
being introduced into the tree via injection. Much work is required in this
area. Most formulations currently on the market have been re-evaluated with
emphasis on modifying the pH and concentrations of these chemicals to be
more compatible with the biochemistry of the plant. It must be emphasized
that a number of these products are currently tolerated by the tree and are
efficaceous.
A Job for the Texas Forest
Service: Training sessions under the guidance of competent
professionals in micro injection technology should be mandatory to the
correct development of micro injection procedures and unless we continue to
emphasize sound micro injection techniques, the ever increasing failures in
tree injections will eventually cause systemic chemical treatments in tree
culture to fall into disrepute. When used properly, the injection method
does have the potential to benefit trees. But when used improperly, it will
cause more harm than help.
Annual injections.
The application of
macro-injections annually could increase the
risk of subsequent damage to the tree. The use of annual micro-injections
for pest control has been under research for the past several years with
good results relative to wound closure. However, more research should
continue is this area. When annual Micro-injections are employed, the
injection sites must be staggered.
Current and future role of injections.
There is
significant evidence now to establish the efficacy of the current injection
technology in the management of our tree populations whether for
fertilization needs or pest management. It is time to put into practice the
current modifications and improvements in the "injection" technology. It is
no longer valid to group all "injections" as essentially the same.
The difference between a macro-injection in the root flare and a
micro-injection on the trunk flare is as great as the difference between a
live tree and a wooden electric pole . Although both are/were trees, they
are not the same. We must objectively evaluate injections and categorize
them appropriately by effective results and keep current with the research
and improvements in both technique and material formulations. This
could result in the loss of a technology that can become an important
component of integrated systemic tree care programs.
CHEMJET®
Saving One Tree At A Time - Saving The Environment
Every time
Photos and illustrations -
Copyright Chemjet Trading Pty,Ltd, Australia
The Macro System
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