AGRI 0164. Sustainable Tree Care

Units: 3
Formerly known as HORT 40
Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 laboratory)
Sustainable arboriculture principles and practices for management and care of trees in urban, agricultural, and wildland-urban interface settings. Includes tree biology and culture; landscape tree identification; industry-approved tree maintenance, planting, staking, and pruning techniques; tree risk assessment and mitigation; appropriate selection and pruning of fruit trees. Basic concepts in forest management and current issues in urban and wildland forestry will also be covered. (CSU)

AGRI 0164 - Sustainable Tree Care

http://catalog.sierracollege.edu/course-outlines/agri-0164/

Catalog Description DESCRIPTION IS HERE: Formerly known as HORT 40 Hours: 90 (36 lecture, 54 laboratory) Description: Sustainable arboriculture principles and practices for management and care of trees in urban, agricultural, and wildland-urban interface settings. Includes tree biology and culture; landscape tree identification; industry-approved tree maintenance, planting, staking, and pruning techniques; tree risk assessment and mitigation; appropriate selection and pruning of fruit trees. Basic concepts in forest management and current issues in urban and wildland forestry will also be covered. (CSU) Units 3 Lecture-Discussion 36 Laboratory 54 By Arrangement Contact Hours 90 Outside of Class Hours Course Student Learning Outcomes Identify the role of trees in the urban forest environment and the human - forest interface. Assess and identify nutrient requirements of landscape trees, and recommend methods for correcting nutrient and/or toxicity problems based upon sustainable principles. Describe soil management conditions based on sustainable principles for favorable plant growth. Describe basic tree anatomy, and differentiate generic and species characteristics to apply appropriate tree management. Evaluate and apply the best management practices for maintaining trees in urban and landscape settings based upon sustainable principles. Course Content Outline I. Guiding Principles of Arboriculture based on ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) II. Role of trees in the urban environment III. Benefits of trees to humans a. Sociological b. Health c. Economic d. Environmental e. Ecosystem services IV. Tree Biology a. Stems: 1. Internal and external structure of mature conifer and broadleaf species 2. Shoot elongation and radial growth 3. Response growth (reaction wood) 4. Compartmentalization (CODIT) b. Roots: 1. Types of roots 2. Root morphology and distribution in soil profile 3. Root symbionts: nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi V. Trees in the Urban Environment a. Challenges of the urban environment b. Solutions to prolong urban tree life VI. Best management practices for tree care (ISA and ANSI Standards) a. Planting b. Staking c. Irrigation d. Nutrition VII. Pruning trees a. Developing structure b. Tree health considerations c. Special forms VIII. Fruit trees a. Selection b. Pruning c. Chilling hours d. Fruit thinning IX. Industry-specific nursery standards for evaluating nursery tree stock X. Protecting trees during construction a. Determining tree protection zone b. Methods for protecting trees c. Local tree ordinances d. Mitigation for tree loss prior to or during construction XI. Soils a. Site evaluation as it pertains to tree health b. Preventing compaction c. Mitigating compacted soil: vertical and radial mulching XII. Tree Risk Assessment a. Determining failure potential b. Identifying common structural defects c. Site considerations contributing to risk d. Target type and location e. Diagnostic equipment: IML Resi, mallet sounding, drilling, tomography f. Determining appropriate mitigation options XIII. Agroforestry: the role of trees in agricultural systems XIV. Basic concepts in Forest Management a. Characteristics of a healthy forest ecosystem b. Consequences of California’s history of fire suppression c. Current methods to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk 1. Thinning 2. Mastication 3. Pile and burn 4. Prescribed fire d. Defensible space requirements per PRC 4291 XV. The effects of climate change on urban and wildland forests XVI. Utility Forestry a. The role of Consulting Utility Foresters in vegetation management b. Skills required by CUF’s XVII. Tree identification of selected landscape trees a. Leaf, bark, twig, flower, and fruit characteristics b. Scientific and common names XVIII. Review material covered on ISA Certification exam Course Objectives Course Objectives Lecture Objectives: 1.Identify the role of trees in the urban forest and wildland-urban interface environments. 2.Evaluate and apply the best management practices for maintaining trees in urban landscape settings based upon sustainable principles as they apply to tree selection, planting, staking, irrigation and nutrition management. 3.Describe basic concepts of pruning and pruning standards as established by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) 4.Discuss distinguishing internal and external morphological and physiological characteristics of conifers and broadleaf species. 5.Identify morphological characteristics of common urban trees to use for species identification. 6.Discuss tree structure and physiological responses to tree injury, including pruning wounds, based on Compartmentalization of Decay in Trees (CODIT) principles. 7.Identify current challenges in urban forestry, and propose sustainable solutions. 8.Describe soil characteristics necessary for optimal tree growth, and determine strategies for mitigation of damaged soils. 9.Determine best management practices for protecting trees during construction. 10.Identify various fruit tree species, using varietal characteristics and requirements to determine proper pruning strategies. 11.Identify the role of trees in various agroforestry settings, including ecosystem services provided by trees in hedgerows and riparian buffers. 12.Define the role and discuss the practices of utility forestry in the protection of wildland and urban forest environments. 13.Discuss basic forestry principles for forest management, including fuel reduction and defensible space as determined by state and local government. Laboratory Objectives: 1.Demonstrate skills and concepts of proper pruning techniques based on ISA and ANSI pruning standards for landscape trees. 2.Demonstrate proper pruning techniques for specific fruit trees to improve productivity, ease of harvest, and rejuvenation of fruiting wood. 3.Evaluate the quality of nursery stock based on canopy and root characteristics in container-grown trees. 4.Recommend and demonstrate proper staking of newly planted trees. 5.Evaluate soil and other environmental factors that affect water use by trees, and determine site and species-specific irrigation requirements. 6.Compare and contrast internal and external tree responses to wounding and stress. 7.Identify and evaluate efficacy of reaction and barrier zones for compartmentalization of decay in trees (CODIT). 8.Assess tree health by observing canopy characteristics such as annual shoot growth, epicormic growth, leaf and bark chars, and presence of pests. 9.Apply principles of tree risk assessment to identify structural defects that increase tree hazard potential, and recommend mitigation options. 10.Use industry-specific equipment such as range finders and logger’s tapes to measure tree height and DBH in order to determine critical root zone. 11.Utilize online tree applications to identify and geographically locate trees in order to calculate their benefits for carbon sequestration, storm water retention, utility savings, and increased property value. 12.Demonstrate use of IML Resi device to determine presence and extent of internal decay in trees as part of risk assessment. 13.Identify species composition for specified urban setting to evaluate species diversity, age, and health of trees, in order to determine alignment with current urban forest recommendations. Methods of Evaluation Objective Examinations Reports Skill Demonstrations Reading Assignments 1. Read current arboriculture industry journal article on "Root Management Challenges in Urban Sites" and answer ISA certification CEU questions. 2. Read current research on the historical role of fire in forest ecosystems and the current use of prescribed fire as a technique to improve forest resilience. Include pros and cons and list viable alternatives. Synthesize the information and summarize in a logically developed essay. Writing, Problem Solving or Performance 1. Assess degree of risk for two trees using USDA and ISA tree risk assessment protocols, calculate sound wood using appropriate formula for tree cavity characteristics, provide a written assessment and recommendation for mitigation options. 2. Use industry-specific equipment to determine tree diameter and height. Estimate branch distance from high voltage lines and determine pruning requirements based on tree species and expected growth rate. Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.) Students work collaboratively in small groups to locate 25 specified trees on campus and determine tree species and health; quantify tree benefits; assess pruning and staking techniques; evaluate site conditions and tree selection; and determine tree risk where relevant. Provide a written report summarizing findings and recommendations. Methods of Instruction Laboratory Lecture/Discussion Distance Learning Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.

Agriculture

http://catalog.sierracollege.edu/departments/agriculture/

Overview Sustainable agriculture is an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long-term, satisfy human food and fiber needs; enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends; make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls; sustain the economic viability of farm operations and enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole. TRANSFER AND MAJOR REQUIREMENTS in Agriculture are available in the Counseling Center. In all cases, students should consult with a counselor for specific transfer requirements. Faculty