Deciding maple syrup production potential

Using GIS to locate productive standsDeciding maple syrup production potentialJessica WilliamsGIS 4390December 10, 2013

13 species of Maple treesSugar maple (Acer saccharum) and black maple (Acer nigrum) are the most preferred. (Koelling 1996)Sap collection starts in late winter or early spring and last 6-8 weeks.Technology has evolved, but collection is still basically the same.Maple sap producing trees are tapped with a spiel (a spout inserted into a 1-3 inch hole drilled into the tree). The sap then flows out of the spiel and into either a metal bucket hung on the spiel or a tube system that enables delivery of the sap back to the sugar shack.IntroductionObjective: To determine if the study area is a suitable location for harvesting maple sap used for the production of maple syrup.

A small, 1,400-hectare (ha) woodlot in the Acadian-New England forest region of North America

New England/Acadian forest covers portions of the Canadian provinces Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and parts of American states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. (World Wildlife Fund)Study area

Create haul zones Prep roads by joining roads and clines layers into one all_roads layerMerge tool in ArcToolbox (Data Management Tools\General)Define zones of 25, 50, and 75 meters around all_roads layerMultiple Ring Buffer tool in ArcToolbox (Analysis Tools\Proximity)Distances easily accessibly by foot, sled, and ATV

Define tolerant hardwood stands within the haul zonesPrep data by joining Volume table with Cover Type layerCover Type layer classifies tree types within each stand (polygon)Volume table defines percentage of tree typesSelect stands (polygons) with tolerant hardwoodsUse Select by Attribute tool to find all polygons with a TH_ value >= 50Define stands within the haul zonesOverlay tool in ArcToolbox (Analysis Tools\Overlay)Output layer called Sap_ZonesShows only the portion of the stand that is within the haul zones

methods

Classify stands by sap potentialAdd field to Sap_Zone attribute table called Sap_PotentialLabel each zone based on the size and percentage of sugar maple trees present

Select volume of tree maturity / total volume of trees => 10%Two methodsSelect by Attribute Tool and VB Script in Field Calculator size volume

CalculationPresent potential sawlog (SM_S) and veneer (SM_V) sized trees(volume sm_s + volume sm_v)/cover vh >=0.10Label as PPFuture potential pulpwood (SM_P) sized treesVolume sm_p /cover vh >=0.10Label as FPLimited potentialNo calculation neededAll zones not classified as PP or FP

methods

Not quite 1 hectare of Present Potential

Just over 1 hectare of Future Potential

Results

It takes 150 mature trees per hectare to be considered productive.1-3 taps per tree depending on tree sizeAn average single tap can yield between 5 and 15 gallonsIt takes approximately 10 gallons of sap to produce 1 quart of syrup. (Blumestock, B. 2007)To produce 200 gallons (53 liters) of syrup, 400800 tap holes would be required. (Tminski W., 2011)150-450 taps per hectareLess than 2 hectare productive potential in study areaStudy area would produce 300-900 quarts of maple syrup

discussion

Q1: Why are there just three features (records) in the Multiple Ring Buffer results?There are only three features in the MRB results because we chose to find only three distances from the center lines Each feature represents a distance from the center lines.

Q2: What does the Keep only matching records option accomplish?The Keep only matching records option removes any records that do not have a matching record in the joined table. This keeps the table compact and eliminates unnecessary data.

Q3: What is the difference between intersect and union overlays?The intersect overlay finds specific features that intersect with a second specific feature class and creates a new feature class only including those intersecting features. The union overly finds all features from two feature classes that occupy the same location. The resulting feature class includes all features.

Discussion questions/answers

Q4: What purpose do those parentheses () server in a Field Calculator expression?The parentheses are used to perform a mathematical equation prior to selecting features based on other selected attributes.

Q5: How would you compile a cross tabulation in hectare rather than square meters?In order to compile a cross tabulation in hectare rather than square meters, you must first convert square meters into hectares. 1 square meter is equal to 10000 hectares. In Excel create a new column labeled Area_ha. In the first row use the function =SUM([@[Shape_Area]]/10000). This will calculate square meters into hectares. Next click on Insert Pivot Table and use the following fields in the pivot table setup:Columns = Sap_PotentialRows = distanceValues = sum of Area_ha

Discussion questions/answers

With less than 1 hectare of present potential stands and just over 1 hectare of future potential stands it does not appear that this study area would make a productive maple sap collection area.

conclusion

Blumestock, B., 2007. How to Tap Maple Trees and Make Maple Syrup. Bulletin #7036. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension. http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/pdfpubs/7036.pdf

Koelling, Melvin R., Ph.D, Heiligmann, Randall B., Ph.D. 1996. North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual, Bulletin 856. The Ohio State University Extension

Tyminski Jr., William Paul., Ph.D. 2011. The Utility of Using Sugar Maple Tree-Ring Data to Reconstruct Maple Syrup Production in New York.

World Wildlife Fund. New England Acadian Forest. http://worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/na0410references