SORBUS ARE THE
EXCLUSIVE UK DISTRIBUTOR OF THE BITE SYSTEM
WHAT
IS BITE?
Developed
by a team led by Dr Lucio Montecchio at De Rebus Plantarum – a spin-off of the
University of Padua (Italy); BITE (Blade for Infusion in Trees) is a manual,
drill-free instrument with a small, perforated lenticular (lentil shaped) blade
that enters the trunk by separating the woody fibres with minimal friction
BITE allows
the natural uptake of an external liquid (ie EnerBite fertiliser) up to the
leaves, when transpiration rate is substantial (ie during the Spring to late
Summer period)
BITE is a
simple, fast & effective method of applying beneficial compounds to trees
under stress or in decline
BITE also
ensures that all of the applied treatment goes directly into the tree with no
contamination of adjacent targets
HOW
DOES BITE WORK?
● In wood plants, xylem sap moves
upwards through the vessels due to a decreasing gradient of water potential
from the groundwater to the foliage.
● According to these factors and
their dynamics, small amounts of sap-compatible liquids (i.e.EnerBite)can
be infused into the xylem system, reaching their target from the inside without
any external contamination.
● The BITE system uses a small,
perforated lenticular blade that enters the trunk by separating the wood fibres
with minimal friction.
● Furthermore, the lenticular shaped blade
reduces the xylem vessel cross section, increasing sap velocity which
consequently lowers the sap pressure - in fluid dynamics, Bernoulli’s
principle states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs
simultaneously with a decrease in pressure. Consequently, the applied sap-compatible
liquid is naturally drawn into the tree.
● BITE is an endotherapic or
"trunk infusion" method
●Traditional pressure injection
techniques utilise drilling methods in order to gain access to the xylem
vessels beneath the bark. This drilling causes significant localised damage to
the injection area which is slow to heal
● With the BITE lenticular blade, the
infusion ports partially close soon after the removal of the blade due to the
natural elasticity and turgidity of the plant tissues, and the cambial activity
completes the healing process in few weeks.
BITEKITS
The BITE system is
available in 3 sizes of kit; Small, Medium & Large. Kit contents are as
follows:
ITEM |
SMALL KIT |
MEDIUM KIT |
LARGE KIT |
Sliding Hammer |
1 |
1 |
1 |
35mm Blade |
3 |
5 |
10 |
53mm Blade |
3 |
5 |
10 |
65mm Blade |
3 |
5 |
10 |
Wrench |
1 |
1 |
1 |
30mm Gasket |
3 |
5 |
10 |
All kits are packaged with protective glasses, vinyl gloves and User Instructions in a convenient tool box.
WHAT
IS ENERBITE?
EnerBite, a binary liquid
phosphite fertiliser with trace additives, has been specifically developed for
use with the BITE system.
EnerBite is rapidly
taken up and translocated within the tree through the xylem vessels, due to the
high mobility and low molecular weight of the ingredients. This translates into
a noticeable improvement in nutrition and immediate increase of vigour.
EnerBite also induces the production of particular organic compounds
responsible for the tree’s natural defence mechanisms.
A
recent paper ‘An enhanced trunk injection formulation of potassium phosphite against
chestnut ink disease’ by Elisa Del Maso & Professor Lucio
Montecchioreported that EnerBite treatment completely ceased the development of
the disease in most cases.
EnerBite is supplied
in 250ml bottles, 15 per case.
ENERBITE
DOSAGE & USE
On average
a dose consists of 1ml of EnerBite per 1cm of tree circumference at the
treatment level. For example, one 250ml bottle of EnerBite is enough for one
treatment of a tree with a DBH of 80cm.The infusion points should be located
between the root collar and 1m in height. Typically, EnerBite treatment is
recommended every two years on trees under stress or in decline.
Follow this
simple calculation to determine how much EnerBite to use on a particular tree:
Tree
Diameter at Breast Height (DBH cm) x 3.14 = ml EnerBite required
Infusion
performance (liquid take – up) depends on species, physical, physiological and
environmental factors. Although infusion can be carried out at any time with
evergreen species, this is not the case with deciduous species which need to be
in leaf. Infusion is ideally carried out when leaf transpiration is high (ie
between spring & mid-summer) with sun, wind & sufficient soil moisture
also being beneficial.
For
further information please follow the below links for further information...