Repellent effectiveness in tree protection against game causing browsing and debarking
In the years 1995-1999 the effectiveness of 17 repellents (including 6 of own design) were tested in four regions of Poland in protection of 14 tree species against browsing and debarking by herbivorous mammals, mainly Cervidae (Cervus elaphus, Dama dama, Capreolus capreolus). The trees were treated with repellents in the autumn (3-10 types of repellents were applied on 1 plot) while the debarking and browsing occurrences were counted in the spring of the next year. The experiment was repeated in four succeeding years. On 49 plots the observations were performed on total 44870 seedlings of 14 forest tree species and on 21268 thickets in the pure Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) plantations. The use of repellents significantly decreased the level of tree browsing and debarking, compare to the untreated control. However, the effectiveness of protection was diverse depending on the plot location and season. Repellents of higher durability were also more effective. The overall effectiveness of repellents decreased when the pressure became higher (over 50% of debarked or browsed control trees). Among 17 repellents tested only 3 were toxic to plants (Lavanol, Viltskydd, Garant) and should not be used in the forest protection in Poland.
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