A farmer with a stand of eucalyptus trees that appear to be suffering from rural dieback wants to arrest the problem. His best course of action would be to
A) spray the trees to poison the flying insects that defoliate the trees and monitor them carefully in case they return.
B) decrease stocking rates around trees, reduce fertiliser application and plant more trees and shrubs.
C) fertilise the soil with superphosphate to enable better growth.
D) increase stocking rates to reduce weeds and grasses that compete with the trees for soil moisture.
E) reduce the density of other, less-desirable native trees in the area to reduce the available feed for the defoliating insects.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Decreasing stocking rates around trees, reducing fertilizer application, and planting more trees and shrubs can help address rural dieback by reducing stress on the trees and improving their growing environment, which can help them resist or recover from dieback.

A Farmer with a Stand of Eucalyptus Trees That Appear