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Thread: Does the size of tree influence the amount of sap per tap

  1. #1
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    Default Does the size of tree influence the amount of sap per tap

    One tap on a small tree say 10-15 inch diameter versus a larger tree with one tap say 20-25 inch diameter versus an even larger tree. Which tree will predictively produce more sap and how much on average? Any insight would be appreciated! Thanks.

  2. #2
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    Larger trees produce more sap.

    Its not a guarantee for me but has been a general trend.

    A healthy 10" tree may produce more then a healthy 20" tree on any given day.

    But I would bet $1000 that the 20" tree would produce from 20% to 100% more sap then a 10" tree for the season.

    Any season for the season.

    And I will make that bet with any Doctor in the world ... from Vermont to Sri Lanka!

    Healthy tree means proportional crown as well.

    Crown is as important as diameter.

    No woman no pride ... no branches no sap!

  3. #3
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    I bet I get at least 5 times more sap per tap from my large yard trees than smaller woods trees
    Noel Good
    1998 to 2009: 15 taps on buckets, scavenged fire pit and pans
    2010: New 2x4 SS flat pan w/preheater
    2015: New to me Lapierre 18x60 raised flue, new shack, new everything!! 59 taps 23.75 gallons
    2016: 85 taps 19 gallons
    2017: Purchased 2.5 acres and tubed half with 3/16. 145 taps total 49.25 gallons
    2018: 200 taps (162 on 3/16ths 38 on buckets) New NextGen RO 63 gallons
    2019: 210 taps 73.5 gallons
    2023: 210 taps 89.75 gallons
    www.wnybass.com

  4. #4
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    I also agree that the larger tree means more sap. Initially, a small tree may produce a lot of sap simply because it's smaller and thus there is less tree to thaw out. So this means that right now, my smaller trees are proportionately hitting it out of the ballpark. But once my large trees have thawed out and hit their stride, they can and do produce sap in quantities that smaller trees just can't match.
    Been tapping since 2008.
    2018 - 17 taps/7 trees...819l sap, approx 28l syrup
    2019 - 18 taps/8 trees...585l sap, 28l syrup...21:1 ratio
    2020 - 18 taps/8 trees...890.04l sap...gave away about 170l, 30l snafu'd....23l total for me from approx 690l
    2021 - 18 taps/8 trees...395l sap, 12 l syrup
    2022 - 18 taps/8 trees....7 sugars 1 red due to #2 having surgery so had the season off....582l sap, 18.5l syrup
    2023 - 18 taps/8 trees...all sugars again. 807l sap, so far approx 14l syrup

  5. #5
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    Not only does a larger maple give much more sap it also will double in sugar. My small trees test at just 1-1.5 where some of my large trees will test at 3-4%. The bigger the crown the sweeter the sap.
    Spud

  6. #6
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    It's the leaves that convert sunlight into sugar. The bigger the crown, the greater the sugar. Higher sugar levels are more important that amount of sap.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Florio79 View Post
    One tap on a small tree say 10-15 inch diameter versus a larger tree with one tap say 20-25 inch diameter versus an even larger tree. Which tree will predictively produce more sap and how much on average? Any insight would be appreciated! Thanks.
    As usual the answers are.....it depends.

    The course of the sap season has a lot to do with it. One year you may get 5 gal/tap on a 12" tree and the next year you'll get 12 gal. Technology used in sap collection (gravity vs vacuum, level of spout/tubing sanitation) will also alter the yield considerably. However, all things being equal, a larger tree will produce more sap. The relationship isn't exactly linear, but it is close enough to linear for much of the range to use as a general guide. So given all that, I can't really say how with any real precision much you'll get without more information, but typically they say that the average amount of syrup made on gravity is about a quart per tap.
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Greer View Post
    It's the leaves that convert sunlight into sugar. The bigger the crown, the greater the sugar. Higher sugar levels are more important that amount of sap.
    You are wicked smart, you must be a "Doctor"

    We leman use the words sap and sugar interchangeably in this context.

  9. #9
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    I find that poorly crowned trees still give you sap around 2%, they just don't produce as much sap.

    Time and time again.

    So for me the most important thing is the amount of sap you get.

  10. #10
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    Feb 2016
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    Mid Michigan
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    Dr Tim, you talked about the height of the tap. Is there a desired height we should be tapping?
    1986-2002 2x6 Leader evaporator 150 taps drop tubes
    Life happens
    2015 130 taps drop tubes and sap sacs
    2016 225 taps drop tubes and sap sacs
    2017 300+? MicRO single membrane
    2019 325 taps 81 gallons made, most ever for us
    2020 2x6 Smoky Lake evaporator 400 taps with 160 on a guzzler pump
    2021..... a lot more line and vacuum

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