Comparative Analysis of Four Maple Species for Syrup Production in South-Central Appalachia

Ryan D. Huish ,D. E. Taylor ,Benjamin Munson,Jacob D. J. Peters

doi:10.5304/jafscd.2020.092.015

Abstract

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum L.) is a key cultural and economic resource from eastern Canada to south-central Appalachia. Environmental uncertainties could create problems for this iconic species, in particular affecting the southern extent of its range and thus increasing the need for alternative species in maple syrup production. To mediate uncertainties, some producers tap additional species, including box elder (Acer negundo L.), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), and silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.). For viable marketability, sap from alternative species should be comparable to sugar maple in volume and sugar concentration. In the 2016 and 2017 tapping seasons, data were collected on sap volume and sap sugar concentration (SSC) for each of these maple species. Sap parameter performance data revealed box elder and to a lesser extent silver maple as the most appropriate alternative species for syrup production in the south-central Appalachian region, while red maple, which is a commonly tapped species in northern regions, performed comparably in SSC but very poorly in sap volume in this study. Diversifying sap sources could provide additional sap and tree counts available to producers, allowing for more varied management strategies to mediate climatic variations and uncertainties. This diversification can also allow for industry expansion into areas without sufficient sugar maples and potentially create a new product niche in the maple industry, which can promote rural economic development in south-central Appalachia through ways compatible with other sustainable agroforestry and outdoor tourism efforts. See the press release for this article.

Highlights

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum L.) is a significant economic and cultural resource from eastern Canada to south-central Appalachia
This table helps illustrate the comparability of species more clearly and indicates that while box elder sap contained significantly less sap sugar concentration (SSC) than the three other species, it could produce the most syrup from the same number of taps due to its high volume
Box elder and silver maple are not as long-lived as sugar maple, so producers would need to be more active in regeneration to maintain their tree stands for long-term production. These results support the suitability of box elder and silver maple as sap sources

Summary

Introduction

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum L.) is a significant economic and cultural resource from eastern Canada to south-central Appalachia. The potential in the southern range for maple tapping is generally overlooked in the maple industry and related research. In pursuit of economic recovery, some communities are switching to a more tourism-based economy, which could benefit from the sustainable use of natural resources such as non-timber forest products like maple syrup. Maple tapping, when done according to industry standards (Heiligmann, Koelling, & Perkins, 2006), does not significantly harm the trees, but rather relies on healthy, longlived trees and forests, and incorporates and encourages sustainable stewardship and provides lucrative alternatives to timbering. Annual maple festivals, which are common in areas with a prevalent maple industry, can generate significant revenue (Farrell & Chabot, 2012) and provide opportunities to advertise other area attractions. Agritourism should be conducted with due environmental consideration so as not to put significant pressures on forest ecosystems

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