Dictionary MAIN PAGE Text & Grap

Vitality - Vitality is the ability to grow under the conditions you find yourself. Vitality is the ability to grow under the present conditions; dynamic action. We can increase or decrease vitality. We decrease flora and fauna vitality by removing CWD. We increase flora and fauna vitality by leaving the wood in the forest or field as a snag or with soil contact. The vigor of the flora and fauna is suited for non-removal of wood. We do not change this vigor by cutting out more trees. We only reduce vitality over time. I do not make the rules, I like to believe I know who does, but that's the way it is. Do not believe it because I said it, believe it because you see it for yourself. Yes?

(See "vigor", "wood", "ability")

Another story on the same subject - Vigor is the genetic capacity of an organism to resist strain. Vitality is the ability of an organism to grow under the conditions in which it finds itself. Capacity is the potential; what an organism has. Ability is the dynamic; what an organism does with what it has. Vigor can be measured by applying a known stimulus, and then measuring the response. You do not know how vigorous an organism is until you apply a stimulus that threatens its survival. Vigor is the capacity to survive under increasing stimulae that threaten survival. Vigor can not be increased, it is part of the genetic program. Trees that compartmentalize more effectively than others are more vigorous than those that compartmentalize poorly. When some abiotic agent stresses trees, the trees that stay alive are those that are more vigorous. Vitality is another subject. Vitality means to grow, to reproduce, to adapt to the surroundings. Vitality is a dynamic condition. A tree could be very low in vigor, yet high in vitality, and the converse could also occur. Much can be done to increase vitality of a tree; fertilization, soil aeration, watering. And, again, it is not so important to argue over words, as it is to know that there are 2 different processes involved here, and they do overlap. However, if we want more vigor, we go to genetics; if we want more vitality, we go to improved cultural practices. The bottom line, we can bring back organic material –leaves, composted wood chips and logs (CWD) and apply them properly, to increase the vitality of the trees, but, the vigor remains the same, we do not change that.