Influence of color of tree pastes (paints) on the temperature surface of tree trunks

A study tests tree pastes colors and how their use affects the surface temperature of the tree trunks (temperature amplitudes), according to the assumption that such changes can cause cracks in the tree's bark. The bark temperature of the apple trees was measured by infrared thermometer every month during four seasons: autumn, winter, spring, and summer. The trunks trees used in the trials were left untreated (control variant), were pasted with 20% lime solution with white color and pasted with DIY mixture made from Funguran OH 50 WP (77 % Copper (II) hydroxide active substance), with distinctive blue color. The results show that the surface temperature of the bark of the trees depends on many factors. The air temperature, and parameters such as size of the tree and its canopy size and structure are relatively constant for a particular period of time. However, other factors, such as the presence or absence of wind, surface temperature, and cloud cover, can change within seconds. In this regard, the color of the pastes plays an insignificant role in bark surface temperature. The assumption that the white color of the pastes prevents significant temperature amplitude and, eventually, bark cracking seems irrelevant. Keywords: trees, paste, paint, bark, trunks, temperature