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- slip knotslipped overhand knot.
- slippedhaving a bight of rope passed through the final tuck in a knot to provide for quick release.
- slippery bendknot used to attach two lines that can be released quickly by pulling on the final tucked bight.
- slippingCondition in which bark can be easily separated from the wood while the plant is in active growth
- slow-release fertilizera fertilizer containing plant nutrients in a found that delays availability for plant uptake and use after application or that extends availability to the plant (contrast with quick-release fertilizer).
- slowly soluble fertilizerfertilizer formulation that is slowly hydrolyzed in the soil.
- SMASociety of Municipal Arborists
- snapconnecting device used by tree climbers. primarily for connecting the work-positioning lanyard to the harness (contrast with carabiner).
- snap cutcutting technique in which offset. bypassing cuts are made so that a section can be broken off easily (see mismatch cut).
- snatch blockkind of block (pulley) that can be opened on one side to receive the bight of a rope.
- snatchingrigging operation in which a section of upright stem is lowered off itself using a block or strop.
- sodicMedia. such as soil. that contains sufficient exchangeable sodium to interfere with the growth of most plants. either with or without appreciable quantities of soluble salts
- sodic soilsoil with relatively low levels of soluble salts and a concentration of sodium high enough to adversely affect soil structure (symptoms include waterlogging. erosion. soil surface crusting. and poor plant growth). Soils > 12 SAR (see sodium absorption ratio).
- measure of soil sodium content. Ratio of sodium ion concentration to that of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) (soluble salts) (see sadie soils).
- soft layloosely tensioned rope construction which allows for a less stiff rope.
- softened waterWater treated with sodium to replace calcium and magnesium salts in solution
- soilsurface layers of sand. clay. silt. and organic material on the surface of the earth that support plants.
- soil aerationsee aeration.
- soil amendmentmaterial added to soil to improve its physical. chemical. and/or biological properties.
- soil analysisanalysis of soil to determine pH. mineral composition. structure. salinity. and other characteristics.
- soil anchordevice that is driven. screwed. buried. or otherwise inserted into the ground. to which a guying cable is attached.
- soil auger1) device for removing cores of soil for inspecting or testing. 2) device (drill bit) used to drill holes in the soil. often used for vertical mulching or for the drill-hole method of fertilizing (see earth auger).
- soil bulk density (SBD)mass of soil per unit volume. Often used as a measure of compaction.
- soil-drench applicationmethod of applying chemicals to trees through the soil.
- soil food webcomplex network of interconnected food chains within the soil ecosystem.
- soil health managementtreatments and maintenance activities aimed at sustaining soil productivity; maintaining environmental quality; and providing for plant. animal. and human health.
- soil horizonlayer or zone of the soil profile with physical. chemical. and biological characteristics that differ from adjacent layers.
- soil modificationPhysically or chemically altering soils to improve conditions such as pH drainage aeration.
- soil moisture reservoirvolume of soil occupied by plant roots that supplies water to the plant. The amount of water available to the plant depends on the size of the root system and the water holding capacity of the soil. Also known as the soil water reservoir.
- soil particlesmallest grains of soil categorized by size into clay. silt. or sand.
- soil probeany one of a number of instruments used to take soil cores or samples. Usually some variation of a metal tube with a sharpened or serrated point and a T-shaped handle.
- soil profilevertical section through the soil and all of the soil horizons.
- soil reactionpH (acidity or alkalinity) of a soil.
- soil salinitya measure of the soluble salts in a soil.
- soil structurearrangement of soil particles into aggregates.
- soil texturerelative fineness or coarseness of a soil due to particle size (sand. silt. and clay).
- sonic tomographSonic Tomography tracks the speed of sound waves through the trunk or large branch of a tree. The tomogram is an image of the scanned area, which is more or less a flat plane cross-section through the tree or branch.
- quickly cutting an upright branch so that it descends upright.
- speciestaxonomic group of organisms composed of individuals of the same genus that can reproduce among themselves and have similar offspring.
- species diversitya measure of the number and variety of different species found in a given area.
- specific epithetclassification name that follows the genus name in scientific nomenclature (i.e.. species).
- specific ion toxicityExcess levels of a specific ion (e
- specificationsdetailed plans. requirements. and statements of particular procedures and/or standards used to define and guide work.
- speedlinerigging line strung in such a way as to allow tree segments to slide to the ground at a distance away from the base of the tree.
- speedliningusing a speedline to avoid obstacles directly under a tree or to efficiently move cut tree segments to a drop zone away from the tree.
- spider balancerbalancer utilizing multiple slings to lower a large tree limb with a wide spread without allowing either the butt or any of the tips to swing or drop down when the limb is cut.
- spiral-grainedxylem that develops in a twist as it ascends the trunk or limbs of woody plants.
- splice1) v. to join two ropes or to form a static loop in the end of a rope or cable by interweaving the strands. 2) v. in cabling. to form a termination loop in common-grade cable by wrapping the successive strands back upon the standing part (see eye splice). 3) 11. the connection formed by splicing.
- spliced eyesee eye splice.
- spliced-eye slinglength of rope with an eye spliced in the end. Also called dead-eye sling or eye sling.