[USCC] Applying Wood Chips To Soil

[Donald Lewis]

Hi, all,
 
Maryland has a number of facilities that chip wood scrap or shredded hardwood bark for use as a mulch. This material turns a rich brown to black color rather quickly, and is prized for its use as a decorative mulch. The nitrogen problem hasn't ever been a problem, since the material is put around more or less established plants, which draw nutrients from soil below the zone in which the decomposition bacteria draw their nitrogen. However, we have found a consistent problem with companies as they begin to sell these products derived from their waste streams. Typically, the chips are piled in massive piles and left unturned until they are loaded onto a truck for delivery. Now, anyone who remembers their chemistry from as long ago as I do will quickly note that one process for making methanol is to let wood chips decompose anaerobically. This is why methanol used to be called "Wood alcohol". Every year it seems that there are one or two resellers that leave their piles unturned and then call us up wondering why their customers are complaining that the mulch killed their ornamentals. I remember particularly one case where a homeowner complained that the landscape contractor used his crew to spread mulch from wheelbarrows. Everywhere the wheelbarrows went, "Juice" dripped onto the lawn, and where it splashed the grass turned white and died. Turns out that Methanol is an excellent solvent for chlorophyl. 
 
I would strongly urge that any state beginning to allow this material to be distributed write regulations providing for frequent turning of piles so that they remain aerobic.
 
Don Lewis
Compost Coordinator
Maryland Department of Agriculture
State Chemist Section
50 Harry S. truman Parkway
Annapolis, MD 21401
Ph. 410-841-2721
FAX 410-841-2740

>>> <KPowell at kdhe.state.ks.us> 9/10/2008 2:55 PM >>>


Good Afternoon Compost World,

This is not exactly a composting question, but more of an organics
question.  We have a smaller county in Kansas that has a large cabinet
manufacturing facility.  They have chosen not to landfill the kiln dried
scrap wood and would like to grind it to 3/4" or less and then use it as a
soil amendment for crop land.  Their idea is that this would over time
improve the tilth because of the organics that would be left as the wood
breaks down.  The soil in the area is a silty clay.  The questions are:

Has anyone been involved in such a project and what were the results?

How much additional nitrogen is needed per ton of wood added to the soil?

How much wood waste could be added per acre per year?



Ken Powell
Environmental Scientist
Kansas Department of Health & Environment
Bureau of Waste Management
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 320
Topeka, KS  66612-1366
Phone 785-296-1121, Fax 785-296-1592
e-mail:  kpowell at kdhe.state.ks.us 
Web site:  www.kdheks.gov/waste 
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