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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Wood Chip Mulch

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  • From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Wood Chip Mulch
  • Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 09:07:10 -0500

Any organic mulch, to release it's nutrients, must go through biological
decomposition. As the microbes break down the organic matter in the mulch
they release the nutrients in an ionic form, such as H3PO4+. But to begin
the work of breaking down the organic matter, the microbes need nitrogen to
feed on. So they rob the soil of nitrogen to feed on organic mulches that
have high C/N ratios. Later, as they run out of high C material, or find
adequate N from alternative sources, the N is returned back to the soil and
the plants have access to it again. You're right, the bulk of the organic
material is above the soil so it doesn't impact the process, until the lower
layers break down and the mulch settles. Wood mulch is notorious for having
very high C/N ratios and contributing to N loss in the soil. Other organic
mulches aren't as likely to result in such losses, especially if sources of
nitrogen are used too, such as manure or compost.

Bill Shoemaker
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
Univ of Illinois - St Charles Hort Research Center


>Sorry for showing my ignorance here, folks, but I'd like to understand
>what this means. How do wood chips used for mulch above the surface of
>the soil effect nutrients deep in the soil?
>
>Do all mulches (like straw and hay) "tie up nutrients"? It's been my
>understanding that as they decompose, they ADD to the nutrients in the
>soil!
>
>Thanks,
>
>Matt Cheselka
>Cosmic Lettuce
>
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