Comparative Rates of Decomposition in Soil of Wood and Bark Particles of Several Softwood Species

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The rates of decomposition of 10 kinds of finely‐ground woods and the corresponding barks at two nitrogen levels were determined in the laboratory by measuring CO2 evolution over periods varying from 53 to 800 days. The following species were studied: California incense cedar, cypress, redwood, western larch, eastern hemlock, red fir, white fir, Douglas‐fir, red cedar, and Engleman spruce. The woods and barks of all of these species were considerably more resistant to biological attack than is shortleaf pine sawdust. California incense cedar, cypress, redwood, eastern hemlock, and red cedar, were decomposed to the extent of < 7% during a 2‐month period. The comparative resistance of woods and barks to decay varied for individual species but the average values for the 10 species were similar. Due to the slow rates of decomposition, the soil was able to furnish adequate available nitrogen for maximum rates of decomposition for all of the wood products, and supplemental nitrogen was not needed.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: