Sawdust Composts: Their Preparation and Effect on Plant Growth

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Abstract
Greenhouse studies demonstrated that application of fresh sawdust at the rate of 40 cubic yards per acre strongly depressed the growth of deciduous and coniferous tree seedlings and green manure crops. Treatment of sawdust with anhydrous ammonia, phosphoric acid, and potassium sulfate failed to alleviate completely the adverse influence of sawdust and necessitated additional treatment of stock with nitrogen fertilizers.In order to decrease the C/N ratio, chemically treated sawdust was inoculated with Coprinus ephemerus. This organism proved to be efficient in decomposition of cellulose, and within 3 months converted sawdust into a finely divided dark brown material which resembled a rich mull‐like soil in appearance. The fermentation was invariably accompanied by a volunteer invasion of fungus gnats, Sciaridae spp., and many other microorganisms.Application of composted sawdust to a sandy soil produced marked increase in the growth of both coniferous and deciduous seedlings and medium red clover.

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