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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #225074
Title: Survey of Forest Residual Availability for Nursery Production in the Southeast

Author
item BOYER, C - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item GALLAGHER, T - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item GILLIAM, C - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item FAIN, G - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item Torbert, Henry - Allen
item SIBLEY, J - AUBURN UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/21/2008
Publication Date: 7/21/2008
Citation: Boyer, C.H., Gallagher, T.V., Gilliam, C.H., Fain, G.B., Torbert III, H.A., Sibley, J.L. 2008. Survey of Forest Residual Availability for Nursery Production in the Southeast [abstract]. 2008 American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference, July 21-24, 2008, Orlando, FL. CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Residual chipping material (also called clean chip residual or CCR) has potential use as a growth substrate in the nursery and greenhouse horticultural industries. A survey was conducted in the Southeast U.S. of companies conducting in-field chipping operations on pine plantations for the production of clean chips for pulp mills. Fourteen operators in four states were visited to evaluate the availability of on-site residual material. Samples of CCR were taken from 10 sites. Samples analysis revealed CCR is composed of about 37.7% wood, 36.6% bark, 8.8% needles, and 16.9% indistinguishable (fine) particles. Survey participants estimated that approximately 27.5% of the site biomass is composed of CCR. Eight operations were able to sell some or all on-site CCR as fuelwood to pulp mills while 6 operations did not recover any residual material, leaving 100% on the forest floor. Sample pH ranged from 4.3 to 5.5 which is slightly highe r than the typical pH for pine bark used in nursery production. Electrical conductivity levels were low, but acceptable in the samples from freshly chipped material. All nutrients were generally within acceptable ranges with the exception of Mn which was high at 4 of the 10 locations. Iron was high at 2 of the 10 sites. Significant variations in operations were observed among the companies surveyed. Most companies were interested in making CCR available to horticultural industries if profitable.