Why woodchip size may matter with whole orchard recycling

Growing the Valley

Incorporating large amounts of woody biomass into soil, such as in whole orchard recycling (WOR), can promote carbon sequestration, nutrient recycling, and ecosystem health in agricultural fields. Yet uncertainty regarding the effects of WOR on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics influences management decisions. Recently, Mae Culumber, Ph.D. with UC Cooperative Extension, Suduan Gao, Ph.D. with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, and others performed research to evaluate the effects of woodchip size and interaction with nitrogen fertilization on carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions as well as soil organic carbon change. On this episode of Growing the Valley, they sit down with guest host Cameron Zuber to discuss some of their findings and how this may provide some considerations when implementing WOR.

The original article for this research from the Soil Science Society of America Journal can be found here https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/saj2.20650 though payment may be needed to access.

Thank you to the Almond Board of California, the California Pistachio Research Board, the California Prune Board, and the California Walnut Board for their support of this podcast. Music is by Muriel Gordon.