Characteristics of wood wastes in British Columbia and their potential suitability as soil amendments and seedling growth media

Abstract

Venner, K. H, Preston, C. M. and Prescott, C. E. 2011. Characteristics of wood wastes in British Columbia and their potential suitability as soil amendments and seedling growth media. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 95-106. In British Columbia, alternative uses for poor-quality wood-waste fines (approximately 50 mm or less) are being sought to replace traditional methods of disposal, including landfilling and burning without energy recovery. As a complement to associated field trials to assess the potential suitability of woody wastes as soil amendments, we determined chemical, physical and spectroscopic characteristics of a variety of wood wastes, co-composts and wood chips and carried out a plant (Betula papyrifera) bioassay. Chemical properties and 13C NMR spectra indicated similarity to other woody wastes, and suitability for site rehabilitation if applied under conditions to avoid excessive leachate. Seedlings grew poorly in the wood waste materials (final height <4 cm), except for co-composts prepared with mu...