Use Of Wood Chips Research Articles

Growth of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) seedlings on blendsubstrates based on consolidated brackish sludge

Either in its pure form or as a base for a blend-substrate, brackish sludge can be used as a growth medium for trees. The objectives of the experiment were (1) to evaluate the quality of consolidated brackish sludge as a growth medium, (2) to assess the influence of substrate blending on tree growth (leaf area, tree height, biomass), and (3) to evaluate the need for substrate blending. Germinated acorns of the same mother tree were planted in containers and grown under controlled conditions. The substrate consisted of pure brackish sludge or of brackish sludge blended with peat, sand or wood chips, in stages of 25 volume percentage. Chemical analysis of the brackish sludge showed a neutral pH, a conductivity of 3.60 mS/cm and a sufficient amount of macro elements. The addition of sand contributed to an accelerated desalination of the substrate. The treatments with 100 % sludge and 25 % peat yielded a leaf area, a tree height and a biomass which were among the top three growing results. The growing results of the treatments with 25% sand and 50% peat were consistently among the top five. The blending of peat in brackish sludge had no influence on leaf area, tree height and biomass of seedlings. The use of wood chips or of more than 25 % sand resulted in a significant decrease of these three growth parameters. Foliage analyses of the trees grown on a substrate containing more than 50% sand or wood chips revealed deficits in available nutrients. These deficits manifested themselves in a loss of leaf area, tree height and biomass production. The nutritional status and the growth parameters of oak seedlings on brackish sludge were favourable. No influence of the salt and the heavy metal concentrations on growth was observed. Consolidated brackish sludge is a suitable growth medium for trees.

Woodchip Bedding as Enrichment for Captive Chimpanzees in an Outdoor Enclosure

AbstractThe use of woodchips as bedding for 16 juvenile chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) was evaluated for the effects on behaviour, health and husbandry practices. Woodchip bedding was placed in two outdoor play areas for five consecutive days. Behavioural data were recorded in the morning and afternoon of each day, and compared to pre- and post-test data. A total of 44 hours of observations, made up of 1 hour scan sample sessions, were completed for the study. Behaviours in the following categories were measured: abnormal, affinitive, aggressive, environmental manipulation, inactivity, locomotion, play, self manipulation and woodchip manipulation. The location of each animal was also recorded Analysis of the data indicated that the chimpanzees engaged in woodchip-related behaviours for an average of 20.52 per cent of the data points, and that they spent more time manipulating the substrate in the morning than in the afternoon. In addition, abnormal behaviour, environmental manipulation and affinitive behaviours were significantly lower during the woodchip condition than during pre-test and post-test conditions. The subjects spent the most time on the floor of the enclosure, and this measure did not differ between conditions. The woodchip bedding did not cause any known health problems for the chimpanzees. Although the daily addition and removal of woodchips took more time than did routine cleaning, it kept the play areas cleaner and drier. The evaluation of woodchip bedding as enrichment was favourable and indicated that bedding may be used regularly in the maintenance of captive chimpanzees.

Microorganisms associated with fuel wood chips and their impact on indoor air quality: a review

The emerging use of wood chips as an alternative energy source has led to an increase in the number of wood chip piles in domestic and institutional environments. The presence of these piles may have an adverse effect on the quality of the air around them because of microorganisms surviving or growing on the wood. Depending on the type of wood used and the harvesting, handling and storage conditions, fuel wood chips have been found to support growth of a wide range of microorganisms, particularly fungi. In indoor storage areas of wood chips, spores, cells and cell particles can become airborne and be inhaled by persons working in these areas. A number of methods exist to sample and monitor airborne microbial particles. These methods, particularly if two or more are combined, are suitable to detect and quantify viable and non-viable airborne microbial particles, to determine particle sizes and, in most cases, to identify to the species level the microorganisms collected. Many of the fungi, actinomycetes and other bacteria which have been reported to occur on wood chips are potentially pathogenic or toxigenic. Inhalation of microbial spores, cells or fragments, especially at high concentrations and small particle sizes, can lead to serious allergic reactions or pulmonary diseases. There is evidence that even low concentrations of microbial aerosals may have sub-acute long-term health effects. Some microorganisms appear to produce toxins in sufficient concentration that toxicoses can be caused by them via the inhalation route. Microbially produced volatiles have also been suspected to cause adverse health effects.

The Use of Woodchips and Nitrogen Fertilizer in Seeding Scab Ridges

The Use of Woodchips and Nitrogen Fertilizer in Seeding Scab Ridges