HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Davey, C. B. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Davey, C. B. Agricola Articles by Davey, C. B.

Sawdust Composts: Their Preparation and Effect on Plant Growth¹

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.

¹ Contribution from the Soils Department, Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, Madison, Wis., in cooperation with the State Conservation Department. Publication approved by the Director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station. Presented before Section V-A, Soil Science Society of America, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 20, 1952.

² Assistant in Soils, University of Wisconsin. The writer is indebted to Dr. S. A. Wilde, under whose guidance this investigation was conducted, and to the late Dr. C. Audrey Richards of the U. S. Forest Products Laboratory, Division of Forest Pathology, for helpful advice and cultures of cellulose-destroying fungi.

Received for publication December 6, 1952.