[KenH]

from the soil???

 

[bobbygedd]

ok, now, what about this one? want me to answer, or will you do the honors?

 

[KenH]

hehe.....go ahead.

 

[GLAN]

The process of decomposition requires a fuel source. That fuel source is Nitrogen.

 

[jwholden]

Does that have something to do with the microbes that decompose the stump and roots using Nitrogen as a food source hence making it unavailable to the plants above (though I usually notice this more in lawns).

I remember seeing something about that on HGTV a couple of weeks ago.

 

[KenH]

Ding ding ding ding......we have a winner.... Although I was really looking foward to bobbygedds answer...

John----You wtch way too much TV...you should be out working...

 

[bobbygedd]

glan stole my answer. no, not really. i didnt know.

 

[GLAN]

Ummm..................

If you mulch planting beds with any "organic" hardwood mulch or any wood product. The soil will be depleated of NITROGEN.


NITROGEN is the FUEL source for decomposition


So why would would you think the stump is any different?

 

[KenH]

Originally posted by GLAN


So why would would you think the stump is any different?

Im not sure what you mean by this......I do believe a rotting stump removes precious N from the soil. (See my other threads about planting on top of tree stumps.)

 

[bobbygedd]

typing skills? whats wrong with my typing skills?

 

[GLAN]

Sorry Ken


Not sure exactly who my response was to

 

[Fantasy Lawns]

Wood-rotting fungi are carnivorous ....... hungry for nitrogen as well as most other nutrients

 

[Phishook]

Hmmm.

So you mulch leaves in the fall, are you actually removing Nitro. from the soil as well? Or is it just the massive decomp. of a stump that is noticable, and the leaves break down differently.

Should I varnish the wood mulch before installing?

 

[fblandscape]

There is a thing called C:N ratio. That is Carbon to Nitrogen. The microbes in the soil prefer I believe about 20 or 30 to 1. Things like grass have lower C:N ratios than things like wood chips. When the microbes come to things like grass clippings, they are happy because they don't have to work very hard to get the N that they want out of it. However when they come to things like wood chips, they still want that N, but have to go through the C to get it. It takes a bit longer for them to get the N out of the wood chips, so while they are doing that, they aren't processing N from more viable sources.

 

[Rustic Goat]

Hard to beat a happy microbe, especially when they have a party.

 

[SWD]

fblandscape's answer is closest to being accurate.
Microbes do not utilize N as a fuel source.
All living organisims, from simple cell to complex have to have Carbon.
The organic chemical reaction that occurs does not deplete the nitrogen, it ties it to exchange sites making it unavailable to turf. This reaction also has an effect upon pH, soil structure, microbial populations, etc.

 

[fblandscape]

SWD, the two microbes that are responsible for this are nitrobacter and something else, right? I think its like nitrosomonus bacter?

 

[lugnut#6]

arent dead leaves close to devoid of N?
green contains more N than brown?

 

[fblandscape]

Dead leaves are not devoid of N. However they do have a higher C:N ratio than green leaves. All that really means is that the microbes will have to work harder to get that N.

 

[mower_babe]

hey, should I be writing this down?

psst-Bobby, can I borrow a pencil?