Tree bark a recyclable waste of industrial forestry as a soil substrate for use in plant production

Abstract

This study tested the feasibility of using tree bark (in both its fresh and composted state) and mixtures of tree bark and sawdust as soil substrates and soil emendments.
The results indicate that tree bark and sawdust have desirable physical and chemical properties for the production of seedlings in tree nurseries, as well as for the production of vegetables. Nevertheless, tree bark and sawdust, when used as soil emendments, can obstruct the microbial use of nitrogen. For this reason, it would be necessary to apply nitrogen to the substrates in order to compensate for the nitrogen deficiency.