Do woodchips contaminate soil?

[moose]

Here is my problem. I've been dumping my chips at the same place for about 6 or 7 years,probably about 1000 loads or so.
It's the perfect place,lots of room and he has his own backhoe to spread them and I dump them there and never have to look at them again and it's only 5 minutes from my place.
His parents own the place and they wanted the woodchips at first.
Now they say that they are afraid that it might contaminate the soil.
Iwant to see what you guys think.

 

[Lumberjack]

I would say no...

The chips rotting use alot of nitrogen (i think) in their rotting process. Think of it as a big compost pile, it is fertilizer not poision.

 

[tawilson]

The chips you put there the first couple of years must be dirt by now, aren't they?

 

[moose]

Originally posted by tawilson
The chips you put there the first couple of years must be dirt by now, aren't they?

That's what I think, but I need to convince them.
I've dumped about 3 or 400 loads on my own property over the same time period about 100 yards from my house.
And I just built a new house this year and had the water tested
and its fine. No bacteria, no pollution or anything.
I'm just wondering about in the long run if there is a chance of any contamination whatsoever.
I have about 10 acres in the back here that I can dump chips on for the next 20 years, but I would have to build a road back there
which would cost me probably about $5000 and then buy a tractor for another $5000. I would rather convince them to take them then I don't have to look at them ever again.

 

[NeTree]

I don't see a problem.

One place I dump sells the soil for a pretty price... it's stone-free.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

keep it up and you will certainly contaminate a water course ,the nitrogen will starve the water of oxygen and kill all the fish.....

 

[murphy4trees]

How can you be certain of that????
Is this land even near water???
As far as bacteria.... remember woodchips are part of the process for treating sludge....
I'd be concerned about acid build up.... Talk to the county extension agent...

 

[Dadatwins]

I used to dump chips for years in some lots my dad owned and never had any problems. Probably filled in about 6 - 7' of low property with chips and stump grinding. Chips would break down to almost dirt like quality about 6" down. Dad planted some apple trees and grape vines on some sections and they grew better in that soil than store bought bagged topsoil. Dig down about a foot and check out the soil.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

im baceing my theory on pig farmers in the UK ...surely chip and pig sh** are high in nitrogeon..i know the usa is a big country but surely you must be close too run off ditches or small water courses

 

[NickfromWI]

You're comparing wood chips to pig sh!t?

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

yes......................

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Wood has nowhere near the N as fecal matter. There is smoe, but I cannot see the runoff as being hazardous.

I would go price a bag of humus at a garden center, then tell them that that is what they are getting for free.

Speek of it as wood compost, there are companies out there that prosess wood chip and sell it as composted humus.

here is a searc on "wwod compost"

http://www.dogpile.com/info.dogpl/search/web/wood+compost

 

[Stumper]

The local tree farm will take all I will bring them.-The owner says "they are like gold to us". Surprisingly they use green, raw chips, to heel-in balled and burlap trees(they are mixing the chips with earth and horse manure). They produce a lot of trees. It seems that nitrogen robbing is not the bugaboo with uncomposted chips that some of us were led to believe. If the mix is right you need not wait to add wood to soil.

 

[Gypo Logger]

It seems that all vegetated matter (organic) is consumed by microbrial action. The rate at which it does may be circumspect, but it's probably no biggy in the whole equation of things. Death promotes life, so in essence there is no death.
John

 

[murphy4trees]

From what I can remember the loss of N in soil from composting woodchips has never been shown to have an adverse effect on trees... Pretty much the only thing that it'll hurt is a vegetable garden

 

[SilverBlue]

Wood has an extremely high carbon/ nitrogen ratio and is naturally broken down by fungi unless supplemental nitrogen is added to the pile. If excess nitrogen was used depending on what form, then the possibility it leaching or surface run off during rain could be a possibility. Depending on the species of trees pH could be a factor, tannic acid and even turpentine from pine bark. While not affecting water quality, wood chip piles can be a breading area for Sphaerobolus stellatus more commonly known as shotgun fungus and of course wood chip piles or mulch are attractive to termites. Bottom line Moose, the only way to know for sure is to have a soil test done by a lab, they are not expensive and you can contact Ag Canada for more info if you want.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Watching paint dry is probably more entertaining.
John

 

[Gypo Logger]

P.S, Do woodticks contaminate the soil?
From personal experience, I wood say so!
Franks Planks

 

[murphy4trees]

The termite thing is questionable... I've heard thet don't like the moveable stuff like chips and mulch... they prefer the stationery stuff like stumps..

 

[SilverBlue]

Originally posted by murphy4trees
The termite thing is questionable... I've heard thet don't like the moveable stuff like chips and mulch... they prefer the stationery stuff like stumps..

It depends on the species of termite Daniel, all termites eat cellulose. If the wood chip pile provides the proper environment such as depth, moisture and temperature it can attract them and either hold them or provide a staging area to invade a house if one is nearby.