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loggrower
Log Cultivator


Registered: 08/02/13
Posts: 273
Loc: Oregon - Coast Range
Last seen: 6 years, 6 months
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Wood Nitrogen Content
#19112137 - 11/09/13 09:09 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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For the longest time I was puzzling over why the heck Red Alder was so great versus other types of wood... Then I finally came across the data I was looking for last night.
Most wood types from most trees contain around 0.07-0.2% nitrogen. Red Alder bark contains 0.4% or slightly higher nitrogen... I was looking through a wood burning guide and it was discussing the problems of nitric oxide being generated from burning Red Alder.
That explains a lot... Besides the fact that Red Alder has nearly nonexistent heartwood. Anyone found any comprehensive tables that show what poplar and other wood contains? Nitrogen/Lignin/Cellulose tables?
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raceme
Neither D nor L


Registered: 11/26/12
Posts: 663
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
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Re: Wood Nitrogen Content [Re: loggrower]
#19112733 - 11/09/13 11:45 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Sorry, no table, but I do have a fun fact! Alders contain so much nitrogen because they are actinorhizal plants: plants that fix nitrogen. Alders have a symbiotic relationship with Frankenia bacteria, similar to how legumes like peas and beans are symbiotic with Rhizobia bacteria. They from gnarly-looking root nodules in which live their bacteria partners. The trees provide to bacteria with food, and the bacteria in turn transform N2 into NO3- (or maybe NH4+, I can't remember), making the N available for the tree.
If you live somewhere warm, I think that Moringa oleifera is another nitrogen-fixing tree, and a fast grower to boot.
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leschampignons
Biochemistry + Mycology


Registered: 08/30/13
Posts: 1,583
Loc: NY/NJ/ME
Last seen: 28 days, 2 hours
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Re: Wood Nitrogen Content [Re: loggrower]
#19115442 - 11/10/13 03:20 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Very interesting, thanks for sharing. was thinking of doing a soak with grass water or lime/ash water next time I do logs for adding nitrogen and contolling pH respectively.
If I do so I will make a thread about it in the future.
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loggrower
Log Cultivator


Registered: 08/02/13
Posts: 273
Loc: Oregon - Coast Range
Last seen: 6 years, 6 months
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I wouldn't bother with it. I have been considering spraying the ends of logs with a hydrated lime solution after they are soaked to prevent the ends from potentially molding.
I won't have to think about that until late next spring. My Shiitake logs won't need a soak until then at the earliest.
Probably best just to watch the weather forecast and soak the logs when it's real dry and windy out... That way I can get the surfaces dried back out in a flash so there is nothing to worry about!
There is one downside to using a highly productive wood like Red Alder for Shiitake... Management of rich high nitrogen wood is VERY tricky just like a heavily bran supplemented substrate.
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