Agricultural and Horticultural Use of Wood Residues in California

The paper presents the results of a survey of log processing plants in California to develop information on the market for fine residues (bark, sawdust, and shavings) for agricultural uses. The log processor can now turn slabs, edgings, and trim into income producing products. Enforcement of air pollution standards will require that markets for fine residues also be developed and expanded. Agricultural products with volumes produced by study mills representing 15 percent of California timber cut are: 1) animal bedding–290,000 cubic yards of shavings and sawdust, 2) soil amendments and potting mixes–250,000 cubic yards of sawdust and shavings, and 65,000 cubic yards of bark (nitrogen; iron sometimes added), 3) ground covers and mulches–110,000 cubic yards of bark and 10,000 cubic yards of sawdust, shavings, and chips. The volume of fine residues sold by the study mills has been increasing since 1960 at an average rate of 100,000 cubic yards annually. Although the total value of these products in 1963 for all processing plants in California is only about 2-million dollars, the author believes the agricultural market to be the greatest single volume market for fine residues and predicts a dynamic expansion of this market as an alternative to refuse burning. Based on 1963 timber cut and conversion factors for bark, sawdust, and shavings, the volume of these materials generated by log-processing plants in California is 34,050,000 cubic yards, of which half might be diverted to power plants in the near future.

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