Management of forest residues for rapid decay

Abstract

Forest residues of two age classes (less than 1 year old and between 1 and 2 years old) were chipped and piled (1.0- to 1.5-m piles) on the cutting site. Chip piles were inoculated with decay fungi [Coriolus versicolor (L. ex Fr.) Quél., Hirschioporus abietinus (Dicks ex Fr.) Donk, or Poria placenta (Fr.) Cke.] alone and in combination with a liquid suspension of yeasts [Saccharomyces bailii Linder var. bailii and Pichia pinus (Holst) Phaff] and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Enterobaeter spp.). Temperatures were recorded at the surface, middle, and bottom of each chip pile. Samples taken 16 months after inoculation revealed successful colonization and proliferation of the fungal inocula. Postinoculation compression tests showed that significantly more decomposition occurred in wood chips inoculated with wood-destroying fungi than those receiving no inoculation. Even greater losses of wood integrity occurred when the fungi were inoculated in combination with yeasts and bacteria. Morphological examination of wood chips using scanning electron microscopy confirmed successful colonization and glucosamine assays confirmed proliferation of the fungal inoculum in the chip pile.