I've heard mixed opinions on using wood chips in soil due to potential nitrogen depletion. However, I watched a video where someone examined his Hugelkultur beds and found that the roots of his vegetable plants reached down about 12 inches to access the wood chunks at the bottom. This sparked my curiosity: could there be a beneficial relationship between mycelium and plants that suggests wood in soil is actually healthy? The roots weren't extending down to the unrotted wood because there was already mycelium throughout the soil. What are your thoughts on this?
3 Answers
Roots typically dig down, so a 12-inch reach isn't shocking for veggies. It's pretty common for them to delve deeper if they sense nutrients or moisture below. So, it sounds like your friend's plants were just doing their natural thing!
I've been using wood chips for paths and borders, and I've seen a huge boost in fungal growth in my garden. The plants near the chips are just as vibrant as those further away! It seems that using aged wood chips with twigs and leaves creates a great environment for mycelium and beneficial fungi. They can offer some solid compost-like benefits in a short time frame.
You're right about the nitrogen issue! Microorganisms do tie up nitrogen while decomposing wood, but that nitrogen gets released back as those organisms die. So, as long as you're careful and maybe add some nitrogen back into the mix, wood chips can still be beneficial. Plus, in a mature Hugelkultur bed, the microbial life can actually help reduce nitrogen loss over time!
Yeah, exactly! Nutrient cycling is key here. And don't forget that adding nitrogen-fixing plants can also help balance things out.