Accelerating Stump Decay Processes
University Outreach Publication
There are two phases of decay in a stump, both known by their constraints. Immediately after cutting the stem, the nitrogen content of the stump wood, and the carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio of the stump site, control the rate of decay. The more wood nitrogen and the lower the C:N ratio (higher nitrogen content for the carbohydrate present), the more rapid the decay process. As the stump is colonized by decay fungi and reaches more than one-third mass loss, the lack of simple carbohydrates and a greatly increasing lignin:nitrogen ratio begin to slow decay rates. For most stump sites, the C:N ratio can be used to gauge about 80% of the rate of decay.
(FOR03-13) June 2003
K.D. Coder
2003
School of Forest Resources University of Georgia
Athens, GA
7
Aesthetics, Ecological Restoration, Maintenance Specifications, Protection (tree), Structure (tree)
National
Stump decay, Accelerated decay, Stump removal, Leaf characteristics, Stump removal methods