https://doi.org/10.4081/jae.2021.1111

Innovative process and technology for the production of wood mulch

Vol. 52 No. 1 (2021)
    Published:18 March 2021
    Glyphosate, nursery innovation, plant nursery, potted plants, wood chips.
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    Authors

    Lorenzo Fiorineschi
    lorenzo.fiorineschi@unifi.it
    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8458-2794
    Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence, Italy.
    Federico Rotini
    Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence, Italy.
    Giuseppe Rossi
    https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0211-9294
    Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Systems, University of Florence, Italy.
    Leonardo Conti
    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4181-5893
    Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Systems, University of Florence, Italy.

    Plant nurseries usually control weed growth with N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine treatment. Some studies have suggested potential impacts of this treatment on both the environment and users. A possible ecological alternative is the use of ground wood particles for mulching. However, the production of the required wood particles for use in potted plants is challenging. In this article, the classical chipping and sieving process is compared with a new proposed process involving chipping and refining phases. The two processes were applied to wood logs (spruce) from the forests of the Tosco-Emiliano Apennine. The tests were performed over a week using the machinery available at the Mo.To.R.E. (Montagna Toscana Ricerca Energie) consortium. Although the results achieved were based on preliminary evaluations, they indicated the potential superiority of the new process in terms of both economic and ecological efficiency. These findings can pave the way to the development of optimized processes aimed at a significant reduction in the use of chemical herbicides for weed control.

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    How to Cite

    Fiorineschi, L. (2021) “Innovative process and technology for the production of wood mulch”, Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 52(1). doi: 10.4081/jae.2021.1111.

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