0471-2335-MTDC: Shredding Small Trees to Create Mulch for Erosion Control

For more information on this project, contact Clearwater National Forest employee Karen Smith (208–935–4252, e-mail: kasmith03@fs.fed.us) or Johnson Brothers Contracting, Inc., employee Craig Thomas (406–543–5355).

[photo] Bandit 3680

Figure 10—The Bandit 3680 shredding material to
mulch a side slope on the Granite Pass Road.

[photo] Side slope after mulching

Figure 11—The side slope after mulching was completed.

Future Work

Now that we have identified three machines that meet our specifications or that can be modified to meet them, we will be looking at collection and distribution systems for the shredded material. The collection system will use nets, bins, bales, or some other system that can transport shredded material. We also will consider distribution systems that can place the material at the site.

Additional Shredding Machines

Manufacturers that make recyclers, grinders, or shredders that meet our requirements or that could be modified to meet our requirements to manufacture shredded wood include:

Bandit Industries
Web site: http://www.banditchippers.com/

Morbark, Inc.
Web site: http://www.morbark.com/

Rawlings Manufacturing, Inc.
Web site: http://www.rawlingsmanufacturing.com/

Trelan
Web site: http://www.trelan.com/

Vermeer Manufacturing Co.
Web site: http://www.vermeer.com/

Wood/Chuck Chipper Corp.
Web site: http://www.woodchuckchipper.com/menupage.htm

Peterson Pacific Corp.
Web site: http://www.petersonpacific.com/index.htm

Precision Husky Corp.
Web site: http://www.precisionhusky.com/

Universal Refiner Corp.
Web site: http://www.universalrefiner.com/default.htm

Additional Information

For a more complete listing of mulchers, grinders, and shredders (also known as masticators), refer to the Understory Biomass Reduction Methods and Equipment Catalog (0051–2826–MTDC, /eng/t-d.php?link=pubs, search for catalog).

The Rocky Mountain Research Station is investigating using wood strands (4 to 16 millimeters wide and 60, 120, or 240 millimeters long) as an alternative to straw for erosion control. During laboratory tests, the wood strands were statistically equal to straw in reducing runoff and sediment production. See Wood Strands as an Alternative to Agricultural Straw for Erosion Control (0423–1302P–SDTDC,
/eng/pubs/html/04231302/04231302.html).