From here:
http://appalachianagroforestry.wordpress.com/chestnut-hill-research-site/chestnut-hill-site/experimental-chestnut-forest-gardening/
The Ramial Debris “Hugel-swale” Planting Method:
This is a long-term soil fertility planting strategy that involves filling a swale with ramial woody debris, similar to the Austrian “hugelkultur” raised bed system. After the swale is dug to capture
water, and the ramial woody debris (deciduous woody material not more than 2.5 inches in circumference) is packed down, the woody material is covered with soil or
compost. We usually use a mixture of forest and field soil, and mix in some manure, compost, seaweed, and a tad bit of homemade inoculant (from other chestnuts). On steeper hillsides the entire pile is staked in place with a few stakes made from the larger branches of the woody debris.
In The Holistic Orchard, Michael Phillips, explains that the newest growth of deciduous woody plant material contains soluble lignins with a high proportion of nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, etc…), and a lower
Carbon:Nitrogen ratio (30-170:1, as opposed to 400-750:1 as in normal stem or trunk
wood). Sapyrophytic microbes that cause white rots break down the hardwood organic matter creating fulvic and humic acids from the lignins (as opposed to polyphenols and allapathic compounds caused by brown rots decomposing softwood cellulose).
This type of woody carbon-based planting technique will create a deep and mycorrhizal-rich soil that will hold water and nutrients. The mycorrhizal associations you’ll be creating from planting this way will help your
trees get off to a good start with supportive mineralization processes, healthy anti-biotics, and fungal secretions to stimulate feeder
roots.
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