Abstract In California, assessing the potential ecosystem services provided by soil amended with large quantities of recycled woodchips is essential information for farm biomass management. In this study, we evaluated the impacts of whole orchard recycling (WOR) on soil ecosystem services in a 4‐year‐old replanted almond orchard during the 2023 and 2024 years. Assessed services include regulating soil gas emissions, for example, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), and methane (CH 4 ), and influence on soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and nitrate (NO 3 − ) leaching. Field measurements were made from WOR and unamended control plots subjected to low and median N fertilization. Soil samples were collected for NO 3 − , organic C, and total N analysis. Soil NO 3 − leaching was determined using buried soil resin traps. Cumulative CO 2 emissions were significantly higher in WOR than control across N subregions in 2023 ( p < 0.05) but not in 2024, suggesting a reduction in emission by Year 6. CO 2 emissions from orchard berm were statistically higher than alleyway regardless of treatments and N rates in both seasons ( p < 0.05). N 2 O emissions were similar across treatments and were mainly driven by N fertilization. CH 4 emissions were negligible for all treatments. Topsoil organic C and total N in WOR plots (1.38% and 1042 mg kg −1 ) were statistically greater than control (0.88% and 617 mg kg −1 ). No significant difference in NO 3 − leaching was detected. Overall, 4 years after WOR, ecosystem services were observed to be positive for soil C sequestration and N retention, slightly negative for CO 2 emission, and neutral for N 2 O and CH 4 emissions.
Thao et al. (2026) studied this question.