Two questions and comments came up last week about the use of mulch in orchards. The first is that mulch is two edged. It serves to combat erosion and root rot, but it can also burn. Mulch and wood piled up against tree trunks and near trunks can cause damage to those trunks. A Fillmore grower actually goes through the orchard with a blower to move mulch away from trunks when alerted to fire. On the other hand, irrigated orchards have been shown to be effective at suppressing fire encroaching on homes.
So where to read more about fire? About mulch? Check out some of the blogs from the past.
Phire, Phlood, Phreeze and Fytophthora
http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=22760
Mulch and green waste applied to avocado orchards and More
Green Waste, Yard Waste, Whatever You Call It- It has Simple Rules for Use
http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=13093
A Safer Source of Inexpensive Orchard Mulch
http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=12867
http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6458
Cellulase Production by Various Sources of Mulch
http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6809
A Caution on Free "Compost/Mulch"
http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=11712
A Safer Source of Inexpensive Orchard Mulch
http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=12867
Mulch, Avocados and the Home Garden
http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=14906
Mature Compost Does NOT Kill Phytophthora
http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=19856
Use of Mulch in Organic Orchards Called into Question
http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=21394