First of all, howdy. I have used these boards as a reference for some time now, and finally decided to become a member...howdy.
I have a handful of questions, the first being should I post them separate, or all in one thread?
SInce I don't know your preference yet, I'm gonna post them all here.

#1-Leaf mold. I remember reading somewhere that certain leaves possess growth inhibitors. I remember Black Walnut being one of them...I think, but don't remember the rest. Any info on this would be appreciated.
#2-Kudzu compost. I am familiar w/Charles Wilber, but have found no one else that has tryed this, and found zero information on what kind of nutrient ratio, additional hormones, vitamins...Again, any information on this subject would be appreciated
#3-Hickory nut hulls. I have recently began using these as a soil aerator/lightener in containers, and have seen great growth rates w/the improved soil structure. But, it appears to suppress flowering/fruit production.
Again, any infoÂ…blah, blah, blahÂ…Thanks guys.

I have tons of Kudzu available but have never taken the plunge for fear that I would find a variety that reproduces vegetatively. BTW how does it reproduce.

I shred literally 1000s of hickory nut hulls for leaf mulch, compost and direct addition to my veggie garden for the past 3 years and haven't noticed any ill effects. Except for the rabbits eating the beans. :_|

Welcome to OG
Dirt

I have tons of kudzu every year. I just turn my goats out on it and they obliterate it.

Thanks Dirt...Nice to meet ya.

1) The Black Walnut, a member of the "Juglans" family produces a growth suppressent, an allelopathic property, called juglone. It is present in the various parts of the tree in various levels, but from my experience not to much in the leaves. I have been using the leaves in my mulches and compost for years and see no problem with growth. Few of the species of trees will cause problems if the leaves are used in compost or leaf mold.
2) Because of its rank growth Kudzu would make an excellent addition to compost, once dried. I'm told that Kudzu has been known to root from green cuttings, and somewhere no very long ago I saw an article about Kudzu that answers your quaestion but I don't recall where.
3) Hickory Nut hulls mixed into the soil will cause the soil microbes to consume large quantities of Nitrogen to digest them, causing stunted plant growth due to the unavailablitiy of Nitrogen. If you use these same hulls as a mulch that won't happen, so don't mix the hulls into the soil.

) Hickory Nut hulls mixed into the soil will cause the soil microbes to consume large quantities of Nitrogen to digest them, causing stunted plant growth due to the unavailablitiy of Nitrogen. If you use these same hulls as a mulch that won't happen, so don't mix the hulls into the soil.

I understand composting/soil life and the effects or "fresh" ingredients...and I have not experimented long enough w/the use of this ingredient to argue, but, how would this be different from a pine bark fines based medium. Or a peat based medium...
Any an all soils are gonna continue to breakdown, therefore necessitating microbial energy, and of course, N. But would this particular ingredient require enough microbial energy to be broken down to effect plant growth significantly?
I have yet to witness any N problems w/the plant material , and the mediums they are in are not exactly loaded w/N, a lil fish emulsion, and a guano tea from time to time, but not a heavy rates.
Again, I'm not arguing, I wouldn't have asked if I knew the answer. I'm simply attempting a better understanding.

It is how the material is presented to the soil bacteria. Mixed into the soil it is seen as something that needs to be digested quickly, and it makes no difference which type of organic matter it is that is mixed in. Peat moss is difficult for soil microbes to digest unless lots of other sources of nutrients, such as manure, are also added because peat moss has no nutrients, nothing to feed the soil bacteria. If the material is placed on top of the soil, as a mulch, the bacteria in the soil are not concerned about digesting that right away, they will work on it as time and energy permit, and that does not require Nitrogen which they convert to protein to make stong bodies to do the work they do.
If you have not seen any problems with organic matter mixed into soils then you had enough Nitrogen to meet the needs of the soil bacteria. Fish emulsions and bat guano are both relatively high Nitrogen products. Any high carbon material will cause problems with Nitrogen "depletion" if mixed into a soil to which additional sources of Nitrogen are not added, unless it is a good healthy soil with adequate N reserves.
Hope this helps, some.

I have a few large pecan trees in my yard that I never harvest is it relatively safe to rake them up with the leaves and put them in a compost pile? Or will I be forever pulling up little trees?