In the french-speaking biointensive gardening community there is much talk of BRF (branches chipped and used as mulch). If I understood it right, the technique consists of spreading 3cm of freshly chipped branches thinner than 7cm diameter, and mixed into the top 5-15 cm of the soil.
This mixing in results in a nitrogen deficiency initially, followed by increase in water retention, humus building and less weeds. To reduce nitrogen deficiency, BRF is spread before January.
Now I’m wondering if any of you have used this method? And am I correct in thinking that if BRF is not mixed in then there would not be a nitrogen problem?