Joan Harrison Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council Value of Compost Joan Harrison Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council

Why is compost valuable? Mature compost is fast food for soil. It is a mixture of soil microbes and slow to break down organic materials on their way to becoming humus. Dirt + Compost= Soil Soil keeps the earth green and us fed!

Why bother to make compost? Composting reduces the weight and volume of materials (50% or more). You can handle many different types of materials in one system. The end product is moveable and can be placed where needed. Weed seeds and plant disease organisms are killed if the there is a prolonged heating phase.

Benefits of compost use Biological Chemical Physical

Biological Boosts beneficial bacteria and fungi populations in the soil Helps prevent plant diseases – the beneficial microbes out compete the problem ones. Bacteria Fungi

Chemical Compost acts as a slow release fertilizer. Most of the nutrients are stored in the bodies of the microbes and are released as wastes by larger organisms that eat them. The slow to degrade ‘humus’ material can hold onto positively charged nutrients like ammonium (a plant useable form of nitrogen).

Physical Compost improves soil’s Water and air holding ability Structure—easier to till or dig while still having soil particles hold together in small clumps

Main Uses Soil amendment Lawn and golf course establishment and maintenance Revegetating ditches Part of potting soil mix Mulch Compost tea

Soil Amendment Incorporate up to 2” (5cm) into cultivated topsoil. Most common use for compost. Incorporate up to 2” (5cm) into cultivated topsoil. Use to enrich soil in specific planting holes for transplants or trees.

Lawns, sports fields and Golf courses Use compost as a soil amendment when lawns or greens are established Used as a top dressing in established areas

Revegetating ditches Compost and seed mixtures are sprayed on the dirt surface of ditches and steep slopes. Can be very effective in establishing fast growth. Texas: 8 months from application to picture of vegetated ditch www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/success/successstories/vol2iss04.cfm

Potting soil mix Use mature, unsterilized compost Helps prevent damping off Use as approx. ¼ of mix Compost/soil recipe collection at www.attra.org

Compost as Mulch Coarse woody composts can be applied as surface mulches around trees and shrubs.

Simple Compost Tea Compost, mesh bag, dechlorinated water Steep for 30 minutes, use soon Tea has water soluble nutrients and antibiotics but few microbes Use to water plants Can be made in small or large volumes

Aerated Compost Tea Microbes extracted from compost Populations grown out in aerated water with carefully chosen foods ‘tea’ is brewed in aerated brewer for 12-48 hours Sprayed on soil or plant material within 4-6 hours of completed brewing Complex process but can be very helpful to renew soil microbes or prevent plant diseases.

Sample Commercial Brewers 5 gallon KIS brewer 55 gallon KIS brewer

Compost Extractors Extracts microbes from compost but does not enlarge population Allows microbes to be sprayed onto plant material Avoids some potential problems with pathogens Microbes in compost= microbes in solution

End