Indexing Compost Products David Crohn, UCR Dan Noble, ACP

Purpose Help users identify appropriate materials Guide users away from inappropriate products Give confidence to consumers in making purchases Help reduce bad experiences for both vendors and consumers

Woods End Laboratories: Compost Matrix “Up to” 30 parameters Proprietary A1 Organics: Classification System 10 parameter categories Divides composts into four “classes” Non-proprietary Other assessment systems:

System Components The Product Index The Best Use Directory

Product Index 1. Must earn respect and acceptance from the Innovator Market (IM) 2. Should include enough detail to evaluate the materials in sufficiently to satisfy IM 3. Should include parameter values familiar to IM 4. Should therefore reflect the conventional thinking of the IM

Product Index The Product Index is a series of numbers representing parameters of interest to IM Numbers in the Product Index are between 1 and 9 and represent categories associated with measurable properties

Best Use Directory The Use Directory is a list of Product Index values suitable for a range of particular applications such as Topdressing turf Azalea potting soil blends Improving infiltration in calcareous soils Citrus tree planting The Product Index for a particular compost is compared to the Use Directory create Best Use Directory for that product

Best Use Directory A Product Index is like a key. The Use Directory is a series of locks. A computer is used to find which locks fit a particular key. The Best Use Directory list those that it fits.

Index Parameters 1. Total nitrogen 2. Carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio 3. Total phosphorus 4. Electrical conductivity (ECe) 5. Sodium 6. Boron 7. Chloride 8. Stability 9. Particle size 10. Maturity (phytotoxicity) 11. Bulk density 12. Organic matter 13. Moisture content 14. Safety (pathogens and heavy metals)

Best Use Directory (Totally hypothetical example) Uses 1,3,5,6,7,8,9, and 10 are Best

Uses? What uses? Agriculture Landscape Environment

Agriculture Uses Vegetables Grains Forages Fiber crops Fruits & nuts Certified organic agriculture

Landscape Uses Composted mulch (growth) Composted mulch (suppression) Hydroseeding Containeruse Potting soils Container production- field Lawn/sod Production GH seedling establish. Lawn establishment, care Golf greens, sports fields Bedding Plants Drill seeding GH bedding plants General landscaping, bed establishment Planting amendments Shrubs Trees

Environment Uses Erosion control Filter Sock Media Inlet Sock Media Ditch Check Sock Media Stream Edge Saving Channel Socks Compost Berms Filter Rings Compost Blanket Steep Slope Protection Soil treatments Biofiltration Strips Vegetated Swales Wetlands restoration (or other natural ecosystems) Soil remediation or reclamation Roof-top gardens Manufactured Top Soil Absorbents Livestock bedding

The Parameters Measured according to strict industry standards (TMECC, STA preferred) Total Nitrogen May be budgeted in some areas to protect groundwater C:N ratio Estimates nitrogen availability Benefits plants Saves fertilizer

The Parameters Phosphorus Benefits plants Saves fertilizer May be controlled in some areas to protect surface water No fertilizer number is given, just 1 through 6

The Parameters EC (Electrical conductivity) Sodium Boron Chloride Can be toxic to certain plant species Expected by IM’s Will not be apparent to casual users Best Use Directory will exclude those plants sensitive to these if need be

The Parameters Stability Particle Size Sieve rates Phytotoxicity Germination Organic Matter 100% - combustion losses

The Parameters Safety Metals Pathogens Industry may set its own standards Soil Control Lab has large database that can be used to derive appropriate ranges Regulatory values can also be used.

Work Plan Assemble Team, Conduct Literature Search, Develop Work Plan, Identify Crops Hold project kick-off meeting Conduct literature search Perform analyses on data gaps Develop work plan Determine Research Methods, Conduct Needed Experiments Design research methods Identify reference crops Conduct experiments

Work Plan Use Collected Information to Set Specifications Compile data Draft specifications Implement Use Index Convene meetings with composters Incorporate new specifications into the ACP Use Index Develop means of communicating the Use Index to growers Assess, Refine, Implement

Conclusions The Use Index matches specific composts with appropriate uses to satisfy customers and build markets We are at the beginning of an iterative process involving UC, CIWMB, and the ACP Everyone’s input is invited in this collaborative effort What crops should we include?