1. Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 © Carbon Farming Conference 2010 Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre

2. Presentation outline  Compost Industry- Who are we?  Organic Matters  Carbon – Price or Priceless  “Peak carbon” Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 ©

3. The compost industry - Who are we? Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 ©

4. COLLECTION – manures, crop residues, wood waste, food waste, bio-solids and other organic inputs. TECHNOLOGIES – turned windrow (aerobic), anaerobic digestion, aerated static, in-vessel, etc etc. PROCESS – Controlled aerobic and thermophilic biological transformation to achieve pasteurization to a specified level of maturity = COMPOST

5. How big is the Industry? Australia wide 5.5 million tonnes processed 130+ businesses selling products 70 businesses of any significant size 12 businesses composting > 100,000 t/yr Largest 3 businesses composting >300,000 t/yr Estimates suggest Australia could compost 10-15 million t/yr of organic material 4.28 Mt CO2-e prevented with the diversion of 3.7 Mt from landfills 2006/7. Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 ©

6. NSW NSW represents 30% of the national compost industry. 44 licensed composting facilities in NSW, employing 600+ Recent increase in on-farm composting facilities in NSW. AS4454 – compost, soil conditioners and mulch. BFA, NASAA, and Leaf Mark certified products available. Approx.1.6 million t/yr of organic material is recycled in NSW.

7. APPLICATIONS Horticulture – indoor and in-field vegetables, orchards, perennial crops, and herbs Agriculture – broad acre cropping and grazing Viticulture – wine grapes and table grapes Floriculture – indoor and in-field annuals and perennials Landscaping – home gardens, sporting fields, council parks and gardens Rehabilitation – mine site, roadside, riverbank and gully erosion control Bioremediation – contaminated soils, stormwater, biofilters

8. BENEFITS Applying compost contributes to soil and environmental health in many ways, including: Compost improves crop production Compost improves soil fertility - physical, chemical and biological Compost adds organic matter and slow release nutrients Compost adds to the stock of soil carbon Compost improves water use efficiency and water savings Compost assists in disease suppression Compost reduces wind and water erosion damage

9. Organic Matters So why compost? It’s literally been around for 1000’s of years Our problems are not new! Or are they? Or is it that we are now more inclined than every to do something about it!

10. Organic Matter In a summary of the major management options to sequester carbon in Australian agricultural soils Scientists at CSIRO suggest organic matter inputs such as compost provide high confidence and potential to sequester carbon. Equal alternatives – the retirement of land and/or return land from crops to pastures. Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 ©

11. Organic Matter to Sequestered Carbon  Back of the envelope example  Let’s say the OM content of a compost is 40%  Carbon after loss on ignition would be ~ 23%  C/N ratio = 19:1  Stable and mature compost.  Perfect for sequestration with extra benefits. Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 ©

12. So we know!  1tonne of compost = ~ 230kg of total carbon  This carbon has survived an intense, microbial, metabolic process, with a mixed proportion of labile and recalcitrant organic carbon remaining.  Perfect for biology, production and storage  But how much of this C can be sequestered??? Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 ©

13. A draft international review highlights several models which suggest applied carbon in compost could be retained at: 45% over a 20yr period 35% over a 50yr period 10% over a 100yr period – this 100 yr period is seen as relevant Other data suggests 9%-14% range after 100yr depending on soil type and crop rotation However ‘time waits for no man/woman’

14. Compost @ 1 x 10 dry t/ha compost = ~2.3 t C/ha Sequestered Carbon may = at 45% over 20yr period = ~1.035 t C/ha at 35% over 50 yr period = ~805 kg C/ha at 10% over 100 yr period = ~230 kg C/ha  Models are one thing, what about the reality! Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 © So if we were to act now!

15.  Reality is, little published Australian scientific data exists on using compost. QLD - 15% increase after 8 months in SOC this fell to 10% after 19 months. 1 x 48t/ha application (Harper 2009) NSW - 7% and 38.5% higher SOC than conventional practice after 18 months and three crops. 1 x 60t/ha & 1 x 120t/ha application (Chan et al. 2008) WA - 42.7% retained after 18 months and five crops on sandy soil and 78.7% retained on clay amended sandy soil. 5 x 30m 3 /ha {12.5t/ha} application (Paulin et al. 2005) Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 ©

16.  Increases of 13 and 8 t C/ha when compared to the control and farmers practice treatments. Source: Chan KY (2008)  This equates to 51.6 and 31.7% of initial compost carbon remaining after 3 yrs, 5 crops and 15 cultivations.  NSW - 120 dry t/ha compost application of which 25.2 t is Carbon – 21% Carbon level with C/N of 19.1 Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 © So the 45%/20yr timeframe may ring true! 25 33 23 32 20

17. Carbon Price or Priceless  $10/t, $20/t, $30 or more, should it matter what price?  The current price per tonne of CO2 on most Carbon/Climate Exchanges is around $20. http://www.ofa.org.au/media/Soil-Carbon-Scheme-Could-Offset-Australias-Greenhouse-Emissions.pdf  The Coalition has assumed it can drive this charge into soil carbon with offset prices of $8-$10 a tonne. http://theland.farmonline.com.au/blogs/out-here/lets-get-serious-about-soil-carbon/1917601.aspx  International units have reached up to $20 per tonne of carbon in recent times. www.alp.org.au/getattachment/...89fa.../carbon-farming-initiative/ Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 © Source: Land 2010

18. So how will the dollars stack up at $20t?  Compost @ 100yr x 10 dry t/ha/yr = ~2.3 t C/ha/yr  45% retention @ 20yr = ~103.5 t C/ha or $2,070/ha  35% retention @ 50yr = ~80.5 t C/ha or $1,610/ha  10% retention @ 100yr = ~23 t C/ha or $460/ha  Treat this like “fruit for the sideboard” or “cream” Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 ©

19. Carbon Price or Priceless Carbon is essential for healthy and productive soils Carbon increases soil fertility, buffers pH, reduces soil borne disease and can reduce acidity, salinity and sodicity. Improves water holding capacity, stimulates microbial activity and nutrient availability. Etc etc etc. Carbon ‘Is PRICELESS for your soil’. Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 ©

20. Peak Carbon – A not so mythical thing  We all know carbon is primarily mined, exported and sold from every hectare of productive land inherently within the sale of any produce from that land.  A ‘carbon reduction scheme’ if you like!  Just one of the reasons why Australian soils have low soil carbon! Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 ©

21. Peak Carbon – Inputs, Outputs & Storage  To truly address this!  ‘ All productive land requires replacement carbon to balance any loss by removal. ‘Humus Balance’  To go beyond this and sequester CARBON long term – to actually reach Peak Carbon.  You’ll need to add greater amounts of carbon than those exported in production and required for balance.  Compost can help you reach Peak Carbon. Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 ©

22. Peak Carbon – The reward of compost Develop resilient viable production systems built on nurture which function and flourish with nature.  The ultimate reward is the gift you give to the soil now that will repay in many ways for years to come.  Remembering - “You’ve got nothing to lose if its already lost”! Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 ©

23. You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Mahatma Gandhi Compost NSW – D Fahey 2010 © To find a compost supplier visit compostforsoils.com.au

24. An initiative of Compost Australia NSW MIDO funding provided by; - NSW Department of Environment Climate Change & Water (DECCW) - Compost NSW - Compost for Soils Business Partners