COMPOST USE IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

INFORMATION SHEET 1: INTRODUCTION TO COMPOST PRODUCTS WHAT IS COMPOST?

Compost is organic matter that has been through a controlled process of natural aerobic decomposition. Compost products typically contain: soil-conditioning organic matter and humus beneficial micro-organisms or biota organic carbon that provides nutrient-holding cation exchange capacity and improves soil structure some immediate and slow release nutrients Good quality compost products are dark-coloured with a sweet, natural earthy or forest-floor smell. They are available commercially or can be made on farm. Different compost products meet different needs, including: Soil conditioners. The organic matter, humus and biological activity of composts can: Improve soil structure and tilth. Improve soil health. Improve fertility. Improve nutrient holding capacity Improve moisture holding capacity Mulch. Larger woody particles that have been through the composting process, can be screened into both fine and coarse mulches which can be used for water conservation and weed control. Composted mulches are typically heat hardened and will last a number of years after being applied. They also contain some soil conditioning humus and biological activity. Biological enhancers. Composts contain beneficial soil biota (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, etc.) that can improve soil health and suppress plant diseases. Composts that have been produced to have high levels of such biota can be used to make compost teas. Organic fertilisers. Although composts provide some nutrients and enhance fertility, they are not typically fertilisers unless they have had higher nutrient feedstock or additives introduced to build nutrients. At different stages of the composting process there are different levels of plant-available nutrients. Typically, older and more matured composts will have more plant available nutrients.

WHAT CAN COMPOSTS DO?

Composts can boost soil and plant health, and improve the resilience and productivity of farming systems. Composts typically produce the best results on poorer soils and in areas where water availability is a limiting factor. Some of the benefits of compost soil conditioners and mulches are outlined in Figures 1-1 and 1-2. These show that the right compost product used correctly can: Improve soil structure, tilth and depth Conserve soil moisture Improve water infiltration Increase the nutrient and water holding capacity of soil Keep soil temperatures more constant; cooler in summer and warmer at night Improve soil health Suppress diseases. Beneficial bacteria, fungi and other biota in composts can compete with and even prey on pathogenic fungi and bacteria. Provide slow release nutrients for plants Promote the cycling of nutrients by soil micro-organisms, building and maintaining a stock of plant-available nutrients Reduce the need for fertilisers and pesticides Improve root and plant growth. In turn, improved root and plant growth provides organics to the soil which builds soil carbon, soil biology and soil structure and depth. Health plants and roots feed the soil. Compost can be used as a starter with periodic booster applications to build and maintain healthy soils. The actual attributes and performance of compost products will depend on their quality and the ways in which they are used.
This series of factsheets provides an overview of the potential applications and benefits of using quality compost products in Central Victoria. These factsheets are part of a project co- funded by the Federal governments Caring for Our Country program, and supported by the Victorian Compost Industry. For further information, contact Bill Grant 0407 882 070

CARING FOR OUR COUNTRY COMPOST USE IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

COMPOST USE IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

FIGURE 1.1: BENEFITS OF COMPOST SOIL CONDITIONER. Improved soil health boosts plant growth which, in turn, further improves soil health through plants feeding /hosting of beneficial soil biota and also increases soil carbon from root and plant growth.

Healthy plant growth

BETTER WATER INFILTRATION & RETENTION

Healthy root growth

BENEFICIAL BACTERIA, FUNGI, etc

IMPROVED TILTH & DEEPER SOIL

DISEASE SUPPRESSION

Improved soil structure

COMPOST

Healthy soil biota

NUTRIENT CYCLING

SOIL PED FORMATION

pH BUFFERING

Soil carbon/ humus

INCREASED STORED SOIL CARBON IMPROVED CATION EXCHANGE

NUTRIENT HOLDING & SLOW RELEASE

FIGURE 1.2: BENEFITS OF A COMPOSTED MULCH (LEFT) COMPARED WITH NO MULCH (RIGHT).
INCREASED WATER INFILTRATION MORE RUN OFF WATER LOSS & EROSION MORE WEEDS

COMPOSTED MULCH
MORE CONSTANT SOIL TEMPERATURE

MOISTURE RETENTION

GREATER EVAPORATION LOSSES

Healthy root growth

BENEFITS OF SOIL CONDITIONING COMPOST FINES

Improved soil structure

COMPOST

Healthy soil biota

LOWER SOIL CARBON & POORER STRUCTURE

NO COMPOST

Soil carbon/ humus

NO COMPOSTED MULCH

THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN FUNDED AND SUPPORTED BY:

COPYRIGHT GRANTS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY SERVICES 2009

CARING FOR OUR COUNTRY COMPOST USE IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE