Archives

Keep an eye on fast-changing world of composting, says AgTech researcher

As livestock producers face increasingly stringent environmental demands, they should keep a close eye on the world of composting, says a Project Manager at the AgTech Centre in Lethbridge, Alta.

Virginia Nelson has led several studies investigating the latest in windrow turners and other key composting technology. She says tools and strategies are advancing quickly, making the numerous benefits of composting more significant.

“The decision about whether to compost depends on many factors, including the amount of manure produced by an operation and the time and money a producer is willing to spend,” says Nelson. “But our experience shows that despite the initial cost of equipment, the resulting environmental and economic benefits of composting are often worth it.”

Most producers are aware of the fundamental benefits. Composting turns manure into a valuable resource by breaking it down into a humus-like product that can be applied as a soil amendment.

“When compost is applied to fields, it improves soil organic matter, reduces potential for soil erosion and minimizes fertilizer requirements,” says Nelson.

The process also reduces odor and makes manure easier to handle and store on the farm, she says. It does this by reducing overall moisture and volume, and by reducing ammonia.

“With no odour or fly problems, compost can be stored and applied to the land when it is convenient for the farmer,” Nelson explains. “And because the mass and volume of manure is reduced when it is composted, this increases the distance the nutrient-rich compost can be hauled economically.”

Another key advantage is that compost makes manure nitrogen available in a more targeted and efficient form. While the composting process decomposes manure, the essential nutrients are available in the same amount. “Composting converts nitrogen in manure into a more organic form that is bound to the soil and more readily used by plants,” she says. “This form of nitrogen is released slowly throughout the season, similar to man-made slow release nitrogen. It is also less likely to leach into the surface and groundwater.”

Studies show composting can help destroy weed seed viability. At the AgTech Centre, studies have found a 96.5 to 100 percent kill rate for all of the weed seeds when composting. These results are confirmed by studies by Olds College and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Compost can also help reduce pathogens, says Nelson. “Overall, studies indicate that many pathogens and weed seeds are destroyed in a properly managed windrow if the temperature remains above 55 degrees for at least two weeks. Studies are ongoing at many institutions that are testing highly contagious pathogens.”

The potential for compost is also expanding on the commercial front, she says. “Compost is becoming a more marketable product – everyone from farmers, gardeners, landscapers and sod producers, to golf course operators and others, are willing to purchase quality compost.”

The recently renamed AgTech Centre is part of the Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Agricultural Engineering Branch. The AgTech Centre has expanded its mandate to include all aspects of agricultural sustainability.

© 2002 Meristem Land and Science
Meristem® is a registered trademark of Meristem Information Resources Ltd. All rights reserved.
Legal Disclaimer