Benefits of Compost Use David Allen MBS Environmental
Dec 30, 2015
Benefits of Compost Use
David AllenMBS Environmental
Chemistry Physics
Biology
•Water Retention•Drainage•Aeration•Compaction
•Nutrient Supply•Nutrient Retention•pH Control
•Nutrient Recycling•Disease Control
Improving Physical Properties of Soils:Improving Physical Properties of Soils:•Improving water holding capacity•Reducing bulk density of compacted soils•Reducing clay dispersion in hard-setting soils•Improving drainage
•Improving water holding capacity•Reducing bulk density of compacted soils•Reducing clay dispersion in hard-setting soils•Improving drainage
Improving Biological Properties of Soils:Improving Biological Properties of Soils:•Provides nutrients and energy for soil flora and fauna•Increases nutrient recycling•Reduces plant pathogens and diseases
•Provides nutrients and energy for soil flora and fauna•Increases nutrient recycling•Reduces plant pathogens and diseases
• Supplies nutrients• “Unlocks” stored soil nutrients • “Slow-release” properties• Balanced nutrient profile• Improves effectiveness of added fertilisers
oIncreases nutrient retention (cations and trace elements)oReduces leaching losses of mobile nutrients
• Maintains near-neutral pH values:oLime effect on acidic soilsoReduces effects of soil alkalinity
• Supplies nutrients• “Unlocks” stored soil nutrients • “Slow-release” properties• Balanced nutrient profile• Improves effectiveness of added fertilisers
oIncreases nutrient retention (cations and trace elements)oReduces leaching losses of mobile nutrients
• Maintains near-neutral pH values:oLime effect on acidic soilsoReduces effects of soil alkalinity
Improving Chemical Fertility of Soils:
Quindalup Sand Spearwood Sand Bassendean sand
Forms of Nutrients in Compost
Incorporated into organic matter.(Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur)
Adsorbed onto organic matter surface.(Potassium, ammonium-N, calcium, boron, copper, zinc)
Inorganic minerals(Calcium, phosphorus, sulphur)
Water-soluble Salts(Sulphate-S, nitrate-N, soluble reactive phosphorus, chloride)
Comparison of Nutrient Content with Other Organics and FertilisersNutrient Units Compost Biosolids Cow
ManurePoultry Manure
Urea Super-phosphate
Nitrophoska
Nitrogen % 2.1 5.91 1.60 4.26 46 15
Phosphorus % 0.89 2.48 1 to 3 9 3.9
Potassium % 1.3 0.28 1.5 to 2.5 12.4
Calcium % 3.0 2.16 22 3.4
Magnesium % 0.39 0.79 1.2
Sulphur % 0.64 0.16 0.5 to 1.0 10 6.0
Boron mg/kg <100 49 9 18 100
Copper mg/kg 100 1000 35 51
Iron mg/kg 1700 6800 3000
Manganese mg/kg 300 100
Molybdenum mg/kg <10 18 1.2 1.5
Zinc mg/kg 400 1000 90 310 400 70
Nitrogen
Parameter Units A B C D E F
Carbon % 10.6 13.7 32.7 43.5 11.8 25.4
Nitrogen % 1.1 1.8 2.7 2.1 0.83 1.44
C : N ratio 9.6 7.7 12.2 21 14.4 17.6
NO3-N mg/L 115 343 3.6 1.4 15.8 34
NH4-N mg/L 1.0 0.43 407 0.32 0.18 74
Phosphorus
Parameter Units A B C D E F
Total P % 0.36 0.99 1.4 0.89 0.22 0.72
Extractable P % 0.19 0.40 0.57 0.29 0.126 0.29
Water-soluble P mg/L 4.3 4.6 59 15.7 9.5 1.55
Cations
Parameter Units A B C D E F
Total Ca % 1.5 3.5 4.3 3.0 1.5 3.6
Extr. Ca % 0.82 1.5 1.4 1.3 0.86 2.1
Total Mg % 0.28 0.46 0.40 0.39 0.19 0.27
Extr. Mg % 0.20 0.34 0.30 0.31 0.15 0.21
Total K % 0.53 0.77 1.0 1.3 0.27 0.27
Extr. K % 0.40 0.57 0.74 0.95 0.21 0.25
Total Na % 0.17 0.23 0.37 0.51 0.09 0.14
Extr. Na % 0.12 0.14 0.26 0.42 0.06 0.11
Trace Elements
Parameter Units A B C D E F
Total B mg/kg <100 <100 <100 <100 <100 <100
Extr. B mg/kg 4 6 18 12 12 13
Total Cu mg/kg <100 30 400 100 30 300
Extr. Cu mg/kg 3 2 58 19 8 9
Total Mn mg/kg 200 200 300 300 100 100
Extr. Mn mg/kg 94 130 160 110 47 50
Total Zn mg/kg 90 180 600 400 200 300
Extr. Zn mg/kg 58 110 380 290 120 200
Water Holding Capacity
Parameter Units A B C D E F
Water Holding Capacity % 47 52 53 61 61 -
pH Control
Parameter A B C D E F
pH 7.6 7.7 8.4 6.9 8.4 6.4
Cations AnionsBefore composting
AnionsAfter composting
Calcium
Magnesium
Potassium
Sodium
Organic anions
Phosphate
Sulphate
Nitrate
Alkalinity
A Year in the Life of a Phosphate Molecule
January
A Year in the Life of a Phosphate Molecule
February - March
A Year in the Life of a Phosphate Molecule
October - November
A Year in the Life of a Phosphate Molecule
December
Landfill
Application Rates
Intended Use Application Rate(cubic metres per hectare)
Increasing water holding capacity 50 to 200
Improving soil structure 20 to 100
Countering acidity/alkalinity 20 to 50
Long term nutrient supply 20 to 100
Short term nutrient supply 5 to 20
Improving soil biology <1 to 50