Benefits of Compost Use David Allen MBS Environmental

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