Land Application of Compost Issues and Benefits Vernon Rodd, Philip Warman, John MacLeod, John Cline and Peter Hicklenton Compost Matters: March 3 rd, 2009
Outline of Presentation Definition of compost Types of compost Results of land application trials 2
Compost: a fertilizing material consisting largely of decayed organic material. (Merriam Webster) or: a solid mature product resulting from composting which is a managed process of bio-oxidation of a solid hetrogeneous substrate including a thermophillic phase (CCME, CCC, BNQ, AAFC) 3
Compost Criteria in Canada Maturity Foreign Matter Trace Elements Pathogens 4
Maturity (must meet two of the following criteria) C:N ratio <25 or O 2 uptake <150 mg O 2 /kg volatile solids/hr or germination of cress or radish must be 90% of control and growth rate of compost and soil must not differ more than 50% comparison with control sample. Other indices or Compost must be cured for 21 days Compost will not reheat upon standing to greater than 20C above ambient or organic matter reduction > 60% by weight Must be cured for a six month period 5
Foreign material: Any material over 2 mm that results from human intervention and having organic or inorganic constituents that may be present in the compost but excluding mineral soils, woody material and rocks. 6
Trace Elements: Arsenic, Cadmium, Cobalt, Chromium, Copper, Mercury, Molybdenum, Nickel, Lead, Selenium, and Zinc. ** Criteria vary with individual elements and whether the compost meets Class A or B standard 7
Pathogens <1000 MPN /g of total solids for faecal coliforms no salmonellae present (3 MPN/4g total solids) In-vessel Composting- 55C or greater for 3 days Windrow Composting- 55 C or greater for at least 15 days and turned at least five times Aerated Static Pile- 55 C or greater for 3 days 8
Types of Composts Discussed: Municipal Source Separated Solid Waste Agriculture- Compostanimal household manure waste, with soiled bedding. paper Typically products composted and yard either waste. windrow Typically or aerated static pile. Fisheries Waste- fish offal with carbon source composted either in-vessel or windrow added. Typically aerated static pile. 9
Major nutrients (%) in some starting materials. Manure Waste % Beef Z Dairy Y Swine Y Poultry Y SSMSW Z Lobster or Crab x Dry Matter 18.9-25.0 15-25 20-30 20-30 45-61 40-60 Total N 1.7-2.1 0.6-2.1 3.0-4.0 2.0-4.5 9.9-20.1 2.6-6.7 Total P 4.0-4.2 0.3-0.5 0.2-2.6 2.0-2.2 2.2-6.7 1.1-3.1 Total K 2.2-4.7 2.0-3.0 0.4-0.8 1.0-2.0 3.3-7.6 0.2-0.5 Z Rodd et al. 2002. Comparison of N fertilizer, source-separated municipal solid waste compost and semi- solid beef manure on nutrient concentration in boot-stage barley and wheat tissue. Can. J. Soil Sci. 82: 33-43. Y Jones C. Comparisons of manure, compost and commercial fertilizers. Montana State University Extension 10 X MacLeod et al. Utilization of seafood processing waste as a nutrient source for spelt and soybeans.
Issues Nutrient release characteristics of the compost Foreign material present in the compost Heavy metals in the compost Presence of Persistent Organic Compounds Benefits Increased C content of the soil Increased water holding capacity Better soil structure 11
Effect of SSMSW compost and fresh semi-solid beef manure on barley and wheat yield. Barley Yield. 6.5 6.5 Wheat Yield 6 6 Yield (Mg/ha) 5.5 5 4.5 Compost Manure Yield (Mg/ha) 5.5 5 4.5 Compost Manure 4 0 50 100 150 4 0 50 100 150 Estimated Plant Available N (kg/ha) Estimated Plant Available N (kg/ha) Note: Plant Available N was considered to be 15% and 50% the total N in the compost and manure, respectively. At 50% PAN 33,650 and 4,700 kg/ha was applied to the barley and 16,600 and 5,000 kg/ha was applied to the wheat in the form of compost and manure, respectively. 12
Effect of composted and fresh crab and lobster waste applied in the fall or spring on yield of spelt and soybean 4 1.5 3 Spelt Yield (t/ha) 2 1 Soybean Yield (t/ha) 1 0.5 0 Control Compost Fresh Compost Fresh Autumn Applied Spring Applied 0 Control Compost Fresh Compost Fresh Autumn Applied Spring Applied From MacLeod et al. 13
Effect of fertilizer and MSW compost application on squash yield NPK MSW 1 MSW 2 MSW 3 Mixture 1996 120-200-60 24,000 48,000 72,000 12,000 MSW +60N- 44P- 25K 1997 120-145-50 6,000 12,000 18,000 3,000 MSW+ 60N- 28P- 21K 1998 120-95-0 6 5,000 10,000 15,000 2500 MSW +60N- 40P Squash Yield (kg/plant) 5 4 3 2 1 c 1997 1999 a ab ab bc Warman et al. 2009 In Prep. 0 NPK MSW 1 MSW 2 MSW 3 Mixture 14
Yield of various horticultural crops under organic and conventional management. 1997 1998 Crop Organic Conventional Organic Conventional Broccoli 5.33 8.05 3.57 4.22 Y Beans 7.46 8.55 7.36 5.16 Tomatoes 34.1 26.5 20.7 28.3 Carrots 8.65 8.55 39.0 36.6 % Class A 75.8 67.1 75.4 69.5 Amendments applied since 1990. Warman P.R. 1999. Plant growth and soil fertility comparisons of the long-term vegetable experiment: Conventional vs. compost amended soils. Proc. Inter. Composting Symp. 843-853 15
Composition of fresh poultry and hog manure and composted poultry and hog manure with and without inclusion of ICI organics Amendment Parameter PM PMC PMC+ICI HM HMC HMC+ICI ph 7.97 8.38 8.31 8.15 6.64 7.30 g/kg Organic C 247 251 167 237 247 249 Total N 29.9 35.7 30.0 34.4 15.8 15.0 C:N Ratio ~8:1 ~7:1 ~6:1 ~7:1 ~16:1 ~17:1 Rodd et al. 1999. Comparison of N release from raw and composted hog and chicken manure, with and without inclusion of industrial, commercial and institutional organics. Proc. Inter. Composting Symp. pp 421-434. 16
Effect of the amendments on barley yield, grain N content (NG) and boot stage N content (BS) Amendment Check N=12 Fertilizer N=12 Manure N=24 Compost N=24 Compost +ICI N=24 F Prob. Yield (kg/ha) 2463 3080 2654 2736 2865 0.573 NG (g/kg) 22.2 24.5 25.7 26.3 26.4 0.001 NBS (g/kg) 19.2 24.1 24.4 25.7 26.6 0.001 Rodd et al. 1999. Comparison of N release from raw and composted hog and chicken manure, with and without inclusion of industrial, commercial and institutional organics. Proc. Inter. Composting Symp. pp 421-434. 17
Effect of the various amendments on barley yield, nitrogen in the grain (NG) and boot-stage (NBS) tissue. Amendments (N=12) Check Fert HM PM HMC PMC HMC+ ICI PMC+ ICI F Prob Yield (kg/ha) 2463 3080 2838 2469 2826 2646 2745 2984 0.708 NG (g/kg) 22.3 24.5 24.6 26.8 25.4 27.2 26.5 26.2 0.013 NBS (g/kg) 19.2 24.1 24.0 25.0 24.2 27.2 25.7 27.7 0.001 Rodd et al. 1999. Comparison of N release from raw and composted hog and chicken manure, with and without inclusion of industrial, commercial and institutional organics. Proc. Inter. Composting Symp. pp 421-434. 18
Effect of manure and compost application on soil nitrate- N in the fall of the year. Soil Nitrate-N Concentration (m 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 Fertilizer Hog Manure Poultry Manure Hog Manure Compost Poultry Manure Compost Hog Manure+ ICI Compost Poultry Manure +ICI Compost 0 0 18.8 37.5 75 150 Estimated Plant Available N (kg N/ha) 19
Effect of compost and manure addition on soil bulk density 1.6 1.6 1.4 1.4 Bulk Density (g/cm 3 ) 1.2 1 Compost Manure Bulk Density (g/cm 3 ) 1.2 1 Compost Manure Year 1 Year 2 0.8 0.8 0.6 0 50 100 150 Plant Available N (kg N/ha) 0.6 0 50 100 150 Plant Available N (Kg N/ha) Rodd et al. 1999. Comparison of Source- Separated Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Solid Manure. Proc. Inter. Composting Symp. pp 773-800. 20
Effect of carbon application on the soil bulk density 1.6 1.4 Bulk Density (g/cm 3 ) 1.2 1 0.8 Compost Manure Both 0.6 0 1.4 2.8 4.1 9 18 24 Amount of Carbon Applied (t/ha) 21
6.5 Wheat Yield 6 Yield (Mg/ha) 5.5 5 Compost Manure 4.5 4 0 50 100 150 Estimated Plant Available N (kg/ha) Rodd et al. 1999. Comparison of Source- Separated Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Solid Manure. Proc. Inter. Composting Symp. pp 773-800. 22
Oxidation- reduction potentials at which reactions occur in typical soil systems. Step 1st Main Reaction First Stage O 2 disappearance Initial Redox Potential (mv) +930 to 820 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Nitrate reduction Mn +2 formation Fe +2 formation Second Stage HS- Formation H 2 Formation CH 4 Formation +530 to +420 +640 to +410 +170 to -180-70 to -220-120 to -240-295 to -433 Adapted from Russel 1977. Plant root systems: Their function and interaction with the soil. 23
Effect of Compost and Manure Addition on Boot-Stage Cu Concentration 6 Boot Stage Tissue Concentration (mg/kg) 5.5 5 4.5 4 3.5 Estimated Plant Available N 0 50 100 150 3 Compost Manure Compost Manure Barley Wheat Rodd et al. 2002. Comparison of N fertilizer, source-separated municipal solid waste compost and semi-solid beef manure on the nutrient concentration in boot-stage barley and wheat tissue. Can. J. Soil Sci. 82: 33-43. 24
Cu Conc. Yr 1 Yr 2 CCME Guidelines Max. Conc. Attained Yr 1 Yr 2 Plant Sufficiency Range Sheep Dairy Beef Compost Manure mg/kg 170 20 270 100 100 ---- 4.74 4.20 5.54 5.67 5-25 (Mills and Benton Jones) 7-11 (25) (NRC) 8 (100) (NRC) 8 (115) (NRC) Rodd et al. 2002. Comparison of N fertilizer, source-separated municipal solid waste compost and semi-solid beef manure on the nutrient concentration in boot-stage barley and wheat tissue. Can. J. Soil Sci. 82: 33-43. 25
Residual earthworm populations post amendment application Year 1 Year 2 Compost Manure F Prob. Compost Manure F Prob. # Mature 232639 185764 0.076 138889 116319 0.352 # Immature 1227431 796875 0.011 982639 833333 0.285 Rodd et al. unpublished data 26