Composts and Nutrient Management
Composting stabilizes organic wastes, reducing nutrient availability, allowing their use at high application rates as a soil amendment. Composts do affect available nutrient levels in soil, often causing short term immobilization (tie-up) of nitrogen, but a long term slow release. We have evaluated effects of compost applications on nitrogen availability and soil properties.
Compost Operators Training at WSU Puyallup: Training and certification for Compost Facility Operators, Managers, and officials involved with Composting. Hands on composting, field trips, examination.
Yard Trimmings Yard trimmings are organic materials such as lawn clippings, leaves, and pruned material that is applied, without any processing, directly to soil to be amended.
Clopyralid in Compost Facts and background about the Clopyralid contamination problem.
Calculating Bulk Density How to calculate bulk density of composts and compost- type materials such as manures and yard waste.
Links:
- Clopyralid in Compost, Washington State University. Facts and background about the Clopyralid contamination problem.
- What Does Compost Analysis Tell You About Your Compost? sampling, labs, results.
- Cornell Composting, educational materials, programs, links.
- Oregon State University Department of Crop & Soil Science, compost resources.
- Washington State Department of Ecology, Composting, Compost Facility Resource Handbook, other publications.
- Washington Organic Recycling Council, information, training, events.
- The Art and Science of Composting, (pdf) Univ. Wisconsin-Madison
Publications:
Bary, A., C. Cogger and D. Sullivan. 2002. What Does Compost Analysis Tell You About Your Compost? Poster at Biologically Intensive and Organic Farming Research Conference. Yakima, WA. [online pdf]
Benito, M, A. Masaguar, A. Moliner, C.G. Cogger, and A.I. Bary. 2005. Comparison of a gas detection tubes test with the traditional alkaline trap method to evaluate compost stability. Biol. Fertil. Soils 41:447-450. [ request pdf e-copy ]
Cogger, C.G. 2005. Potential compost benefits for restoration of soils disturbed by urban development. Compost Sci. Utiliz. 13:243-251. [ request pdf e-copy ].
Cogger, C.G. and D.M. Sullivan. 2001. Backyard composting. EB 1784. Washington State University Cooperative Extension. [online pdf]
Cogger, C.G., D.M. Sullivan, and J.A. Kropf. 2001. Como hacer y usar el compost. Oregon State University Extension Service. EC-1544-S. [todo publicación en español, gratis, pdf]
Sullivan, D.M., A.I. Bary, T.J. Nartea, E.A. Myhre, C.G. Cogger, and S.C. Fransen. 2003. Nitrogen availability seven years after a high-rate food waste compost application. Compost Sci. Util. 11:265-275. [ request pdf e-copy ]
Sullivan, D.M., A.I. Bary, D.R. Thomas, S.C. Fransen, and C.G. Cogger. 2002. Food waste compost effects on fertilizer nitrogen efficiency, available nitrogen, and tall fescue yield. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 66:154-161. [ request pdf e-copy , abstract - html]
Sullivan, D.M., S.C. Fransen, A.I. Bary, and C.G. Cogger. 1998. Fertilizer nitrogen replacement value of food residuals composted with yard trimmings, paper, or wood wastes. Compost Sci. 6(1):6-18. [refereed journal, abstract - html]
Sullivan, D.M., S.C. Fransen, A.I. Bary, and C.G. Cogger. 1998. Slow-release nitrogen from composts: The bulking agent is more than just fluff. p. 319-325. In: S.L. Brown, J.S. Angle, and L.W. Jacobs (ed.) Beneficial co-utilization of agricultural, municipal, and industrial by-products. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dodrecht, The Netherlands. [book chapter]