Identifying the Benefits of Composted Soil Amendments to Vegetable Production

Identifying the benefits of composted soil amendments to vegetable production Bob Paulin Department of Agriculture Western Australia Project Number: VG990016 VG990016 The report is published by Horticulture Australia Ltd to pass on information concerning horticultural research for the vegetable industry The research contained in this report was funded by Horticulture Australia Ltd with financial support of the WA Department of Agriculture, Department of Primary Industry Victoria, WA Waste Management Board, EcoRecycle Victoria, Peats Soil & Garden Supplies - SA, Southern Metropolitan Regional Council - WA, South Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council – WA, Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council – WA and Mindarie Regional Council – WA. All expressions of opinion are not to be regarded as expressions of the opinion of Horticulture Australia or any authority of the Australian Government. The company and the Australian Government accept no responsibility for any of the opinions or the accuracy of the information contained in this report and readers should rely on their own enquiries in making decisions concerning their own interests. ISBN 0 7341 1206 8 Published and distributed by: Horticulture Australia Ltd Level 1 50 Carrington Street Sydney NSW 2000 Telephone: (02) 8295 2300 Fax: (02) 8295 2399 Email: [email protected] ©Copyright 2005 Waste Management Board Project Number: VG 990016 Identifying the benefits of composted soil amendments to vegetable production Bob Paulin et al. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia VG990016 Bob Paulin – Project Leader Snr Development Officer Department of Agriculture, Western Australia Locked Bag 4 Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983 Phone: (08) 9368 3308 Mobile: 0419 912 629 [email protected] Dr Kevin Wilkinson, DPI Victoria Peter O’Malley, Department of Agriculture, WA Tamara Flavel, University of WA Final report ‘Identifying the benefits of composted soil amendments to vegetable production’ 30 May 2005 Supported by: Horticulture Australia Waste Management Board of WA EcoRecycle Victoria Department of Agriculture, WA Department of Primary Industry, Victoria Disclaimer Any recommendations contained in this publication do not necessarily represent current HAL Ltd policy. No person should act on the basis if the contents of this publication, whether as a matter of factor opinion or other content, without first obtaining specific, independent professional advise in respect of the matters set out in this publication. Contents Section Page MEDIA SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. 1 TECHNICAL SUMMARY..................................................................................................... 3 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................. 5 SECTION 1 − FERTILISER REPLACEMENT TRIALS − WESTERN AUSTRALIA ........... 9 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 9 Materials and Method....................................................................................................... 9 Results – Nitrogen replacement trial site........................................................................ 13 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 79 Results - Phosphorus replacement trial site................................................................... 81 Conclusions ................................................................................................... 112 Results – potassium replacement trial site................................................................... 113 Discussion ................................................................................................... 135 Soil quality ................................................................................................... 136 SECTION 2 − FERTILISER REPLACEMENT TRIALS − VICTORIA.............................. 143 Introduction ................................................................................................... 143 Materials and Methods ................................................................................................. 143 Results ................................................................................................... 148 Conclusions ................................................................................................... 157 SECTION 3 − SYSTEMS TRIALS − WESTERN AUSTRALIA ....................................... 158 Introduction ................................................................................................... 158 Materials and methods ................................................................................................. 158 Results and discussions............................................................................................... 162 Conclusions ................................................................................................... 185 SECTION 4 SYSTEMS TRIAL − VICTORIA ............................................................... 191 Introduction ................................................................................................... 191 Materials and Methods ................................................................................................. 191 Results ................................................................................................... 195 Discussion ................................................................................................... 206 SECTION 5 COMMERCIAL DEMONSTRATION SITES ............................................ 207 Introduction ................................................................................................... 207 Materials and methods − SITE 1 .................................................................................. 208 Materials and methods − SITE 2 .................................................................................. 210 Results ................................................................................................... 212 Discussions ................................................................................................... 223 Contents Section Page SECTION 6 PhD PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA ... 231 Introduction ................................................................................................... 231 Methodologies ................................................................................................... 232 Results ................................................................................................... 234 Field results ................................................................................................... 236 Discussion and conclusions.......................................................................................... 240 SECTION 7 − TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND COMMUNICATION ........................... 245 Introduction ................................................................................................... 245 Methods ................................................................................................... 245 Results and discussions ............................................................................................... 247 SECTION 8 − OVERALL PROJECT DISCUSSION........................................................ 257 Benefits of compost use to vegetable production ......................................................... 257 Strategies for using compost ........................................................................................ 264 Economic considerations.............................................................................................. 265 Compost quality and maturation ................................................................................... 268 Building linkages between agriculture and the community ........................................... 270 Conclusions ................................................................................................... 271 SECTION 9 − RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................. 273 Key issues to be addressed.......................................................................................... 273 Short term investigations (< 3 yr).................................................................................. 275 Long term investigations (> 3 yr) .................................................................................. 275 SECTION 10 − ATTACHMENTS ................................................................................. 277 Department of Primary Industries – Compost for Vegetable Growers.................. 279 Fact Sheet 1: What is compost......................................................................... 279 Fact Sheet 2: Why use compost....................................................................... 280 Fact Sheet 3: Getting started............................................................................ 281 Fact Sheet 4: Choosing a supplier.................................................................... 285 Fact Sheet 5: Using compost ........................................................................... 288 Posters........................................................................................................................

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