Handbook for Composting and Compost Use in Organic Horticulture
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Load more
Recommended publications
-
Organic Horticulture in India
horticulturae Communication Organic Horticulture in India Sisir Mitra 1,* and Hidangmayum Devi 2 1 Section Tropical and Subtropical Fruits, International Society for Horticultural Science, Faculty of Horticulture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi ViswaVidyalaya, Mohanpur, B-12/48, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal 741252, India 2 Indian Council of Agriculture Research complex for NEH Region, Tripura Centre, Lembucherra, West Tripura 799210, India; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +91-943-217-4249 Academic Editor: Douglas D. Archbold Received: 1 December 2015; Accepted: 27 September 2016; Published: 26 October 2016 Abstract: During the previous three decades, organic produce has attracted the attention of a growing health-conscious population across the globe. Both international and domestic communities are becoming aware of issues like agrochemical residues, produce quality, and food safety. Worldwide, over 37.5 million ha of land (0.87% of total agricultural land) is being managed organically by 1.9 million producers in 164 countries. In addition, there is another 31 million ha certified for wild harvest collection. Global sales of organic products have reached U.S. $75 billion, with the U.S. and Europe as the largest consumers. The concept of organic farming is not new to the Indian farming community. Several forms of organic farming are successfully practiced in diverse climates, particularly in rain-fed, tribal mountains, and hilly areas of the country. Many of the forest products of economic importance, such as herbs and medicinal plants are in this category by default. The report of the Task Force on Organic Farming appointed by the Government of India noted the vast areas of the country where limited amounts of synthetic chemicals are used, although they have low productivity, but also which could have unexploited potential for organic agriculture. -
Permaculture Principles
An Introduction by Damian Mason “Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labor; and of looking at plants and animals in all their functions, rather than treating everything as a single product system.” - Bill Mollison Organic Gardening Sustainable Cities Native Plants Food Banks & Gleaning Aquaponics Programs Greywater Systems Animals & Bee-Keeping Natural Buildings Disaster Relief & Preparedness Farmer’s Markets Conflict Resolution Slow Food Solutions to Climate Community Gardens Change Eco-villages & Cohousing Bioremediation Social Justice Beavers are a keystone species that turn deserts into gardens and mitigate drought & climate change. Uses local material to build home & makes habitat for many others as well. Shares lodge in winters. Hydrology 101: Slow it, Spread it, Sink it Take care of the earth. Leave it better than you found it. Care for all people. Return the surplus so that all may get a Fair Share. The focus is on creating a synergy where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” By taking time to engage with nature we can design solutions that suit our particular situation. Example: Weed or medicinal herb? Consider a plant that, when used as a poultice, has the ability to radically speed up wound healing. When eaten they boost the immune system, while the seed heads produce the digestive aid psyllium husk. This remarkable plant is often found just outside of the back door. It is plantain, a plant we usually dismiss as a ‘weed’. -
Using Contract Language to Improve Recycling
DOWNSTREAM DUE DILIGENCE TO CREATE CLEAN AND MARKETABLE FEEDSTOCKS: USING CITY CODE AND CONTRACT LANGUAGE TO ACHIEVE RESPONSIBLE RECYCLING May 2020 This report is in support of King County’s Responsible Recycling Task Force, Task 5A, which explores using city code and city-hauler contract language to favor or require proper sorting, processing, and recycling of collected recyclable materials. Contract and code language should address all steps and parties in the material handling process including haulers, sorters, brokers, processors, and manufacturers who use recycled material. The report begins with a discussion of how we call out or identify proper recycling, some existing methods of codifying responsible recycling, general approaches for contract language, and some recommended sources for code and contract language. How Do We Know “Responsible Recycling” When We See It When we sort materials for recycling, we expect they will be processed in ways that conserve resources and protect human health and safety. However, different materials have different recycling pathways, which can change often. Markets fluctuate and brokers react. This makes it difficult to identify the final processor or end-user of a material, and therefore hard to assess if the process is environmentally and socially responsible. City codes and city-hauler contracts can be used to define proper recycling or specify environmental and human health practices necessary for proper recycling. Different cities and organizations use various strategies to identify and establish proper recycling outcomes: • Washington State’s Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) requires that “local markets” be used whenever possible. • Bothell’s Recology contract states that electronics & small appliance processors must be "fully-permitted and properly operated" and "legitimate". -
Comprehensive Assessment of Organic Apple Production in Vermont: Experience from Two Orchard Systems, 2006-2013 Terence L
University of Vermont ScholarWorks @ UVM Graduate College Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses 2015 Comprehensive Assessment of Organic Apple Production in Vermont: Experience from Two Orchard Systems, 2006-2013 Terence L. Bradshaw University of Vermont Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis Part of the Agricultural Economics Commons, and the Horticulture Commons Recommended Citation Bradshaw, Terence L., "Comprehensive Assessment of Organic Apple Production in Vermont: Experience from Two Orchard Systems, 2006-2013" (2015). Graduate College Dissertations and Theses. 327. https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/327 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations and Theses at ScholarWorks @ UVM. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate College Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ UVM. For more information, please contact [email protected]. COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF ORGANIC APPLE PRODUCTION IN VERMONT: EXPERIENCE FROM TWO ORCHARD SYSTEMS, 2006-2013 A Dissertation Presented by Terence L. Bradshaw to The Faculty of the Graduate College of The University of Vermont In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Specializing in Plant and Soil Science May, 2015 Defense Date: March 25, 2014 Dissertation Examination Committee: Josef H. Gorres, Ph. D., Advisor Robert L. Parsons, Ph.D., Chairperson Lorraine P. Berkett, Ph.D. Sidney C. Bosworth, Ph.D. Cynthia J. Forehand, Ph.D., Dean of the Graduate College ABSTRACT Despite substantial consumer demand and willingness to pay premium prices for organically grown fruit, apple growers in Vermont and other New England states have been slow to adopt certified organic practices. -
Choosing a Soil Amendment Fact Sheet No
Choosing a Soil Amendment Fact Sheet No. 7.235 Gardening Series|Basics by J.G. Davis and D. Whiting* A soil amendment is any material added not be used as a soil amendment. Don’t add Quick Facts to a soil to improve its physical properties, sand to clay soil — this creates a soil structure such as water retention, permeability, water similar to concrete. • On clayey soils, soil infiltration, drainage, aeration and structure. Organic amendments increase soil amendments improve the The goal is to provide a better environment organic matter content and offer many soil aggregation, increase for roots. benefits. Over time, organic matter improves porosity and permeability, and To do its work, an amendment must be soil aeration, water infiltration, and both improve aeration, drainage, thoroughly mixed into the soil. If it is merely water- and nutrient-holding capacity. Many and rooting depth. buried, its effectiveness is reduced, and it will organic amendments contain plant nutrients interfere with water and air movement and and act as organic fertilizers. Organic matter • On sandy soils, soil root growth. also is an important energy source for amendments increase the Amending a soil is not the same thing bacteria, fungi and earthworms that live in water and nutrient holding as mulching, although many mulches also the soil. capacity. are used as amendments. A mulch is left on the soil surface. Its purpose is to reduce Application Rates • A variety of products are available bagged or bulk for evaporation and runoff, inhibit weed growth, Ideally, the landscape and garden soils and create an attractive appearance. -
Compost? Compost Pile?
What Do I How Do I Need to Make Start My Compost? Compost Pile? Start by picking a location. When Here’s What You Need… choosing a location look for one that is: • Well-drained and close to level • In partial shade, to help with Composting water retention • At least 1-foot away from walls, What is Composting? fences, bushes, trees etc. • A convenient spot to place Compost is a dark brown, earthy, Other You May Want to Consider: materials and to get the end crumbly material consisting of • Compost pile location product to its final location decomposed organic matter. • How quickly you want the Once you choose your location you Benefits of Composted Material: materials to breakdown will want to loosen the soil so that When added to soil, compost • How you plan to use your your compost will come into improves soil by helping with finished compost contact with the soil. both its porosity and water Other tools you may want to help retention, while providing you get started: essential nutrients plants require. Now You’re Ready Composting also diverts waste • Compost bin to Begin Your Compost Pile! from the waste stream and our • Pitchfork (compost turner) landfills! • Probe thermometer How does Material Decompose? • Chipper/shredder Thousands of Microorganisms • Wheelbarrow (for transport) work to break down the material. If conditions are properly managed we can speed up the Contact The Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Sustainability Division, for More Information: process. Phone: 207-592-0455 Mail: 17 SHS Augusta, ME Building Your Compost Pile Once you have loosened up the soil at your location, you may want to pile 4” to 6” layer of twigs on top of the plot to encourage airflow at the bottom of the pile. -
Effect of Different Organic Wastes on Soil Pro- Perties and Plant Growth and Yield: a Review
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES EFFECT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIC WASTES ON SOIL PRO- pertieS AND PLANT GROWTH AND YIELD: A REVIEW M.Z. Hossain1, P. von Fragstein und Niemsdorff2, J. Heß2 1Khulna University, Agrotechnology Discipline, Khulna, Bangladesh 2University of Kassel, Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Department of Organic Farming and Cropping System, Nordbahnhofstr. 1a, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany The use of organic wastes in agriculture plays a great role in recycling essential plant nutrients, sustaining soil security as well as protecting the environment from unwanted hazards. This review article deals with the effect of different kinds of organic wastes on soil properties and plant growth and yield. Municipal solid waste is mainly used as a source of nitrogen and organic matter, improving soil properties and microbial activity that are closely related to soil fertility. Biowaste and food waste in- crease pH, nitrogen content, cation exchange capacity, water holding capacity, and microbial biomass in soil. Sewage sludge contains various amounts of organic matter and huge amounts of plant nutrients. Manure is a common waste which improves soil properties by adding nutrients and increases microbial and enzyme activity in soil. It also reduces toxicity of some heavy metals. These organic wastes have a great positive impact on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties as well as stimulate plant growth and thus increase the yield of crops. municipal solid waste, soil nutrients, sewage sludge, food waste, manure doi: 10.1515/sab-2017-0030 Received for publication on October 14, 2016 Accepted for publication on April 22, 2017 INTRODUCTION puropse to improve soil properties and increase crop yield is a good solution for minimizing these problems. -
Commercial Fertilizer and Soil Amendments
Commercial Fertilizer And Soil Amendments Tedrick transmigrated dourly? Free Townsend supercharges acquisitively and impolitely, she mensed her gripsack escalate lithographically. Ahmed suppresses her pedlaries slantly, she warm-ups it eagerly. For designing a commercial-scale exchange of equipment or production line. They need fertilizer and soil amendment differences between the fertilizing materials, dredged materials make an adequate supply of natural organic and send in. Use chemical components in soils to obtain samples shall entitle a timely fashion. Organic contaminants from which result from fertilizer and root level. On clayey soils soil amendments improve certain soil aggregation increase porosity. Is thick a gift? Are derived from plants and animals. Plant growth or to children any physical microbial or chemical change are the soil. 21201 This work consists of application of fertilizer soil amendments. There may be to the product heavy metals calculator found, and commercial fertilizer soil amendments is sometimes used. Many soils and fertilizers and regulations requires special handling. Prior to seeding and shall consist of early soil conditioner commercial. The plant roots and fertilizer and commercial soil amendments by reduced powdery mildew on croptype, they function of potato cropping systems for low level. The commercial compost may fail to store and nitric acid method of material will break down the economics of. Commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner rules and regulations violation notice hearing. The first generally used by larger commercial farms gives the nutrients. The soil and fatty acids, avoid poisoning your banana peels in. Contain animal plant nutrients, when applied in combination to crops, it is timely of print but she can find upcoming on Amazon or spoil your block library. -
Garden Organic (Formerly Known As HDRA - the Henry Doubleday Research Association) Is the UK’S Leading Organic Growing Charity
Composting for Gardeners Image credit: iStock/Allkindza Composting for Gardeners Garden Organic (formerly known as HDRA - the Henry Doubleday Research Association) is the UK’s leading organic growing charity. We have been at the forefront of the organic horticulture movement since 1958, with over 20,000 members across the UK and overseas. Dedicated to promoting organic gardening in homes, communities and schools, the charity encourages people to grow in the most sustainable way, and demonstrates the lasting benefi ts of organic growing to the health and wellbeing of individuals and the environment. For more information please visit www.gardenorganic.org.uk. Garden Organic is a registered charity in England and Wales (298104) and Scotland (SC046767). VAT no. 258 0869 69 Why make compost? Compost is nature’s black gold. It will help you grow healthy plants. And making it yourself reduces pollution, supports the natural environment, saves money and protects endangered natural habitats. How? By recycling your garden debris and kitchen scraps. It’s as simple as that. This book will tell you what to compost, how to make it, and how to use it. Compost makes your garden grow Compost, a rich soil-like material, works wonders in the growing area. It • lightens and breaks up heavy soils • bulks up light sandy soils and helps them hold more water • feeds plants and other vital soil organisms • helps control diseases Compost saves you money Home-made compost helps cut down on buying garden products. It acts as a • soil improver • fertiliser • mulch Compost helps reduce pollution Making compost contributes towards a cleaner environment. -
Assessment of Multifunctional Biofertilizers on Tomato Plants Cultivated Under a Fertigation System ABSTRACT Malaysian Nuclear A
Assessment of multifunctional biofertilizers on tomato plants cultivated under a fertigation system Phua, C.K.H., Abdul Wahid, A.N. and Abdul Rahim, K. Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia) Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia (MOSTI) E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia) has developed a series of multifunctional bioorganic fertilizers, namely, MULTIFUNCTIONAL BIOFERT PG & PA and MF- BIOPELLET, in an effort to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizer for crop production. These products contain indigenous microorganisms that have desired characteristics, which include plant growth promoting, phosphate solubilising, antagonistic towards bacterial wilt disease and enhancing N2-fixing activity. These products were formulated as liquid inoculants, and introduced into a fertigation system in an effort to reduce usage of chemical fertilizers. A greenhouse trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of multifunctional biofertilizers on tomato plants grown under a fertigation system. Multifunctional biofertilizer products were applied singly and in combination with different rates of NPK in the fertigation system. Fresh and dry weights of tomato plants were determined. Application of multifunctional biofertilizer combined with 20 g NPK resulted in significantly higher fresh and dry weights as compared to other treatments. ABSTRAK Agensi Nuklear Malaysia (Nuklear Malaysia) telah membangunkan satu siri baja bioorganic pelbagai fungsi, iaitu MULTIFUNCTIONAL BIOFERT PG & PA and MF-BIOPELLET, dalam usaha mengurangkan pergantungan terhadap baja kimia dalam penghasilan tanaman. Produk ini mengandungi mikroorganisma setempat yang menpunyai ciri yang dikehendaki seperti penggalak pertumbuhan, pengurai fosfat, antagonis terhadap penyakit layu bakteria dan menggalak aktiviti pengikat N2. Produk ini difomulasi dalam bentuk cecair dan diperkenalkan ke dalam sistem fertigasi untuk mengurangkan penggunaan baja kimia. -
COMPOST FEASIBILITY STUDY April 2017
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMPOST FEASIBILITY STUDY April 2017 COMMISSIONED BY: District of Columbia Department of Public Works PREPARED BY: 416 LONGSHORE DRIVE ANN ARBOR, MI 48105 734.996.1361 RECYCLE.COM TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Background and Purpose .............................................................................................................................. 7 Current Operations ................................................................................................................................... 8 SSO Collection ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Processing ............................................................................................................................................... 11 Organics Collection ...................................................................................................................................... 12 Processing Technology ................................................................................................................................ 14 Organics Outreach ....................................................................................................................................... 16 SSO Curbside Collection Modeling ............................................................................................................. -
Utilizing Extended Producer Responsibility Framework Laws to Achieve Zero Waste Anthony A
Golden Gate University Environmental Law Journal Volume 6 Article 4 Issue 2 Pacific Region Edition June 2013 Where Will All the Waste Go?: Utilizing Extended Producer Responsibility Framework Laws to Achieve Zero Waste Anthony A. Austin Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/gguelj Part of the Environmental Law Commons Recommended Citation 6 Golden Gate U. Envt'l L. J. 221 (2013). This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Academic Journals at GGU Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Golden Gate University Environmental Law Journal by an authorized administrator of GGU Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Austin: Zero Waste WHERE WILL ALL THE WASTE GO?: UTILIZING EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FRAMEWORK LAWS TO ACHIEVE ZERO WASTE ANTHONY A. AUSTIN* I. INTRODUCTION The United States has a waste problem. It represents only five percent of the world population, yet it generates twenty-five to thirty percent of the world’s waste.1 In 2008, the United States generated 389.5 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW).2 As our economy and population continue to grow, our waste will continue to grow as well.3 The obvious dilemma is that all of this waste, the byproduct of our economic advances, creates significant adverse environmental and public *Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Diana L. Terry, Colorado Court of Appeals. J.D., Golden Gate University School of Law (2011); LL.M., Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy, University of Denver Sturm College of Law (2012).