Compost in windrows before field application (Nick Corp)
Application of organic matter to soils, in the form of compost, helps enhance soil organisms and structure for improvements in overall soil health. This technology has been applied to 36 hectares of a 300 hectare organic arable farm that practices a rotation of 2 years grass ley, followed by a winter cereal and then two spring cereals with cover crops in the period between the two spring crops. The technology has been trialed in the south of England (Berkshire) where the average annual rainfall is around 690 mm and the soil is mostly gravel, silt and clay soil with low organic matter – making it challenging to cultivate.
The practice has been to import certified green waste compost to apply to fields on a rotational basis before the winter crop, as it requires more nitrogen than the spring crops. The application was planned for this period in the rotation as spring spreading can damage the soil through compaction after the winter crop has been harvested.
The sources of green waste varied, with 900 tonnes of composted PAS 100 certified green waste from a local waste company, and 500 tonnes of green waste from a local camomile producer, both in 2019/2020. The compost was stored in windrow heaps for 6 months on the grass leys turning once during this time. For the application, a contractor then used a spreader before soil cultivation for the winter crop. This technology is ongoing.
The primary aim of the application of organic matter is to improve soil fertility and the soil's health. This in turn results in better crops.
Challenges to overcome with this technology are issues with compaction from spreading activities and the cost of compost purchase and haulage. Compaction can be alleviated through autumn spreading, yet costs can be prohibitive. So, far the benefits of the technology application are limited as it will take a long time achieve the full impacts of increasing soil organic matter, especially in the soil type that is present on the farm, yet the hope is it will have a large impact in the future.
ទីតាំង: Reading, Berkshire, ចក្រភពអង់គ្លេស
ចំនួនទីកន្លែងបច្ចេកទេស ដែលវិភាគ: មួយកន្លែង
ការសាយភាយនៃបច្ចេកទេស: អនុវត្តនៅកន្លែងជាក់លាក់មួយ/ ប្រមូលផ្តុំនៅតំបន់តូចៗ
តើស្ថិតក្នុងតំបន់ការពារអចិន្ត្រៃយ៍?: ទេ
កាលបរិច្ឆេទនៃការអនុវត្ត: 2019
ប្រភេទនៃការណែនាំឱ្យអនុវត្តន៍៖
| បញ្ជាក់ពីធាតុចូល | ឯកតា | បរិមាណ | ថ្លៃដើមក្នុងមួយឯកតា (£GBP) | ថ្លៃធាតុចូលសរុប (£GBP) | % នៃថ្លៃដើមដែលចំណាយដោយអ្នកប្រើប្រាស់ដី |
| ជី និងសារធាតុពុល | |||||
| Compost purchase, haulage and spreading (£11 per tonne) | ha | 36,0 | 303,0 | 10908,0 | 100,0 |
| ថ្លៃដើមសរុបក្នុងការបង្កើតបច្ចេកទេស | 10'908.0 | ||||
| ថ្លៃដើមសរុបក្នុងការបង្កើតបច្ចេកទេសគិតជាដុល្លារ | 12'832.94 | ||||
Yield remains the same, yet this could be offset by any loss linked with organic conversion. Difficult to quantify at this time.
Quality remains the same, yet this could be offset by any change linked with organic conversion. Difficult to quantify at this time.
More expensive technology than conventional fertilisers
Improved soil water infiltration evident
Slightly improved moisture capacity of soil evident and will improve long-term
Slightly reduced soil crusting evident and will improve long-term
Slightly reduced soil compaction with more soil air space evident and will improve long-term
Improvements in available soil nutrients
Increased potential for carbon sequestration with addition of carbon rich green waste
