Composting and Good Soils: A Gardener s Best Tools

Transcription

1 Composting and Good Soils: A Gardener s Best Tools

2 The Importance of Cycles

3 Back to the Basics: Elements (Atoms Molecules Everything!)

4 Chemistry is all around (and in) us!

5 Healthy Soils: The basis for healthy plants Promote development of beneficial microbial communities (bacteria/fungi) Restore nutrients that have been depleted through mismanagement/neglect Allow plants easy access to air, moisture and nutrients including carbon Play an important role in mitigating climate change, through reduction of greenhouse gases

6 Where is the Carbon?

7 A Few Definitions: "Global warming" refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature. (1.8 degrees F) "Climate change" refers to any long-term change in Earth's climate, or in the climate of a region or city. This includes warming, cooling and changes besides temperature. The Greenhouse Effect refers to the natural process that traps heat from solar radiation via a layer of atmospheric gases (such as CO2, CH4 and N2O) that surround the Earth.

8 Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations

9 Human-Caused CO2 Emissions vs. Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations

10 How can soils sequester Carbon? Soils: CO2 + CaO = CaCO3 or CO2 + MgO = MgCO3 Plants: send C to soil through photosynthesis. Microbes breakdown C so plants can access, and contribute to the formation of aggregates where C can hide, protecting SOC from decomposition.

11 The Basic Process of Life Do plants make their own food?

12 In Summary, soils, managed properly, have tremendous potential to store carbon, solving two problems.

13 Soils 101 Soil Formation Factors: ClORPT: Climate, Organisms, Relief, Parent Material and Time Soil Texture: Sand/Silt/Clay Soil Structure: Aggregates protect organic matter. Organic matter builds aggregates. Soil Biology and Chemistry: Good soil management fosters diverse soil biology and active soil chemistry which increases resilience and nutrient availability

14 Soils 101: Texture

15 Sustainable Soil Health Management Practices for Gardeners Low/no till Cover cropping and continuous cover (AMF) Adding organic matter (compost, mulch, manures) Crop Rotations and Intercropping

16 Cover Crops and Continuous Cropping Bare/disturbed soils are unproductive and release carbon into the atmosphere as CO2. Cover crops keep carbon in the soil and also: Retain soil and minimize erosion/water runoff Legumes fix N Foster mycorrhizal fungi Reduce compaction/increase aeration Suppress weeds Add soil organic matter Attract beneficial insects/pollinators

17 Best Cover Crops for Northeast Gardens* Spring: Clovers, Buckwheat, Hairy Vetch Late Summer: Oats/Peas mixture, Buckwheat *Note: Rye, though recommended, can be very invasive and hard to control, as well as allelopathic *

18 Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi A symbiosis between fungus and root (+80% of all plants have it). Nutrient/H20 superhighway AMF hyphae produces glomalin, a glycoprotein that helps create stable soil aggregates (structure)

19 Crop Rotations, Intercropping & Succession Planting Take advantage of spaces in the garden, both physical and seasonal Maximize yield and interest Build soil health through plant variety/diversity

20 Benefits of Backyard Composting Waste Reduction Greenhouse Gas Reduction (CO2, CH4,) Creation of Organic Matter

21 Waste Reduction U.S. Household Trash Generation: 3/4 ton per person per year (4.3 lbs./day) 25% is food/yard waste (45 m tons) 40% of all food produced is discarded

22 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Diverting organic matter from landfills reduces methane (CH4) emissions by facilitating aerobic decomposition. Utilizing compost keeps carbon in the soil, reducing formation of CO2 and feeding soil microorganism

23 The Soil Food Web

24 5 Essentials of Composting 1. Carbon:Nitrogen (C:N) Ratio 2. Volume 3. Moisture 4. Aeration 5. Surface Area

25 Five Essentials of Composting: 1. Carbon:Nitrogen (C:N) Ratio Materials High in Carbon: (2 parts) Browns : Dry, brown materials such as leaves, straw, paper, woodchips, sawdust Materials High in Nitrogen: (1 part) Greens : Moist, fresh materials such as vegetative food scraps and garden waste Always cover greens with browns!

26 Ratios of common materials

27 What can you Compost? Yes! No!

28 Composting High Carbon Materials Only (compensate for low N by adding moisture)

29 Five Essentials of Composting: 2. Volume

30 Five Essentials of Composting 3. Moisture

31 Five Essentials of Composting: 4. Aeration

32 Five Essentials of Composting: 5. Surface Area

33 Composting Methods: Hot (batching) vs. Cool

34 Composting Systems: Heap or Pile

35 Composting Systems: Manufactured Open Holding Bins

36 Composting Systems: Homemade Open Holding Bins

37 Composting Systems: Enclosed Holding Bins

38 Composting Systems: Turning Barrels, Manufactured and Homemade

39 Composting Systems: Multiple Bins Provide Flexibility

40 Regardless of system, leave room to turn the pile.

41 Composting Tools: Compost Fork Spade Thermometer Turning tool Accelerators

42 Composting Kitchen Scraps Separately

43 Soil Incorporation

44 Worm Composting (Vermicomposting)

45 Using Finished Compost (A soil amendment, not a fertilizer)

46 Using Finished Compost: Plant Nutrient Overview

47 Using Finished Compost: Some Benefits Improves soil health, tilth, structure, making life better for plants and soil organisms Conserves moisture (enabling nutrient uptake) and moderates soil temperature, reducing plant stress Neutralizes soil ph, which increases nutrient availability Organic matter fuels microbial activity, making minerals available to plants and reducing the need for chemical inputs and reducing NPS pollution Suppresses pathogens, reducing plant diseases Etc., etc., etc.

48 Using Finished Compost: ph and Nutrient Availability Using Finished Compost:

49 Using Finished Compost Top or Side Dress Potting Mix Soil Incorporation (herbaceous plants only) Seed Starting Mix (mature compost) Compost Tea

50 Soil Test

51 Virginia Lamb Groundwork Education and Consulting