Welcome 21 st Annual National Compost Conference. Greg Patterson C.C.A. President A&L Canada Laboratories

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1 Welcome 21 st Annual National Compost Conference Greg Patterson C.C.A. President A&L Canada Laboratories

2 Establishing Compost s True Value Going the Extra Mile to Increase Compost s True Value

Composting Worldwide interest in recycling by means of composting is growing, since composting is a widely accepted process for converting decomposable wastes of biological origin into stable,

3 Composting Worldwide interest in recycling by means of composting is growing, since composting is a widely accepted process for converting decomposable wastes of biological origin into stable, sanitized products, useful for agriculture. Composting recycles or "downcycles" organic household and yard wastes and manures into an extremely useful humus-like, soil end-product called compost. Ultimately this allows the return of needed organic matter and nutrients into the food-chain and reduces the amount of "green" waste going into landfills.

4 Biological Advantages MYCORRHIZA - stimulates increase numbers of beneficial fungi in soils that aid in the uptake of nutrients HUMIC SUBSTANCES - humic substances contained in certain compost increase microbial activity and may depress resident (root) pathogenic fungi Suppression of soil pathogens?????

5 The Need! Agriculture needs organics!

6 Grain tonnes/ha Broadbalk Experiment since Broadbalk Experiment Continuously Rotation PK fert kgn PK fert + 48 Kg N Unmanured PK fert Kg FYM + 96 Kg N

7 Understanding the parameters

8 Understanding Compost Quality The CQA was developed to establish standardization across the country in compost quality, environmental concerns, maturity and end use requirements.

9 Product Description All products would fall into a category of some description

10 USE ph C/N ratio Moisture Particle size Soluble salts %Na Remediation NA <2 inch <20 <3% Soil Amendment NA <1/2 inch <6 <2% Landscaping <50% <1/2 inch <5 <2% Planting Media <50% <1/2 inch <4 <2% Turf Topdressing & establishment <50% <3/8 inch <3 <1% Potting Soil <50% <1/4 inch <2 <1%

11 Salinity vs Soluble Salts

12 Understanding Sodium Levels in Compost

14 CQA Parameters for compost quality

15 Premium Potting Soil?

18 An Industry In Crisis

19 Opportunities 1. Phasing out of soil fumigation products world wide (Methyl Bromide in 2005). All products to be reregistered in Herbicide Use damaging soil ecology 3. Search for alternative substrates

20 Phase out strategy In order to comply with the measures of the Montreal Protocol and the European Regulation, Countries have adopted a number of political and economic initiatives aiming at promoting the search of MB alternatives and prepare MB endusers to switch to them. Investment in training and research as well as coordinated efforts of all MB stakeholders, permitted to individuate and develop different alternative solutions to the use of MB for fumigation.

21 A new development in biological control In order to develop biocontrol agents better adapted to soilless cultivation, microorganisms can be isolated from substrates and nutrient solutions. A new generation of biocontrol agents (bacteria, fungi) is under development.

22 Suppressive composts as alternative to Methyl Bromide

23 Compost quality Only few composts can be used efficiently in the agricultural sector, in particular for horticulture and organic farming. In such regard, it is necessary to modify the compost production system, to introduce advanced composting strategies mixing different wastes and improving composting techniques in order to optimize the final quality of compost. Development of an advanced methodology for analysis in order to assess the quality of composts that is acceptable and practical (CQA). Development of an assessment that is related to study the capacity of compost to suppress some important diseases of vegetables and flowers.

24 Compost suppressiveness Compost has been found to be suppressive against several soil-borne pathogens in various cropping systems. Not all compost are suppressive. The use of compost as a peat substitute to control root pathogens. Compost is effective because it fosters a more diverse soil environment in which a myriad of soil organisms exist. Compost acts as a food source and shelter for the antagonists that compete with plant pathogens, for those organisms that prey on and parasitize pathogens, for those beneficials that produce antibiotics and for those microrganisms that induce resistance in plants. Success or failure of any compost treatment for disease control depends on the nature of the raw product from which the compost was prepared, the maturity of the compost, and the composting process used. High-quality compost should contain disease-suppressive microrganisms and/or mycorrhizal innoculum.

25 Managing a Resource

26 RECYCLING ORGANIC MATTER FROM HUMAN USE Disease Suppressive Compost

27 University of Torino Compost suppressiveness on Pythium ultimum on cucumber C21 C24 Peat (standard substrate) C13 C12

28 University of Torino Compost suppressiveness on Pythium ultimum on cucumber 40% peat + 60% compost 20% peat + 80% compost 100% compost 100 % peat 80% peat + 20% compost 60% peat + 40% compost Pots have been inoculated with the soil borne plant pathogen Pythium ultimum at 4g/l dosage

29 University of Torino Control of Fusarium wilt of lettuce with compost combined with agronomical practices Solarization + ACM Solarization

30 University of Torino Control of foliar diseases with compost

chemical, physical and biotic composition, and, consequently, also in ability to suppress

31 University of Torino Compost suppressiveness An increase of some diseases due to compost usage has also been demonstrated, since compost is a product that varies considerably in chemical, physical and biotic composition, and, consequently, also in ability to suppress soil-borne diseases. In particular, the capacity of composts to suppress Rhizoctonia solani remains limited.

33 Selection of new biological control agents from compost

growth and suppress diseases Microorganism: 233/2 6 Log

34 Compost enrichment Enrichment of compost with patented microorganisms able to increase its quality, promote plants growth and suppress diseases Microorganism: 233/2 6 Log CFU/g 5 20 C 25 C 30 C days after inoculation

35 Projects Underway Horticulture Australia Ltd soil and potato health Landscape Ontario tree seedling health The Ontario Tomato Research Institute vine decline and soil health TerraBiogen developing disease suppressive composts Prince Edward Island Agriculture role of microorganisms in the productivity of potatoes California Strawberry Commission growing strawberries without fumigants

36 TerraBioGen has created a revolutionary Enhanced Autothermal Areobic Digestion process that is able to digest mixed and varying organic waste materials in a matter of 3-5 days We are working with them to turn the material into a valuable agricultural resource.

37 TerraBiogen formulations Controls + pathogen Controls no pathogen

38 Pythium biocontrol experiment Positive control Negative control

39 Courtesy Virginia Cooperative Extension; Managing Crop Diseases Using Organic Amendments

41 A B Tests with molasses, meat and bone meal, pelletized poultry manure, fish solubles, canola meal C D

42 35% growth increase following molasses treatment

43 MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS We are working to identify both beneficial and detrimental components associated with root and soil health using molecular markers.

MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS OF TOMATO ROOT PATHOGENS

terrestris Rhizopycnis vagum TaqMan qpcr

from 100,000 copies to 1 copy of genome of

44 MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS OF TOMATO ROOT PATHOGENS Pyrenochaeta lycopersici P. terrestris Rhizopycnis vagum TaqMan qpcr detection sensitivity of genomic DNA of pathogens (right panel). Genomic DNA was diluted in 10 fold serials from 100,000 copies to 1 copy of genome of pathogens respectively. Relationship between genome copies or plasmid number and cycle threshold (Ct) value.

45 Quantitative Real Tim PCR of soil extracts to which different numbers of Verticillium resting structures had been added

detected in all soil types and cultivars but at varying band intensity.

46 Shepody Yukon Gold V4V4A A B C V4A A B C A B C A B C A B - V4 BCA BC + V4V4A A B C V4A A B C A B C A B C A B - V4 BCA BC + Detection of nifh gene for Nitrogen fixation nifh gene was detected in all soil types and cultivars but at varying band intensity. Detection of nifh gene was particularly higher in autoclaved soils than in field soils irrespective of the cultivar type

47 V4F V4A BCF BCA V4F V4A BCF BCA Pf5 -ve 1: 10 DIL Stock Bulk Soil Detection of antibiotic production (pyrrolnitrin) for biological control (prnd) Rhizosphere soil a b c a b c a b c a b c a b c a b c a b c a b c V4A V4 BCA BC V4A V4 BCA BC Shepody Yukon Gold Pf5 (+) 1:10 Dil Yukon Gold (YG) seems to favor the presence of prnd harboring bacteria than Shepody Stock a b c a b c a b c a b c a b c a b c a b c a b c V4A V4 BCA BC V4A V4 BCA BC Shepody Yukon Gold Pf5 (+)

48 Closer to Home Reclamation of pesticide damaged soils

49 Reclamation of pesticide damaged soils Ecology of soils damaged by pesticides Global problem

Some Microbial Interactions with Glyphosate Changes the soil microbial balance Toxic to

organisms (Biocontrol) - Trichoderma spp, Bacillus spp - Mychorrhizae - Glomus mossea - Zn,

immobilization Increases pathogens: Root nodules reduced with glyphosate Manganese

50 Some Microbial Interactions with Glyphosate Changes the soil microbial balance Toxic to beneficial organisms: - Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium - Inhibits N-fixation - Mn reducing organisms (Biocontrol) - Trichoderma spp, Bacillus spp - Mychorrhizae - Glomus mossea - Zn, P uptake Stimulates: - Mn oxidizing organisms - Fusarium, other fungi - K sink immobilization Increases pathogens: Root nodules reduced with glyphosate Manganese Availability Fungal Mn oxidation in soil ph 5.2 to ph 7.8 Rhizosphere biology Mn oxidizers from soil Control Glyphosate

51 The Rhizosphere: An important place for possible glyphosate toxicity After Romheld,,

Some Diseases Increased by Glyphosate Host plant Apple Banana Barley Beans Bean Bean Canola Canola Citrus Cotton Cotton Cotton Grape Melon Soybeans Soybeans Soybeans Sugarcane Tomato Various Weeds

Root rot Thielaviopsis bassicola Crown rot Fusarium spp. Wilt (New) Fusarium oxysporum, F. avenaceum CVC Xylella fastidiosa Damping off Pythium spp. Bunchy top Manganese deficiency Wilt F.

52 Some Diseases Increased by Glyphosate Host plant Apple Banana Barley Beans Bean Bean Canola Canola Citrus Cotton Cotton Cotton Grape Melon Soybeans Soybeans Soybeans Sugarcane Tomato Various Weeds Wheat Wheat Wheat Wheat Wheat Disease Pathogen Canker Botryosphaeria dothidea Panama Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense Root rot Magnaporthe grisea Root rot Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli Damping off Pythium spp. Root rot Thielaviopsis bassicola Crown rot Fusarium spp. Wilt (New) Fusarium oxysporum, F. avenaceum CVC Xylella fastidiosa Damping off Pythium spp. Bunchy top Manganese deficiency Wilt F. oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum Black goo Phaeomoniella chlamydospora Root rot Monosporascus cannonbalus Root rot Corynespora cassicola Target spot Corynespora cassicola SDS Fusarium solani f.sp. glycines Decline Marasmius spp. Wilt (New) Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. pisi Canker Phytophthora spp. Biocontrol Myrothecium verucaria Bare patch Rhizoctonia solani Glume blotch Septoria spp. Root rot Fusarium spp. Head scab Fusarium graminearum Take-all all Gaeumannomyces graminis Fusarium scab Take-all all root rot

53 University of Torino 3 Compost for soil-less system

59 An Industry In Crisis Opportunity

60 Thank You Visit our web site

Production of Composts with Broad Spectrum Disease Suppressive Properties Harry A.J. Hoitink

Production of Composts with Broad Spectrum Disease Suppressive Properties Harry A.J. Hoitink Professor Emeritus Dept. of Plant Pathology The Ohio State University, Wooster TOPICS Fate of pathogens during