DIRT CHEAP: Made from various kitchen scraps and other organic material, fresh compost is easy to make, inexpensive to produce, and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizer. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
As this shambled pile of compost is turned, fresh oxygen fuels the zealous organisms into a frenzy. The intense, visceral activity elevates the temperature to a point that successfully destroys pathogens.
Meanwhile odors from the waste are eliminated, and what’s left is a fresh heap of soil conditioner—perfect for enhancing a lawn or garden.
Welcome to a well-managed compost bin.
The tiny organisms that maraud through healthy compost are the earth’s most benevolent soldiers. They work for free, thrive on scraps, and, if properly managed, can recycle organic waste into a nutrient-rich fertilizer called humus.
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) is exploring new frontiers in composting through initiatives that go far beyond the backyard basics. Scientists are conducting composting research to develop what is called “organic soil amendments” that improve crop production in farming operations.
For example, on Canada’s East Coast, thousands of tons of pulp residue are produced every year by a major paper mill. AAFC scientist Sherif Fahmy is working at Fredericton’s Potato Research Center to convert this residue into fertile soil amendment material to help grow crop rotations that include potatoes, corn, and legumes.
Moving westward, Dr. Noura Ziadi in Quebec is engaged in a long-term project that uses biosolids (paper mill sludge and other organic industrial by products) as a soil amendment and fertilizer.
Depleted soil in southern Ontario is getting a boost thanks to household food waste. Dr. Dan Reynolds and his team in Harrow are incorporating up to 300 tons of household waste per 2.5 acres of farmland—and seeing positive results.
In Manitoba, Dr. Katherine Buckley and her team are testing compost made with manure from feedlot cattle and hogs bedded on straw. Her office at the Brandon Research Center works to raise awareness about the potential for reducing synthetic fertilizer and pesticide use in rural and urban communities.
In the nation’s beef cattle region, Dr. Frank Larney has been studying ways of handling the abundance of manure produced by surrounding feedlots. A specialized facility at Lethbridge, Alberta, is used for year-round composting where researchers are monitoring greenhouse gas emissions from compost material. They are also exploring how pathogens like E. coli can be destroyed through proper composting practices.
The effective use of composts on high-value crops like winegrapes and blueberries are being studied by British Columbia’s Tom Forge and Gerry Neilsen at the Agassiz and Summerland Research Centers. The main fruit-growing regions of B.C. are in close proximity to large urban areas as well as many intensive poultry production systems. Dr. Forge and Dr. Neilsen are studying municipal composts as well as composted animal manures.
How does composting benefit you?
• Making compost is inexpensive and reduces the need for buying synthetic fertilizers.• Incorporating good compost into your garden makes the soil stronger and better. It helps plants develop stronger root systems so they can take up more nutrients and be more productive. Good soil also resists erosion.
• Compost enhances the soil’s water-holding capacity and reduces the need to fertilize, resulting in a more productive garden.
• If done properly, the composting process kills germs while eliminating odors and flies.
• Composting helps bring much of what we consume back to the earth, while preventing organic material from unnecessarily ending up in landfills.
