Connecting Farm Composts with Agriculture Industry Users Demonstrating Compost Assets with Growers - final report

Abstract

Selling compost can move excess nutrients off livestock farms and create revenue. To be a viable manure management tool, reliable markets need to be developed for agricultural composts. Potential large markets for composts in NYS include turf, landscaping and vine yards. This project examined the use of poultry and dairy manure-based composts as a topdressing on established turf, as a soil amendment for severely disturbed construction sites and as a surface application under the trellis of grapevines.

Turf: Compost application increased soil organic matter and resulted in excess soil P at the 4 study sites; bulk density improved at 2. Immature composts and/or those with high salt levels tended to burn the grass leaving voids that allow weed encroachment immediately after application. Turf quality did not improve over 3 years at sites that had been established on poor soil or sites that had extremely high use. Early spring green-up was reported on compost-treated plots at most sites.

Landscape: Compacted clayey soil amended with 50% compost had improved bulk density and supported plant growth.

Vineyard: There were no significant differences in berry weight, cluster weight, total crop yield, vine growth or organic matter between compost-applied and controls.