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A Flawed Food Production System and an Organic Solution - Compost
- 1. RODALE INSTITUTE
“Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People”
“Healthy Planet”
A Flawed Food Production System
&
An Organic Solution - Compost
By Jeff Moyer
Farm Director
By Jeff Moyer
Farm Director
©2008 Rodale institute
- 2. It’s Not Only About Yields
It’s About the SOIL!
• “To be a successful farmer one
must first know the nature of
the soil.” –
Xenophon, Oeconomicus, 400 B.C.
©2008 Rodale institute
- 5. Dead Zones Continue To Expand
2008 Soil From Iowa in the Gulf of Mexico
Over 2 million acres lost 20 tons or more of top soil
©2008 Rodale institute
- 9. Inspirational Wisdom
“ A nation that destroys its soil destroys
itself.”
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
©2008 Rodale institute
- 10. Farming on Rodale Land 8000 Years
Ago
Farming Today
Farming in the Future
SOIL
©2008 Rodale institute
- 12. Answer the Question – Why make Compost?
Discuss – How to Make Compost
Talk About – Compost Utilization
©2008 Rodale institute
- 18. December 8th, 2011
Fungi: Another Tool in Bacteria's Belt? Fungi and
Bacteria Help One Another Stay Mobile, Say
Researchers
• — Bacteria and fungi are remarkably mobile. Now
researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered
that the two organisms enjoy a mutually beneficial
relationship to aid them in that movement -- and their
survival.
©2008 Rodale institute
- 19. Organic Corn - 1995 Drought
Better infiltration, retention, and
delivery to plants helps avoid drought
damage
Organic Conventional
©2008 Rodale institute
- 21. Soil Microorganisms
Group Average Number per Live Weight per Acre
Gram Of Soil Plow Depth (pounds)
Bacteria 1 billion 500
Actinomycetes 10 million 750
Fungi 1 million 1,000
Algae 100 thousand 150
TOTAL 2,400
Francis E. Clark, A Perspective of the Soil Microflora, Soil Microbiology
Conf.,
Purdue University (June 1954) ©2008 Rodale institute
- 25. Compost can play an important
role in all these efforts
Composted livestock waste is a value added product that:
•Reduces agricultural nutrient losses,
•Improves soil water retention,
•Reduces soil erosion,
•Improves plant growth (even during drought),
•Can be used as a bio-filter,
•Captures atmospheric carbon and nitrogen
in the soil, and
•Meets environmental standards for
waterway reclamation.
©2008 Rodale institute
- 26. Compost basics
Compost is “the controlled decomposition of
organic residues into a humus-like end product.”
25:1 / 40:1 mix of “brown” (C-based) materials and
“green” (N-based) materials
50-65% moisture
Temperatures 131 - 170°F or more during active
decomposition (15 Days)
Made in windrows, piles or containers (large or small)
Usually requires repeated mixing (5 times in 15 days)
Takes 8 weeks to 2 years (depending on the above factors)
©2008 Rodale institute
- 34. EPA 2009 Statistics
The amount of food wasted in the US is staggering. The US
generates more than 34 million tons of food waste each year.
Paper is the only material category where we generate more
waste, but we also recycle more. Food waste is more than 14
percent of the total municipal solid waste stream. Less than three
percent of the 34 million tons of food waste generated in 2009
was recovered and recycled. The rest —33 million tons— was
thrown away. Food waste now represents the single largest
component of MSW reaching landfills and incinerators.
©2008 Rodale institute
- 35. World Food Waste Study
By Jonathan|Bloom Published: May 12, 2011
UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization released a very interesting
report on global food waste. It contains mind-boggling new statistics, calls
international attention to the issue and serves as a prelude to the SaveFood!
conference in Germany.
Here’s the key line:
Roughly one third of the food produced in the
world for human consumption every year —
approximately 1.3 billion tonnes — gets lost or
wasted…
©2008 Rodale institute
- 49. Phase 2: The Field Trial
In 2006 we grew field corn
to test the performance of
the composts
application
plowing
Waiting for the corn to grow
©2008 Rodale institute
- 50. Soil N levels after four
weeks of corn growth
Soil N levels after four weeks of corn
growth ©2008 Rodale institute
- 53. Compost also supports comparable crop yields
(Compost Utilization Trial 1994-2002)
a
©2008 Rodale institute
- 54. Compost application guidelines
to protect water quality
• Test the compost to find out
its NPK ratio
• Apply the right amount of N
to feed your crop
• Be careful not to over-apply
P
• Think of compost as a soil
amendment (microbe food)
more than as a fertilizer
©2008 Rodale institute
- 55. Soil in Organic Systems
• Higher corn and soybean
yields in drought years
• Increased soil C and N
• Higher water infiltration
• Higher water holding cap.
• Higher microbial activity
©2008 Rodale institute
- 56. Compost as a Soil Amendment not a Fertilizer
Know How Much You Are Applying
©2008 Rodale institute
- 58. Cover Crops
Compost Utilized in Conjunction with Cover Crops
Crimson Clover Hairy Vetch/Rye
©2008 Rodale institute Hairy Vetch
- 59. Compost Use It or Sell It
• Compost Application – Compost is a soil amendment
not a fertilizer
• We apply compost at a rate of 10 to 15 tons per acre
every 3 to 5 years (500 lb/ 1000 sq.ft.)
• Know how much you are spreading
• If you have more than you need – Sell It
©2008 Rodale institute
- 61. Our Take Home Message
•Recycle food and yard waste back to the land
•Use compost in conjunction with cover crops
•Compost is work
•Support food production that treats soil as a living system.
•Buy organic food; at farmer’s markets, stores, and restaurants
©2008 Rodale institute
- 62. MAKE & USE
COMPOST
Thank You
jeff.moyer@rodaleinst.org
©2008 Rodale institute