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MassRecycle Recycling and Organics Conference
March 27, 2012
Geoff Kuter, Ph.D. Agresource Inc.
www.Agresourceinc.com
Since 1984, providing organic waste management services
• Land apply wastewater and water treatment residuals from municipal and industrial sources.
• Operate regional composting facility in Ipswich MA.
• Compost marketing services for municipal and private facilities.
Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 www.agresourceinc.com
Compost Marketing ServicesFacilities in: ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI, NY, NJ,
and PA Composts from:Municipal Biosolids, Leaf and Yard Wastes, Food Wastes and Food Processing Residuals, and Manures
Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
Marketing Requires: Understanding customer needs and expectations
Ability to maintain consistent quality
Ability to deliver product to customers
Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
Different Ways to Make Compost
Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
Putting organic matter in a pile and letting it decay is not composting
Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
What is Compost?Compost is a Soil Amendment that:
Provides organic matterSupplies nutrients Stimulates microbial activity
Compost is not:Top soil or loamFertilizerPesticide or a biological control agent
Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
Compost Quality Not all composts are the sameMoisture content Texture and particle size Organic matter contentpH, soluble salts, and nutrients
Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
Compost QualityProduct characteristics depend upon:
Feedstocks: Biosolids vs. Food Wastes vs. Manures
Bulking Agents: Wood chips vs. Sawdust vs. Leaves
Type of processing: Screened vs. Unscreened
Age: Active vs. Aged Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
Types of Compost(by type of feed stocks)
Leaf and Yard CompostBiosolids CompostManure CompostFood Waste CompostWood AshPaper fiber (SPF)
Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
Compost Properties Organic Matter: Undecomposed residuals, active and dead microbes (Biomass) and the products of decomposition (Humic matter)
Nutrients: macro (N-P-K) and micro nutrients (e.g. Cu, Bo, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, etc.)
Ash and grit Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
Compost UsesExamples of product use: Establishing lawns and turf Root zone mix for sports fieldsTop dressing lawns and sports fieldsPlanting bedsTree and shrub planting mixRoot zone mix for constructing golf greensPotting media component Soil amendment for vegetable productionWetland construction and remediationInfiltration basins for storm water management
Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
Choosing The Right Compost for the Right Use
Finer texture for topdressing (<1/2 inch acceptable; <3/8 inch preferable)
Coarser texture for mulch (< 1 inch)pH, soluble salt: highly dependent on plant choice and application rates
Aged for potting mixesAvoid compost with high silt/clay for sports field mixes
Low nitrogen and phosphorus near water resources
Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
Optimizing Organic Content in Soil Specifications
3% to 10% often specified3% unnecessarily low for lawn areas10% too high for lawns
5% to 8% for lawns (low traffic impact)
4% to 6% for sports fields (high traffic impact)
Balance organic content with infiltration rate
All Composts are Not the SameAll Composts are Not the Same Comparison of Different Composts
on Infiltration Rate All Mixes: 80% Sand: 20% Compost
Silt Clay Total Infiltration Rate
Compost A 3.33 % 1.06 % 4.39 % 16 In/Hr
Compost B 6.07 % 0.69 % 6.76 % 12 In/Hr
Compost C 5.43 % 2.03 % 7.46 % 4.6 In/Hr
Topdressing
Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
Wetlands
Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
ConclusionComposts can be used in a variety of applications as part of sustainable landscaping.
Not all composts are the same.
Match the compost to the intended use.
Agresource Inc. 100 Main St. Amesbury MA 01913 800-313-3320 www.agresourceinc.com
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