Compost Use in Sustainable Landscapes Janet Hartin University of CA Cooperative Extension [email protected]

Compost Use in Sustainable Compost Use in Sustainable LandscapesLandscapes

Janet HartinJanet Hartin

University of CA Cooperative ExtensionUniversity of CA Cooperative Extension

[email protected]@ucdavis.edu

Principles of Sustainable Principles of Sustainable LandscapingLandscaping

Climatically/microclimatically Selected PlantsClimatically/microclimatically Selected Plants Water Efficient/HydrozonedWater Efficient/Hydrozoned Pollution Friendly Pollution Friendly (water quality, noise, dust)(water quality, noise, dust)

Employs Integrated Pest ManagementEmploys Integrated Pest Management Reduces, Recycles, and Reuses GreenwasteReduces, Recycles, and Reuses Greenwaste


Climatically/microclimatically Selected Climatically/microclimatically Selected PlantsPlants

Water Efficient/HydrozonedWater Efficient/Hydrozoned Pollution Friendly Pollution Friendly (water quality, noise, dust)(water quality, noise, dust)


Use USDA or Use USDA or Sunset Zones Sunset Zones

Microclimates Microclimates




Water Efficient LandscapesWater Efficient Landscapes

Good (top) and Poor (bottom) Distribution Uniformity









Employs Integrated Pest ManagementEmploys Integrated Pest Management Reduces, Recycles, and Reuses Reduces, Recycles, and Reuses

GreenwasteGreenwaste

CA Waste Snapshot (CIWMB) CA Waste Snapshot (CIWMB)

Landscape SoilsLandscape Soils

High quality compost High quality compost enhances the physical, enhances the physical, chemical, and chemical, and biological properties biological properties of a soil. It can of a soil. It can successfully be used as successfully be used as a soil amendment, turf a soil amendment, turf topdressing, mulch, topdressing, mulch, erosion control agent, erosion control agent, and water quality and water quality enhancer. enhancer.

Soil TexturesSoil Textures

Plant Disease SuppressionPlant Disease Suppression

- - compostcompost contains beneficial micro- contains beneficial micro-organisms which can suppress many organisms which can suppress many turfturf grass grass diseases including Fusarium patch diseases including Fusarium patch ((Microdochium nivaleMicrodochium nivale), red thread (), red thread (Laetisaria Laetisaria fuciformisfuciformis), and brown patch (), and brown patch (RhizoctoniaRhizoctonia solanisolani) particularly when applied as a top ) particularly when applied as a top dressing or a root zone amendment.dressing or a root zone amendment.

Phytophthora root rots(aggressive pathogens)

Phytothphora root rot of rhododendron

Pythium blight of turfPythium blight of turf

Pythium spp. are opportunists –they aggressively colonize dying plant materials: thatch layers, green manures, etc. – in turf, the disease occurs when the weather is warm and the grass crowns and thatch layer are under water for a long period. Plants recently stressed, or lush from high N show increased susceptibility.

Composted greenwaste used as a Composted greenwaste used as a bermudagrass soil amendmentbermudagrass soil amendment

J.S. HartinJ.S. Hartin11, S.B. Ries, S.B. Ries22, S.T. Cockerham, S.T. Cockerham22

and V.A. Gibeaultand V.A. Gibeault33

11UC Cooperative Extension, UC Cooperative Extension, 22UC Riverside Agricultural UC Riverside Agricultural Operations , Operations , 33UC Riverside Botany and Plant SciencesUC Riverside Botany and Plant Sciences

Different quality athletic fieldsDifferent quality athletic fields

There are few published data indicating the There are few published data indicating the optimum volume and specific benefits of optimum volume and specific benefits of composted organic materials used for this composted organic materials used for this purpose. Previous research indicates that, in purpose. Previous research indicates that, in general, organic soil amendments increase water general, organic soil amendments increase water and nutrient retention of sandy soils (Hartz et and nutrient retention of sandy soils (Hartz et al.,1996; Laganiere et al.,1995) and may enhance al.,1996; Laganiere et al.,1995) and may enhance drought resistance (Miller, 2000). Organic soil drought resistance (Miller, 2000). Organic soil amendments added to coarse-textured soils may amendments added to coarse-textured soils may also increase the diversity of pore sizes leading to a also increase the diversity of pore sizes leading to a more gradual water release (McCoy, 1992). more gradual water release (McCoy, 1992).

Objectives of this portion of our 3-year Objectives of this portion of our 3-year research project were to measure the effect research project were to measure the effect of three volumes of composted greenwaste of three volumes of composted greenwaste applied as a soil amendment to establishing applied as a soil amendment to establishing common bermudagrass on:common bermudagrass on:

Visual qualityVisual quality

Total plant biomassTotal plant biomass

Water infiltration Water infiltration

Figure 1Figure 1.. Composted greenwaste stockpiled Composted greenwaste stockpiled before amending into native sandy loam soil.before amending into native sandy loam soil.

Three rates of composted greenwaste (0.24, 0.39 and Three rates of composted greenwaste (0.24, 0.39 and 0.49 m0.49 m33 m m-3-3 final volume) were incorporated into the final volume) were incorporated into the top 10 cm of a sandy loam soil in early August 2000. top 10 cm of a sandy loam soil in early August 2000. The C:N ratio was 10:26; CEC 38.8 meq/100 g; pH The C:N ratio was 10:26; CEC 38.8 meq/100 g; pH 7.6; EC 30.2 mmhos/cm and SAR 18.8. A 7.6; EC 30.2 mmhos/cm and SAR 18.8. A randomized complete block experimental design randomized complete block experimental design with six replicates in two plots was used. An with six replicates in two plots was used. An unamended control was included. Arizona common unamended control was included. Arizona common bermudagrass (bermudagrass (Cyonodon dactylonCyonodon dactylon L) was seeded 2 L) was seeded 2 weeks later at 9.8 g mweeks later at 9.8 g m-2-2. .

Simulated traffic treatments using a Simulated traffic treatments using a Brinkman traffic simulator began in May Brinkman traffic simulator began in May 2001 by subjecting assigned split-plot 2001 by subjecting assigned split-plot treatments to 3 passes every 2 weeks. Plots treatments to 3 passes every 2 weeks. Plots were irrigated at 80% of historic reference were irrigated at 80% of historic reference (ETo), adjusted on a monthly basis. (ETo), adjusted on a monthly basis. Fertilizer was applied during the growing Fertilizer was applied during the growing season to all treatments at a total rate of season to all treatments at a total rate of 24.4g N m24.4g N m-2-2yryr-1-1. .

Turfgrass visual quality was measured every 2 to 4 Turfgrass visual quality was measured every 2 to 4 weeks monthly (except January). Surface hardness weeks monthly (except January). Surface hardness and compaction resistance*, total plant mass, and compaction resistance*, total plant mass, water infiltration rates, and surface elevations* water infiltration rates, and surface elevations* were measured 2 to 3 times annually. Infiltration were measured 2 to 3 times annually. Infiltration was quantified using a static head, double ring was quantified using a static head, double ring infiltrometer in two locations per plot. Oven-dried infiltrometer in two locations per plot. Oven-dried plant mass was measured after removing soil from plant mass was measured after removing soil from one 5 cm- diameter x 10 cm- deep soil core per one 5 cm- diameter x 10 cm- deep soil core per treatment plot.treatment plot.

*not included here *not included here

Figure 2Figure 2.. Representative plots after Representative plots after topdressing, leveling, incorporating, topdressing, leveling, incorporating, and rolling. and rolling.

0.49 m0.49 m3 3 mm-3-3

0.39 m0.39 m3 3 mm-3-3

0.25 m0.25 m3 3 mm-3-3

ResultsResults

During the initial 12 months of the study:During the initial 12 months of the study:

There were no differences in visual quality There were no differences in visual quality between traffic and no traffic treatments receiving the between traffic and no traffic treatments receiving the

same volume of composted amendmentsame volume of composted amendment

Visual quality of all treatments was lower Visual quality of all treatments was lower than at the end of Year 3than at the end of Year 3

TreatmentTreatment Year 1Year 1 Year 2Year 2 Year 3Year 3

0.49 (m0.49 (m33 m m-3-3) no traffic) no traffic 5.65.6 6.36.3 6.26.2

0.39 no traffic0.39 no traffic 5.55.5 6.36.3 6.16.1

0.25 no traffic0.25 no traffic 5.55.5 6.26.2 6.16.1

No amendment no trafficNo amendment no traffic 5.55.5 6.06.0 6.06.0

0.49 with traffic0.49 with traffic 5.55.5 6.16.1 6.06.0



No amendment with trafficNo amendment with traffic 5.45.4 5.25.2 5.75.7

LSDLSD 0.20.2 0.20.2 0.20.2

Table 1. Mean visual turfgrass quality on a 1-9 scale (9 = highest)

TreatmentTreatment cm hcm h-1-1

0.49 (m0.49 (m33 m m-3-3) no traffic) no traffic 8.68.6

0.39 no traffic0.39 no traffic 4.84.8

0.25 no traffic0.25 no traffic 4.04.0

No amendment no trafficNo amendment no traffic 3.63.6

0.49 with traffic0.49 with traffic 2.52.5



No amendment with trafficNo amendment with traffic 0.70.7

LSDLSD 2.52.5

Table 2. Infiltration rate (cm hr-1) (Dec. ‘01, Aug. ‘02, Dec. ‘02, Aug, ‘03, Nov.’03)

TreatmentTreatment g mg m-2-2

0.49 (m0.49 (m33 m m-3-3) no traffic) no traffic 12971297

0.39 no traffic0.39 no traffic 12781278

0.25 no traffic0.25 no traffic 12081208

No amendment no trafficNo amendment no traffic 11591159

0.49 with traffic0.49 with traffic 11471147



No amendment with trafficNo amendment with traffic 922922

LSDLSD 110110

Table 3. Total plant biomass (g m–2 to 10 cm depth)(June ‘01, Sept. ‘01, June ‘02, Oct.’02, June ‘03, Sept. ‘03)

Figure 4Figure 4.. One block of amended plots One block of amended plots receiving traffic vs no traffic the first year (July receiving traffic vs no traffic the first year (July ’02). ’02).

traffic

no traffic

ConclusionsConclusions

In this study, amending soil with composted greenwaste In this study, amending soil with composted greenwaste generally resulted in higher bermudagrass turfgrass visual generally resulted in higher bermudagrass turfgrass visual quality and greater infiltration rates and total plant quality and greater infiltration rates and total plant biomass than resulted in unamended controls. The biomass than resulted in unamended controls. The highest volume of amendment applied (0.49 mhighest volume of amendment applied (0.49 m33 m m-3-3 ) did ) did not reduce visual quality, infiltration rate, or total plant not reduce visual quality, infiltration rate, or total plant biomass potentially increasing the market for greenwaste biomass potentially increasing the market for greenwaste compost as a turfgrass soil amendment and leading to compost as a turfgrass soil amendment and leading to greater landfill diversion of these organic materials. greater landfill diversion of these organic materials.

Additional research comparing the combined Additional research comparing the combined effects of different depths and volumes of effects of different depths and volumes of

organic matter incorporation on visual quality, organic matter incorporation on visual quality, plant biomass and infiltration rates of plant biomass and infiltration rates of

bermudagrass plantings subjected to varying bermudagrass plantings subjected to varying levels of traffic simulation would further define levels of traffic simulation would further define

recommended standards. recommended standards.

Topdress with CompostTopdress with Compost

Janet HartinJanet [email protected]@ucdavis.edu

(951)313-2023(951)313-2023

Documents

Compost Use in Sustainable Landscapes Janet Hartin University of CA Cooperative Extension [email protected]