Benefits of Compost Use

1. Benefits of Compost Use David Allen MBS Environmental

2. Water Retention • Drainage • Aeration • Compaction • Nutrient Supply • Nutrient Retention • pH Control Physics Chemistry • Nutrient Recycling • Disease Control Biology

3. Improving Physical Properties of Soils: • Improving water holding capacity • Reducing bulk density of compacted soils • Reducing clay dispersion in hard-setting soils • Improving drainage Improving Biological Properties of Soils: • Provides nutrients and energy for soil flora and fauna • Increases nutrient recycling • Reduces plant pathogens and diseases

4. Improving Chemical Fertility of Soils: • Supplies nutrients • “Unlocks” stored soil nutrients • “Slow-release” properties • Balanced nutrient profile • Improves effectiveness of added fertilisers • Increases nutrient retention (cations and trace elements) • Reduces leaching losses of mobile nutrients • Maintains near-neutral pH values: • Lime effect on acidic soils • Reduces effects of soil alkalinity

11. Quindalup Sand Spearwood Sand Bassendean sand

13. Forms of Nutrients in Compost Incorporated into organic matter. (Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur) Adsorbed onto organic matter surface. (Potassium, ammonium-N, calcium, boron, copper, zinc) Inorganic minerals (Calcium, phosphorus, sulphur) Water-soluble Salts (Sulphate-S, nitrate-N, soluble reactive phosphorus, chloride)

14. Comparison of Nutrient Content with Other Organics and Fertilisers

15. Nitrogen

16. Phosphorus

17. Cations

18. Trace Elements

19. Water Holding Capacity

20. pH Control Anions Before composting Anions After composting Cations Alkalinity Organic anions Calcium Phosphate Magnesium Potassium Sulphate Sodium Nitrate

21. A Year in the Life of a Phosphate Molecule January

22. A Year in the Life of a Phosphate Molecule February - March

23. A Year in the Life of a Phosphate Molecule October - November

24. A Year in the Life of a Phosphate Molecule December Landfill

25. Application Rates