Cautious Compost Criticism
Over the years i've watched ideas about composting change and
different viewpoints become popular. Each book that comes along is
a mirror of what is currently believed and has large gaps where
little is known. This suggests that the real value in new books is
to identify holes in our knowledge and the overall trend.
For example, the book "Soil and Composting" by Nancy Ondra was
published recently and gives a very good overview of what is known
plus it includes many newer ideas. Much of the old NPK and
chemical view of soils is gone and there is some discussion of soil
as a life form.
There is still a section on fertilizers and the traditional soil
test is recommended. The overall mood of the book is still to
identify soil problems and fix the soil. There is a discussion
of fixing PH and clay soils. It also has a list of things
unsuitable for compost, including twigs and diseased plants.
My view is that soil testing needs a new approach. Probably to
grow a few test plants or look at the weeds and how they do over
one season. The impact of soil temperature and life on the plants
was hinted at, but the process of building up or identifying
beneficial fungi was not connected to the soil test process.
Hopefully, someone will develop a more useful way to test soil
someday.
Viewing soil as a living structure is one area that needs a lot of
new information and techniques. The recommendation of adding
organic matter to clay soils is another area that is changing.
Some plants and soil life are very good at doing this if given a
chance. This can sometimes be encouraged by just mulching the
surface and letting the soil grow. Another way is by using the
right green manure plants over clay. I am not sure of the best
ways to do this, but can see lots of examples where nature has
found a way.
Conclusion: Guides to gardening and composting are good starting
points and not replacements for critical thinking.
Here are my rules for composting, use with criticism <grin>.
1. Compost everything found naturally and cautiously
compost manufactured organic products such as newspapers.
This includes twigs and diseased plants. Use both
composting in place and separate pile. Kitchen scraps
should be composted in a rodent free container.
2. Put compost on top of soil instead of digging it in.
3. Rather than fixing the soil, look at what grows naturally
and adjust the expectations slightly. In other words, grow
a succession of plants which build the soil and help the life
in the soil. Give the beneficial fungi time to establish
relationships and the other life forms to work the soil.
Use the compost process as a soil cover. Try to avoid quick
fixes to the soil. Consider growing what fits the soil
rather then change the soil to fit a specific plant.
4. If possible close the cycle with human manure (composted)
and urine. For most of us the use of urine instead of compost
tea is a possible step. The use of human manure is a little
more difficult, but some day we need to stop this dumping
of manure into sewer systems or find a way to safely use
sewage.
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Jeff Owens ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Zone 7
Underground house, solar energy, reduced consumption, no TV
