From ACLARK@CROP.UOGUELPH.CAThu Mar 23 10:33:32 1995 Date: Thu, 23 Mar 1995 09:57:06 EDT From: "E. Ann Clark, Associate Professor" To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Re: Humus -- rural -> urban -> rural Responding to Dick R. on the issue of composting. Just curious about the comment that it is better if composting occurs in the soil. Just finished an M.Sc. student doing a study on composting and we didn't come across this idea in the lit. I'd be interested in learning what it is that is more beneficial about composting in-situ - in the soil - as against ahead of time. Evidence from the literature? Conventional organic wisdom hereabouts sees placement of raw manure directly into the soil as a net negative, because of a) rapid release of N which destabilizes cycling, b) VFA's which can be caustic, and c) potential for anaerobic decomposition when high moisture substrate (whether animal manure or direct cut red clover) is plowed into the soil. As an example, they recommend cutting and wilting red clover plowdown before plowing it in, to avoid this problem. Good points on "waste" management at landfills! Ann ACLARK@crop.uoguelph.ca Dr. E. Ann Clark Associate Professor Crop Science University of Guelph Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Phone: 519-824-4120 Ext. 2508 FAX: 519 763-8933