Developing horticultural markets for Compost in Kent
The aim of the project is to establish a market for the use of the 10-40 mm fraction of green waste compost in the horticultural sector of Kent.
The major recipients of this material are the soft and top fruit growers in the region. Significant quantities of compost could be utilised in Kent in high value fruit crop production. Current practice is for newly established trees to receive a layer of straw as a mulch providing moisture retention and some weed suppression.
This project will evaluate the effectivness of compost as a mulch and as a long term supplier of nutrients
Background
This project is managed by ReMaDe Kent and Medway in collaboration with WRAP, compost producers and horticultural growers in Kent, Sussex and Essex to develop markets for the use of the large fraction (10-40mm) of green waste compost as a mulch for the fruit and vegetable industry in Kent. The mulch replaces the current use of straw providing moisture retention, nutrient supply and weed suppression. Crops treated include apples (4 varieties of young trees), cherries, pears, plums, strawberries, blackcurrants, cauliflowers and hops. The project will provide analysis of growth and will report on the horticultural and commercial benefits of compost application
Objectives
Overall, the key objective is to establish the principle of the use of compost in fruit growing in Kent through market development activities. The objectives set by the project include:
- To establish long term sustainable markets for green compost in the horticultural
- To agree with the growers the quality parameters for compost in soft and top fruit production
- To assess the spreading machinery requirements for compost application in fruit
- To assess the nutritional benefits of compost to fruit growth
- To assess yield effects from compost
- To assess the economic value of compost for fruit production in Kent
- To demonstrate the use of compost in fruit production through the application of 8000 tonnes of compost over two years
- To hold workshops with fruit growers
- To attend relevant fruit industry shows
Update
Compost is currently being procured from three manufactures in the South East – Shelford Composting Ltd, Tree Fella plc and Beddingham Compost Company Ltd. The compost has been applied to ten different fruit and vegetable growing sites in the Kent and Medway area and analyses of tree growth establishment and yields (where appropriate) will be undertaken during September 2005 - the harvest period for most of the demonstration crops.
Documents
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Devloping Horticultural Markets for Green Compost
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This project assessed the market potential for the use of compost produced from domestic green waste when used in a variety of horticultural applications.
