|
| Reading on some compost, it appears that there are some contradictory info.
* There are comments that compost contains beneficial microbes while another article mentioned that compost should be finish to reduce pathogens. Are there are actually beneficial microbes in finished compost or is it suppose to be mostly sterile and to be consumed by microbes in the soil being applied to? * There are articles that said compost should be scratched into the dirt and then there are article that said to lay the compost on top and let nature break it down into the soil. What are the reasoning behind the two camps? * I see article that said applying compost will give nitrogen to the plant as it is breaking down, but I also notice article that said applying compost will rob the soil of Nitrogen initially. Is this why some article said to add compost in fall after the plants have died back? How would that work though, since most microbe are likely to be inactive during the winter. * There are article that said compost make good mulch and then article that suggest compost is a good medium for growing seed. How can it be both? Note that this isn't a thread to start an argument, but just trying to understand how stuff works. Paul |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| You will find disagreements with all forums, and this one is no exception. If you have not done so, read the FAQs for this forum first. Many composters think their way of composting is the best; I think my mesh bins are a good if not great way to compost. Compost can either dug into (mixed with the soil), or added on top of existing soil as a mulch. If the soil is poor to start with, most people will mix it in. Most of my neighbors do not know the difference between compost and mulch, so get used to folks using term incorrectly. I doubt if it was a knowledgeable person who said applying compost will rob the soil of nitrogen. Sometimes people say that a carbon-only mulch will take nitrogen out of the soil when mixed in, and often another person will disagree. |
|
| Compost will contain bacteria and fungi, and depending on what was put into the mix possibly some disease pathogens. Compost is definately not sterile, or at least you would not want it to be. For many people with dead soils the compost they add is the source of the beneficial microbes. Often people disagree on whether compost should be tilled into soil or can be layed on the soil and that depends on your soil. If there is some life in the soil, an active Soil Food Web, then laying compost on the soil will work and the Soil Food Web will move that compost into your soil for you, sometimes even with dead soils laying compost on the soil will see it moved into the soil by the bacteria and fungi in the compost. I have seen a soil that never, at least in 25 years, would not allow organic matter to move into it. All the organic matter put on that soil kind of stayed on top and the soil underneath had no residual organic matter, humus, until we tilled all that OM in. Most of the various soils I have worked with have not done that and compost layed on, as mulch, would be worked into the soil by the Soil Food Web. Compost, or any other organic matter, layed on soils will not "rob" them of Nitrogen. Where that has been observed the compost has been actually worked into the soil so the Soil Food Web got busy and digested that material using all the available N which, eventually, was onc again available to the plants growing there after that raw material was digested. Compost is a living organism and everything needed to grow plants is in the compost. Like any mulch material how well it works at suppressing "weed" growth depends on where the "weeds" were when the compost was put down. If enpough compost was applied to keep any "weed" seeds in or on the soil from getting the sunlight they need to germinate and grow they won't. But if the "weed" seeds are put into the compost later, after its applied, they have access to everything needed to germinate and grow, and a very good nutirent source. To add to what Robert said some people do not know that mulch can be anything. I know people that think mulch is something you buy at a store and unless it is labeled as mulch it isn't. I never have enough compost to use as mulch so my compost is laid on the soil, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, and then covered with shredded leaves. i have seen where compost was used as mulch and because it dried out and then was wet and the cycle repeated the plants did not benefit much from that compost which was not worked into the soil because the Soil Food Web is not very active in dry soils. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Soil Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.