FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the benefit of applying compost to my soil in terms of crop yield and cost?
2. Does compost increase weed seed dispersion in the soils it
is added to?
3. What is the typical rate of compost application for crops
such as cotton, sorghum, wheat etc.?
4. What is the best way to apply compost into my soil for cropping?
5. Is compost safe to use?
6. What standards are your compost products manufactured to?
7. What is the difference between your Rapid Rehab and Ag Compost products?
1. What is the benefit of applying compost to my soil in terms of crop yield and cost?
Compost contains sources of organic nutrients that do not have some of the drawbacks of synthetic fertilisers such as acid based phosphorus and urea. Therefore the nutrients within the compost are available for a relatively long period of time for plants and microbes. In addition the compost provides a source of carbon, an array of beneficial microbes and improves soil structure. This can lead to increased yields due to reduced plant disease, and reduce synthetic fertiliser costs.
2. Does compost increase weed seed dispersion in the soils it is added to?
No. All composted material reaches in excess of 55 degrees Celsius for weeks at a time, thereby destroying weed seeds. In effect the material is pasteurised. This also has a benefit of deactivating other potential pathogens that can be present in the feed stocks used to make the compost.
3. What is the typical rate of compost application for crops such as cotton, sorghum, wheat etc.?
The rate of compost application is usually around 3 tonnes per hectare. Reapplication should occur every year, but every 2 to 3 years will still provide benefits. This ensures that soil carbon is being increased, as well as the other benefits of the compost such as nutrients, water holding capacity, improving soil structure and microbiology.
4. What is the best way to apply compost into my soil for cropping?
Using a compost spreader is an efficient way in which to efficiently spread large volumes of compost over a wide area. The compost should be mixed into the top layers of the soil using standard agricultural machinery.
5. Is compost safe to use?
Compost and CQ Compost's products are safe to use, however precautions should be used as with handling all biological material. The compost products have all undergone pasteurisation in excess of 55 degrees Celsius for weeks at a time, thereby deactivating both plant and animal pathogens. However, it is recommended that people handling compost, especially with medical conditions, undertaking horticultural and agricultural activities wear a mask and gloves. These issues can arise from soil not containing compost, so in effect is very rare. |
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6. What standards are your compost products manufactured to?
All of our compost products are manufactured to AS4454-2012 (Australian Standard for Composts, Soil Conditioners and Mulches) specifications. We also undertake routine testing to ensure that the end products adhere to the internationally recognise PAS100 requirements (British Standards Institution Publicly Available Specification for Composting), as well as State based regulatory requirements. CQ Compost also has an Integrated Management System (IMS) which ensures that products are manufactured to the highest standard. By mid 2012 we hope to have gained third party accreditation according to ISO standards.
7. What is the difference between your Rapid Rehab and Ag Compost products?
The Rapid Rehab product is a compost blend, which contains both compost and soil components. This product is an immediate growing medium for plants so it does not need to be worked into the soil profile. In many land rehabilitation situations the top soil has been totally removed, therefore no top soil exists for compost and soil conditioner products to be mixed into, so the product we make allows for this. The Rapid Rehab blend has all the benefits of compost such as balanced nutrients, organic carbon and microbes, as well as soil mineralogy to supply soil structure for plant establishment. Ag Compost is a compost, but under AS4454-2012 definitions is termed a soil conditioner owing to its finer particle size (<16mm) |
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