Summary
Quality-assured biowaste composts as well as composts from plant material (e.g. green composts) are high-quality organic fertilizers which, due to their content of plant nutrients and organic matter, contribute to humus and nutrient supply and have a positive effect on soil biological activity and soil structure. Composts can thus increase the yield capacity of soils in the long term. In the sense of a circular economy, the nutrients and organic matter of biowaste and green composts should therefore be recycled for agricultural use wherever possible.
In organic farming, nutrient recycling via composts can make a significant contribution to setting optimal nutrient levels in the soil and ensuring the supply of nutrients to crops. However, the application potential of biowaste and green manure compost is currently insufficiently exploited, although there is a high demand for macro- and micronutrients. Reasons for the low level of application include concerns about possible pollutant levels and soil contamination, uncertainties and lack of knowledge about nutrient and humus dynamics after compost fertilization, phytosanitary effects of compost application, effects of compost on yield and product quality, and logistics and economics of compost application. Insufficient research has been done on ecological effects of compost application, e.g. effects on biodiversity, C sequestration, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas fluxes. In addition, compost producers still face technical and technological problems in providing sufficient quantities of the product qualities required in organic farming.
Quality-assured biowaste composts as well as composts from plant material (e.g. green composts) are high-quality organic fertilizers which, due to their content of plant nutrients and organic matter, contribute to humus and nutrient supply and have a positive effect on soil biological activity and soil structure. Composts can thus increase the yield capacity of soils in the long term. In the sense of a circular economy, the nutrients and organic matter of biowaste and green composts should therefore be recycled for agricultural use wherever possible.
In organic farming, nutrient recycling via composts can make a significant contribution to setting optimal nutrient levels in the soil and ensuring the supply of nutrients to crops. However, the application potential of biowaste and green manure compost is currently insufficiently exploited, although there is a high demand for macro- and micronutrients. Reasons for the low level of application include concerns about possible pollutant levels and soil contamination, uncertainties and lack of knowledge about nutrient and humus dynamics after compost fertilization, phytosanitary effects of compost application, effects of compost on yield and product quality, and logistics and economics of compost application. Insufficient research has been done on ecological effects of compost application, e.g. effects on biodiversity, C sequestration, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas fluxes. In addition, compost producers still face technical and technological problems in providing sufficient quantities of the product qualities required in organic farming.
The aim of the project is to create a scientific and process-engineering basis for the increased use of quality-assured composts in organic farming and to support sustainable farming practices. In particular, the investigations are to contribute to
● optimize compost production in fermentation and composting plants in order to produce the high compost qualities that are required in organic agriculture demanded in organic
● farming,
● the agronomic and crop effects as well as the environmental effects of the use of different composts under differentiated site and to evaluate the environmental effects of the use
- xof different composts under the conditions of organic farming,
● to develop application recommendations on a scientific basis,
● to increase the acceptance for the use of compost in agriculture.