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Compost Fact Sheet

Compost Catchup
The Compost for Soils Recycled Organics R&D forum was recently held in Adelaide in conjunction with the Trust Organic National Composting and Organic Conference. The R&D forum is a great opportunity for compost industry members to get together with researchers, talk about the latest industry developments and hear all about new research.... Read more... (258KB PDF)
Compost 101
Compost is organic matter that has been through a controlled process of natural aerobic decomposition. Good quality compost products are dark coloured with a sweet, natural earthy or ‘forest-floor’ smell. They are available commercially or can be made on farm. There are compost products for a range of different situations or needs, including soil conditioners, mulch, biological enhancers and organic fertilisers...Read more...(583KB PDF)
Compost Products
A range of commercially produced compost products are available. Composts can also be made on-farm. The characteristics and potential uses of compost products will depend on a number of factors. Descriptions of compost product types are shown in Table 1 and maturity levels are shown in Table 2...Read more...(426KB PDF)
Composting Process
Composting is a complex process that takes time and good management.
It usually takes at least 8–12 weeks to produce a quality composted product. Generally, the older the compost, the more stable, biologically diverse and beneficial it will be to soils and plants. The actual level of stability will depend on the quality of the process used to make it...Read more...(425KB PDF)
Raw Vs Composted Manure
Growers can use organic options like manure, compost and cover crops as fertilisers, to boost soil organic carbon levels or to improve soil structure. The best organic option for each grower depends on their needs and management strategies...Read more...(214KB PDF)