The upcoming Compost Roadmap Conference series COMPOST - The Way to Grow! will be a unique opportunity for all compost industry stakeholders to interact and exchange views on how to improve the composting industry across Australia.

The conference series, the second stage of three step process to develop a business ‘Roadmap’ for the composting industry throughout Australia, has been organised to inform and to consult with compost industry stakeholders across Australia.  The program includes:

• An update on where the Australian industry is now
• The latest on technology and marketing from overseas
• Local and international case studies
• An opportunity for you to have your say

Who should attend:

Some of what you will hear includes…

• Compost Producers, Grower, Farmers etc
• Local Government

Compost Producers, Grower, Farmers etc…

• Hands-on and practical information on Compost Use from Growers
  
• Water savings from use of compost, mulch and related products
  
• Composted green waste mulches introduce natural disease and pest control .
  A layer of composted mulch applied to subsoil without additional fertilizer has introduced growth characteristics in woody plants and soil nutrient cycling patterns identical to those in balanced natural forest ecosystems while suppressing damage caused by root rot, winter drought and leaf chewing insects.

• Compost, a methyl bromide alternative for control of root rots of strawberry and vegetable crops. The nursery industry has recognized for decades that composts can suppress diseases caused by soil borne plant pathogens (fungal and bacterial pathogens, even systemic nematodes). Proof in strawberry and vegetable production did not fully materialize till recently. Most beneficial microorganisms that provide this control do not develop on plant roots until several weeks after compost is first applied to soil. Composts prepared on organic farms also have this deficiency. Inoculation of composts with specific biocontrol agents improves the spectrum of diseases controlled. Foliar diseases (mildew, botrytis, etc.) are affected through systemic induced resistance. The yield of healthy fruit tomato fruit, for example, exceeds that of the control. Microorganisms which provide these effects and molecular mechanisms will be reviewed.  

• Profitable compost use on grain farms . No-till agriculture allows pathogens to survive between crops, increases slug damage while fresh crop residues stimulate pathogens and suppress disease control induced by beneficial microorganisms. Slow release N (e.g. composted poultry manure; 5-6 % N, 2-3 T/ha), applied immediately after harvest followed by minimum tillage stimulates litter decomposition and pathogen death. It results in suppression of Fusarium root rot, stalk and ear rot as well as other diseases which not only cause yield losses but also may contaminate feed with mycotoxins. US egg layer facilities are migrating to grain producing regions to enhance organic farming opportunities there with novel composting technologies which avoid ammonia emissions and mechanically control flies. The integrated farming system has lead to decreased pesticide use, a better environment and improved product quality!  

• Distribution of fresh ground wood spreads insect pests and plant diseases! Fresh ground or shredded wood from infected trees (some trees show no symptoms) harbors pathogens (Phytophthora, Verticillium, etc.). Insect egg masses also may survive grinding. Composting destroys pathogens and pests as long as adequate self heating occurs. Short term composting in piles high enough (varies with material inputs) to reach temperatures that exceed 55 C for 3 days destroys these agents. Four weeks of storage with turning is sufficient to prevent pathogens from recolonizing the compost. Thus, infested wood residues must to be treated if it is removed from the location where it was produced to avoid dissemination of problems.  

• Soil tests which best characterize soil and plant health . Spectroscopic analyses of compost-amended soils have shown that the soil organic matter fraction which sustains biological control of plant disease is the same as the POM soil fraction which drives soil quality in general. The rate of hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate and soil microbial biomass best predict disease suppression. Both methods are well known to soil chemists. Markers and genes in plants that give away whether a plant is being activated by the treated soil or a specific beneficial microorganism also now are being identified. Although this area still is under development, enough is known to remove the “much and magic” associated with this field in the past.  

• Composted teas (steepages, extracts) for disease control. Compost extracts under some conditions have provided a significant degree of control of some diseases and increased yields on some crops. The mechanism by which systemic resistance is induced in plants by extracts differs from that induced by biocontrol agents on roots in compost-amended soil. Mature composts must be used for preparation of extracts. Multi day fermented extracts from composted horse or cow manures are most effective. Addition of nutrients such as molasses to extracts followed by short term fermentation predictably increases pathogen populations (E.coli, Salmonella, etc.). Application of short term fermented nutrient enriched extracts to crops will lead to contamination of crops by pathogens as occurs after fresh manures are applied. Thus, until better knowledge is available, short-term fermented nutrient-enriched teas should not be used on food crops.

Local Government...attendance by those responsible for Waste Management and Parks and Gardens is particularly relevant as they represent the communities who are one of the major generators of greenwaste.

• An update on where the Australian industry is now
• The latest on technology and marketing from overseas
• Open Book Costing in a Materials Value Chain
• Local and international case studies
• An opportunity for you to have your say
• With continuing community pressure to lift resource recovery this conference is a ‘must’ for local government planners and service providers so come and be involved.

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