Compost Application Practices Improve Quality of Turfgrass and

INTRODUCTION: DISTURBED SOILS Urbanization contributes greatly to soil disturbance. Permanent vegetation is most effective

OBJECTIVE To compare various compost application and turfgrass seeding practices for revegetating disturbed urban

METHODS AND MATERIALS: FIELD STUDY � The Summit, Lynchburg, VA � Cullen Loam �

INITIAL SOIL TEST ANALYSIS AND FERTILIZER RECOMMENDATIONS: MARCH 2009 Property Soil Test Value Fertilizer

FIELD STUDY TREATMENTS � 1: Fertilizer and seed No cover (Control) � Straw blanket

COMPOST SOURCE AND METHODS Compost source: Royal Oak Farm, Evington, VA Compost feedstock Papermill

COMPOST COMPOSITION Parameter ¼ in screen size (%) Result 94 Moisture (g kg-1) 430

APPLYING AND INCORPORATING COMPOST 1 Compost 2 3 Aerovate Seed, roll 3/28/2009

NUTRIENTS RECOMMENDED AND APPLIED BY TREATMENTS Treatme nt C N P K Fertilizer 0

http: //connect. ag. vt. edu/compostforturf/ 5 cm compost PPI 2. 5 cm compost PPI

VISUAL TREATMENT COMPARISONS • Four weeks after establishment • 6. 3 cm of rainfall

TREATMENT EFFECTS ON TURF BIOMASS WITH TIME 300 Kg/ DM ha 250 200 fertilizer

http: //connect. ag. vt. edu/compostforturf/ Standard fertility treatment 1” compost 2” compost based on

EFFECTS OF TREATMENTS ON MEAN SEASONAL TURFGRASS DENSITY (AVERAGED OVER TIME) 7 6. 1

SOIL PROPERTIES TWO YEARS AFTER TREATMENT APPLICATIONS (SUMMER 2011) Soil Test Extractable Treatment P

CONCLUSIONS � Slow release of compost nitrogen likely improved turfgrass biomass with time. �

THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS � National Fish and Wildlife Foundation � Mark Maslow and

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Compost Application Practices Improve Quality of Turfgrass and a Degraded Urban Soil Virginia Recycling Association Annual Meeting Organics Session Hotel Roanoke May 16, 2012 Shea Dunifon, Greg Evanylo, Michael Goatley, Rory Maguire, Shan Dexin, and Xunzhong Zhang Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences Department Virginia Tech

INTRODUCTION: DISTURBED SOILS Urbanization contributes greatly to soil disturbance. Permanent vegetation is most effective practice to stabilize soil and reduce water impairment. Compost has been demonstrated to improve disturbed soils for vegetation establishment.

OBJECTIVE To compare various compost application and turfgrass seeding practices for revegetating disturbed urban land.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: FIELD STUDY � The Summit, Lynchburg, VA � Cullen Loam � Slope 3 -5% � Study established March 2009

INITIAL SOIL TEST ANALYSIS AND FERTILIZER RECOMMENDATIONS: MARCH 2009 Property Soil Test Value Fertilizer Recommendations (kg ha-1) 45 3 mg kg-1 80 mg kg-1 1221 mg kg-1 >120 mg kg-1 7. 3 cmol(+) kg-1 78 112 N P K Ca Mg p. H CEC

FIELD STUDY TREATMENTS � 1: Fertilizer and seed No cover (Control) � Straw blanket � Compost blanket: 0. 6 cm (1/4”) depth � 2: Compost - broadcast: 2. 5 cm depth � 3: Compost - broadcast & incorporated: 2. 5 cm depth � 4: Compost - broadcast & incorporated: 5. 0 cm depth �

COMPOST SOURCE AND METHODS Compost source: Royal Oak Farm, Evington, VA Compost feedstock Papermill sludge Woody waste Wood ash Food processing residuals Turned windrow processing

COMPOST COMPOSITION Parameter ¼ in screen size (%) Result 94 Moisture (g kg-1) 430 EC (d. S m-1) 2. 97 p. H 7. 9 C: N 18: 1 Total Organic C (g kg-1) 300 Total N (g kg-1) NO 3 -N (g kg-1) 17 9. 7 P (g kg-1) 10 K (g kg-1) 14 Maturity (Solvita) Very Mature (low CO 2, NH 3)

APPLYING AND INCORPORATING COMPOST 1 Compost 2 3 Aerovate Seed, roll 3/28/2009

NUTRIENTS RECOMMENDED AND APPLIED BY TREATMENTS Treatme nt C N P K Fertilizer 0 45 kg ha-1 78 0. 64 cm compost 2. 5 cm compost 5. 0 cm compost 3, 200 131 98 157 12, 800 524 392 627 25, 600 1048 784 1254 112

http: //connect. ag. vt. edu/compostforturf/ 5 cm compost PPI 2. 5 cm compost PPI SCT+Straw Mat (back) Standard Fert 0. 64 cm com blanket (fore) Photo taken April 17, 2009; Plots Seeded March 24, 2009. 2. 5 cm compost blanket

VISUAL TREATMENT COMPARISONS • Four weeks after establishment • 6. 3 cm of rainfall Control Straw mat 0. 25” compost broadcast

TREATMENT EFFECTS ON TURF BIOMASS WITH TIME 300 Kg/ DM ha 250 200 fertilizer 150 2. 54 cm surface 2. 54 incorp 100 5 cm incorp 50 0 Apr-09 May-09 Jul-09 Sep-09 Oct-09

http: //connect. ag. vt. edu/compostforturf/ Standard fertility treatment 1” compost 2” compost based on soil test, rep 3 Standard Fert PPI SCT+Straw Mat (back) 1” compost 2” compost, incorporated , Rep 3 blanket ¼” com blanket (fore) 1” compost, incorporated , Photo taken April 17, 2009; Plots Seeded Rep 3 March 24, 2009. July 5, 2011

EFFECTS OF TREATMENTS ON MEAN SEASONAL TURFGRASS DENSITY (AVERAGED OVER TIME) 7 6. 1 a 6 5. 1 b 5 4 4. 5 bc 4. 0 c 3 2 1 0 Fertilizer 2. 5 cm, surface 2. 5 cm, incorp 5. 0 cm, incorp Density assessed visually using a scale of 1 to 9 where 1 = bare ground to 9 = dense turf.

SOIL PROPERTIES TWO YEARS AFTER TREATMENT APPLICATIONS (SUMMER 2011) Soil Test Extractable Treatment P K mg kg-1 soil Fertilizer TN TOC bulk density g kg-1 soil g/cc 16 c 145 b 0. 8 b 12. 2 c 1. 25 b 2. 5 cm compost, surface 15 c 180 a 1. 1 ab 18. 9 b 1. 33 c 2. 5 cm compost, incorporated 22 b 172 a 1. 5 a 28. 2 a 1. 24 ab 5. 0 cm compost, incorporated 26 a 202 a 1. 7 a 32. 0 a 1. 18 a

CONCLUSIONS � Slow release of compost nitrogen likely improved turfgrass biomass with time. � Incorporated compost performed better than compost blanket. � Greater turfgrass density with compost than with standard fertilizer practices. � Soil properties improvements: compost > fertilizer.

THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS � National Fish and Wildlife Foundation � Mark Maslow and Southern Landscape Group, Inc. , Lynchburg, VA � John Hicks, Augusta Co-op, Lynchburg/Bedford, VA � Mr. Ken Burger, Executive Director , The Summit, Lynchburg, VA