We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Compost boost to crops
USING compost on arable land can boost phosphate and potash levels considerably while continued application could lead to crop yield benefits. That was according to Richard Fenwick of crop advisory company Cambridge Arable Technologies (CAT), speaking at the organisation’s annual winter conference, held near Cambridge.
Compared with other forms of organic fertiliser, compost was readily available and had a good nutrient profile. “Although little nitrogen is released from compost in the first year, it is a source of phosphate and potash in year one,” said Mr Fenwick.
In Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)-funded trials on five farms in the Eastern region compost was used on both winter wheat and sugar beet at 15 tonnes per hectare.
Yield benefits of compost might be expected in subsequent years when nitrogen is released and soil improvement can be measured.