New Earth Solutions

What are the standards for compost?

Biodegradable, source separated materials are processed under carefully controlled conditions to produce a high quality product, as defined by the British Standards Institution’s Publicly Available Specification for Composted Materials BSI PAS 100 (2002). Compost conformity to PAS 100 should be independently assessed and verified through a certification scheme such as that managed by AFOR (The Association for Organic Recycling)

Full details of the PAS 100 are available from the British Standards Institution (BSI).

Information is also available from AFOR (Association for Organic Recycling) or Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)

What are the potential benefits of using New Earth compost?

Organic matter in soil is essential for soil structure, water holding properties, microbial activity and soil health.

Composts can be used to add organic matter to soils and increase the production of soils through many benefits:

• Reduced need for inorganic fertilizers
• Reduced nutrient leaching
• Increased yielding potential
• Better soil structure leading to - greater workability of soil and - increased traffic tolerance
• Improved water holding in light soils
• Reduced erosion risk
• Beneficial soil micro-organisms
• Nutrient recycling
• Plant disease suppression

Compost supplies nutrients and reduces the need for inorganic fertilizers.

The composition of compost will vary according to the materials included and the composting process itself. However, as a general rule compost provides the following nutrient benefits (approximate figures as total nutrient Kg Per tonne of moist compost based on typical analysis):

Composts not only provide valuable organic matter to soils, but also act as slow-release fertilizers for nitrogen and phosphate, and provide a readily available source of potash.

Other nutrients are also provided by composts such as magnesium, sulphur and trace elements. The efficiency of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer use by plants has been shown to be improved by the application of compost because of better overall nutrient supply and improved rooting environment.

Compost can also provide a valuable source of calcium with a small liming effect (it has up to 10% of the neutralising value of limestone on a dry matter basis).

Typical application of 31.5 tonnes of compost (20 tonnes dry weight basis) will provide (approximate figures):

Click here to download our latest compost download.

How to use New Earth Compost:

Compost is most easily applied with a spreader that has a moving floor and rear discharge.

It is important to mix the compost into the soil and not to invert the compost into a buried layer with the plough. This will maximise the effects of the organic matter on soil structure.

For crops with sensitive seeds, as with manures or NPK fertilizers, it is advisable to mix the compost with the soil at least two weeks prior to sowing in case the germination is affected by any temporary raised salt content of the soil. Unlike animal manures and inorganic nitrogen fertilizers, the nitrogen in compost is slow release and less subject to leaching over winter. Compost may therefore be applied in the autumn and most of the nitrogen will remain in the soil to benefit crops in the following years.

Arable agriculture

Up to approximately 30 - 35 tonnes per hectare of compost may be applied to soils on an annual basis (Subject to NVZ Regulations) This is especially beneficial to clayey soils that are difficult to work up into a seedbed and for light soils that have low organic matter status and low potassium index.

Root crops and vegetables

Valuable root crops are often grown on land with light soil that is responsive to the organic matter and the nutrients contained in compost. Up to approximately 30 - 35 tonnes per hectare of compost may be applied to soils on an annual basis. (Subject to NVZ Regulations)

Established fruit crops

The rows of established fruit crops, whether top fruit or soft fruit, can be mulched with a 25 to 75 mm deep layer of compost. Nutrients will be washed down into the soil to feed the crop and the mulch will aid the suppression of weeds. Planting fruit trees and bushes with compost combats Replant disease.

How to buy New Earth Solutions compost

Contact our Organics Marketing Department to discuss supplying compost for agricultural,  horticultural or amenity use.

Rob Sanderson

Office: 01202 812300
Mobile 07887 523 963
Email rob.sanderson@newearthgroup.co.uk