In 1994, the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) (now known as the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery or CalRecycle) funded five compost demonstration projects in Northern California over a three-year period. Commercial growers participated in Fresno, Tulare, Stanislaus, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Benito, and Monterey counties. The projects were initiated to demonstrate agricultural use of and stimulate markets for compost and mulch made primarily from curbside collected green material (e.g., yard trimmings). The final reports were submitted in May 1997.
Use the list below to access the fact sheet summary of results or final reports.
Compost Demo Project, Fresno County. The composted green material was applied in a commercial peach orchard over a multi-year period. The materials compared in this demonstration and research trial included ammonium nitrate, steer manure, composted steer manure, pelletized chicken manure, and green material compost. (#422-96-051)
- Fact sheet: Compost Use on Peaches–Fresno County
Two-page fact sheet describing the project background, materials and methods, and overview of project findings. (#421-98-006) - To download report | To download fact sheet
Compost Demo Project, Monterey Bay Region. This project demonstrated the value of on-farm composting and increased awareness of the potential benefits of compost use in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties. Plots of broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, onions, potatoes, and beets received one or more of the following treatments: compost, sidedress nitrogen, preplant plus sidedress nitrogen. (#422-96-050)
- Fact sheet: Compost Use on Vegetables–Monterey Bay Region
Two-page fact sheet describing the project background, materials and methods, and overview of project findings. (#421-98-007) - To download report | To download fact sheet
Compost Demo Project on the Use of Yard Trimmings Products in the San Jose Region. Agriculture in Partnership with San Jose investigated the use of fresh yard trimmings, semimature compost, and mature compost (produced commercially and on farm). Commercial crops in Alameda, San Benito, and Santa Clara counties included apricots, cherries, grapes, peppers, radicchio, strawberries, tomatoes, walnuts, and Christmas trees. (#422-96-048)
- Appendix E: The “Yard Trimmings Products Use Guide” is a concise summary of the full report.
- To download report | To download Appendix E only
Compost Demo Project, Stanislaus County. This project measured benefits of compost use on ornamental nursery stock and field crops. Nursery trials used five landscape plant species: Fraser’s Photinia, Chinese Pistache, Gold Coast Juniper, Pink Indian Hawthorn ‘Springtime’ and Belgian Indica Azalea. Field crops of sweet corn, tomatoes, and watermelons were selected for their different root systems and growth patterns. The nursery trials were conducted for two years and the field crops for three years. (#422-96-053)
- Fact sheet: Compost Use on Vegetables and Nursery Plants–Stanislaus County
Two-page fact sheet describing the project background, materials and methods, and overview of project findings. (#421-98-008) - To download report | To download fact sheet
Compost Demo Project, Tulare County. This project demonstrated the use of green material compost. Cotton was planted in the first year of the demonstration. Wheat was planted after cotton. A second compost application followed the harvest of winter wheat prior to planting silage corn. Three treatments were compared on each season’s crop: commercial synthetic fertilizers without soil amendments (i.e., conventional); poultry manure in conjunction with commercial synthetic fertilizers; green material compost in conjunction with commercial synthetic fertilizers. (#422-96-052)
- Fact sheet: Compost Use on Cotton and Corn–Tulare County
Two-page fact sheet describing the project background, materials and methods, and overview of project findings. (#421-98-005) - To download report | To download fact sheet
For the most updated and complete list of CalRecycle publications on compost, or to order these publications, see the “organics” category in the CalRecycle Publications Catalog.
Resources
For more information contact: Compost Use in Agriculture, organics@calrecycle.ca.gov