Berea, St Davids

Focus Site Project: Exploring Techniques to Create Predictable Compost

Project aims: 

  • This project aims to develop a rapid composting system to provide nutrition for vegetables, based on manures produced at the farm.
  • Produce predictable sustainable composted manures as quickly and efficiently as possible while promoting optimal performance from farm resources.
  • Predictable levels of N, P, K, Mg and pH will be of great benefit to the precision feeding of semi intensive vegetable production including soil grown protected cropping at Caerhys.
  • Straw-based muck from the winter housing of the suckler herd will be stacked under a tarpaulin sheet and turned when the internal temperature hits 60 degrees C. When the stack consistently returns temperatures of below 30 degrees C for 10 days, the composting degradation process will be deemed complete and turning will cease. After a further 14 days to allow for the conversion and maturation phases, the compost will be sampled for nutrient content.
  • A Nutrient Management Plan baseline study will demonstrate best practice in matching soil requirements to supplement the growing of different vegetable crops and help determine appropriate compost application rates. 

Related Our Farms projects

Wern
Osian Williams Wern, Y Foel, Welshpool, Powys Key areas you wish
Mountjoy
William Hannah Mountjoy, Treffgarne, Pembrokeshire Key areas you
Great Tre-rhew Farm
Jim and Kate Beavan Great Tre-rhew Farm, Llanvetherine