Wrap Green Compost Trials
Barcham are currently carrying out extensive trials sponsored by WRAP into the potential for using green waste as a peat replacement in their potting compost.Currently Barcham uses a peat/ bark compost with the now infamous grog (brick waste) used to keep the compost open.
The trials have been set up alongside Rainbow-Wilson Associates to assess the viability of using the green waste compost known as PAS 100 and obtained from Donarbon Ltd of Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire as an alternative to peat.
This compost offers a potential to enhance crop quality, reduce production costs, reduce the use of fertiliser and lime and improve environmental practices. Currently there is the potential for the use of 1,500 cu metres of green waste compost per annum.
Barcham has already installed a weather station to monitor atmospheric conditions and more efficiently use the water from the two new 36,000 cu metre reservoirs which make the company self sufficient in irrigation water.
Trees selected for the trials were potted during the autumn winter in the new Barcham Light pot and clearly marked with a distinctive green label. These trees should be available for sale in October 2006.
The trial involves the use of 1628 trees potted as either 8-10 or 10-12 cm girth. A further 1628 identical in species and variety were potted in conventional Barcham compost for comparison. The two blocks stand alongside each other on the new 27,000 slot construction on the Eastern side of the nursery.
During the trials a chemical and physical analysis of the green compost and hortibark used in the mix will be carried out as well as an assessment of the ease of handling the growing media during potting, standing out and despatch. A trial diary will be kept throughout recording, dates of potting, assessments, liquid feeding, pest and disease control, pruning and shaping and any other significant activities affecting the potential development of the trees.
At regular periods during the trial measurements will be taken foliage chlorophyll concentrations (by Spadmeter) and photosynthetic efficiency by flourimeter). There will also be an analysis of foliage sampled in May and September to record dry matter, N,P,K, secondary elements and trace elements plus starch/sugar levels (in September only).
The final assessments carried out in October will measure trunk girth at 1 metre from the base, canopy(diameter) and trunk length.
If you have any interest in these trials then please contact me at the nursery or even better come along and see them for yourself.
Currently Barcham uses a peat/ bark compost with the now infamous grog (brick waste) used to keep the compost open. The trials have been set up alongside Rainbow-Wilson Associates to assess the viability of using the green waste compost known as PAS 100 and obtained from Donarbon Ltd of Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire as an alternative to peat. This compost offers a potential to enhance crop quality, reduce production costs, reduce the use of fertiliser and lime and improve environmental practices. Currently there is the potential for the use of 1,500 cu metres of green waste compost per annum. Barcham has already installed a weather station to monitor atmospheric conditions and more efficiently use the water from the two new 36,000 cu metre reservoirs which make the company self sufficient in irrigation water. Trees selected for the trials were potted during the autumn winter in the new Barcham Light pot and clearly marked with a distinctive green label. These trees should be available for sale in October 2006. The trial involves the use of 1628 trees potted as either 8-10 or 10-12 cm girth. A further 1628 identical in species and variety were potted in conventional Barcham compost for comparison. The two blocks stand alongside each other on the new 27,000 slot construction on the Eastern side of the nursery. During the trials a chemical and physical analysis of the green compost and hortibark used in the mix will be carried out as well as an assessment of the ease of handling the growing media during potting, standing out and despatch. A trial diary will be kept throughout recording, dates of potting, assessments, liquid feeding, pest and disease control, pruning and shaping and any other significant activities affecting the potential development of the trees. At regular periods during the trial measurements will be taken foliage chlorophyll concentrations (by Spadmeter) and photosynthetic efficiency by flourimeter). There will also be an analysis of foliage sampled in May and September to record dry matter, N,P,K, secondary elements and trace elements plus starch/sugar levels (in September only). The final assessments carried out in October will measure trunk girth at 1 metre from the base, canopy(diameter) and trunk length. If you have any interest in these trials then please contact me at the nursery or even better come along and see them for yourself. |
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