This practice abstract was elaborated in the BIO4FOOD project: the project is running from November 2020 to October 2023, and is to contribute to reducing crop wastes providing natural protection products, vegetables rich in health-promoting minerals and biofertilizers

Alessandra, Trinchera

Alessandro, Persiani

Angelo, Fiore

Claudia, Di Bene

Francesco, Montemurro

Mariangela, Diacono

Roberta, Farina

Organic Eprints

PRACTICE ABSTRACT 1  Recycling agricultural residues in organic farming by on-farm compost production  Authors: Mariangela Diacono, Alessandro Persiani, Angelo Fiore, Claudia Di Bene, Alessandra Trinchera, Roberta Farina, Francesco Montemurro                    (CREA - Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment) Permalink: 10.5281/zenodo.7276687  This practice abstract was elaborated in the BIO4FOOD project: the project is running from November 2020 to October 2023, and is to contribute to reducing crop wastes providing natural protection products, vegetables rich in health-promoting minerals and biofertilizers.   Project websites:  About this practice abstract and Bio4Food ©2022 https://www.horticell.ugent.be/bio4food/ https://susfood-db-era.net/main/ERA-NET SUSFOOD2 and CORE Organic Cofund projects have received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and Innovation programme under grant agreement No. 727473 and No. 727495, respectively. Bio4Food is granted by MIPAAF - DM 9295088 - 05.11.2020. PROBLEM  Farmers are frequently facing agricultural waste production problems (which incorrect disposal may determine a damaging environmental impact) and soil fertility depletion. Sustainable valorization of crop residues could allow recovering valuable components as substrates and nutrients in microbial/enzymatic controlled   processes, such as composting.   SOLUTION To set up small-scale composting plant at farm (or district) level to effectively recycle organic wastes, by producing green compost as valuable (rich in     humified substances) biofertilizer, that would improve soil fertility in organic and sustainable farming.   PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS • A correct starting mixture in a composting pile should have around 70-50% of “nutritional” materials (e.g., vegetable residues) and 30-50% of “bulking” ones, (e.g. cereal straw) plus small quantities (1-3%) of material with the  function of microorganisms “starter” (mature compost or soil). • The maturity of the compost can be monitored indirectly considering the    microbiological activity linked to the composting process. Compost pile oxygenation is ensured by turning the material with a shovel or by using ventilation with a blower linked with a timer, thus allowing residues    degration by microorganisms (with increase of temperature). • Temperature of the pile should be continuously controlled to evaluate the ending phase of the process (that is when the compost temperature       approaches the ambient one). • The composting pile moisture should be regularly checked (weekly) and kept between 40 and 70%. Picture 1: plant residues collected on-farm in the foreground and a composting pile behind Geographical coverage Global Required time From about 90 to 120 days Equipment concrete platform, aeration system or a shovel, water, temperature   probe, non-woven sheet Period of impact and best in Entire year, all farming systems  Applicability box Picture 2: composting pile (1.0 m high x 1.5 m base diameter of about 300 kg) managing 

Recycling agricultural residues in organic farming by on-farm compost production

https://orgprints.org/id/eprint/44558/1/practice%20abstract%20n.1_BIO4FOOD.pdf

Recycling agricultural residues in organic farming by on-farm compost production

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