Source: Siegfried Luebke's CMC Group Laboratory;
Peuerbach,Austria.
The CMC Compost Consulting group includes Siegfried and Uta
Luebke, their daughter Angelika, as well as a compost consultant, Mr.
Urs Hildebrandt. Two courses are offered: a 3-day Humus
Management Seminar and a 4-day CMC Compost Seminar. The seminars
include classroom instruction with color slides, hands-on lab
activities, and hands-on
compost preparation in the field. The Luebkes teach primarily in
Central Europe, but they have also conducted seminars in Norway,
Finland, India, and the United States.
The Luebkes' first speaking engagement in the U.S. was at the
Acres, U.S.A. Conference in Kansas City, MO, in 1985. They've
also spoken at several Eco-Farming Conferences at the Asilomar Center
in Monterey, California. Annual seminars on Humus Management and CMC
Compost were held in Pennsylvania and California from 1992 to
1997. Currently, they conduct one English-speaking international
seminar each year in Peuerbach, Austria.
George Leidig (2) is the U.S. liaison for the CMC Compost
Group. Leidig worked with the Luebkes for 3 years in Austria
prior to forming Autrusa/Imants USA in Perkiomenville,
Pennsylvania. Leidig hosted seminars for the Luebkes in the
1990s, and coordinates CMC product distribution in the U.S. This
includes manufacture and distribution of the Sandberger Compost
Turner® as well as distribution for the Imants Spade
Plow® and Top Tex Compost Fleece®.
Humus Management: Humus Formation &
The Role of Soil Microbes
Basic to humus management is an appreciation for the vital role of
microorganisms in soils and composts. Microbes are essential to
breadkdown of raw organic matter, mineralization of organic matter and
subsequent release of plant nutrients, disease suppression, enzyme
reactions, and a host of other biochemical functions, including
formation of soil humus and clay-humus crumb.
Selman Waksman's Graph on Crop Yields & Soil Bacteria
Graph used by the Luebkes in the humus management seminar,
published by Dr. Selman Waksman, the famous microbiologist from Rutgers
University. The graph illustrates a correlation between crop
yields and occurrence of soil bacteria: Higher populations of soil
microorganisms are correlated with higher yields of crops.
Source: Waksman, Selman. 1952. Soil Microbiology. John Wiley
& Sons, New York
Humus is the end result of organic matter decomposition and
recomposition by microbes. When fresh, undecomposed organic matter
(green manures, animal manures, crop residues) is added to soil or
placed in a compost pile, a rapid multiplication of soil microorganisms
takes place. Certain microbes (bacteria, fungi, and
actinomycetes) break this raw organic
matter down into smaller particles (gums, waxes, lignins) resistant to
further decay and simple organic compounds (sugars, amino acids) that
are water soluble. Following the breakdown phase, a
second group of microbes bind these materials together, especially
lignins and microbial biomass, into more stable humic substances
(fulvic acid, humic acid, humins) in the buildup phase.
The physical, chemical, and biological transfomation of raw
organic matter into a complex humic substance is known as
humification. Friable
humus (also known as effective humus or nutritive humus), which
supplies slow-release nutrients over a period of weeks or months, is a
short-chain humic compound. Stable humus (also known as permanent
humus), which
has a half-life of years and may be viewed as the soil humus bank, is
a long-chain humic compound.
When conditions are optimal, microbes attach these long-chain
humic compounds to the clay fraction, resulting in clay-humus
crumb. These clay-humus crumbs are full of "nooks and crannies"
which provide shelter for soil microorganisms. The enormous
surface area and negative charge associated with clay-humus provides
exchange sites for cations, and building soil humus is one of the few
ways farmers can actually increase the cation exchange capacity (CEC)
of soils. Clay-humus crumbs are highly desirable in building soil
tilth and maintaining good soil structure and water holding capacity.
The goal of humus management is to arrive at an active,
high-quality humus that is insoluble in water and therefore resists
leaching of nutrients. Instead, nutrients are released through
mineralization, a process driven by secretion of weak acids from plant
roots and microbial action. In a healthy soil system, the Luebkes
propose an interactive feedback loop exists whereby plants
secrete root exudates that tell soil microbes what they need. In
response, soil microbes regulate mineralization and feeding of crop
plants.
Dr. Pfeiffer promoted microbial inoculation of green manures and
composts to help regulate the humification process. Uta Luebke
explained that in nature, different microbes perform specialized tasks.
She used the analogy of building a house: carpenters,
masoners, plumbers, and electricians all work together to build a
house. Uta explained that microbe A cannot do the work of microbe
B due to different genetic makeup. Further, Uta explained that when
specialists are missing, it takes longer to do the same amount of
work. For example, when crop residues from the last growing
season are still largely intact it is an
indication of a poor, inactive soil. In a good, microbially
active
soil, crop residues may be decomposed in a few weeks.
Based on these ideas and drawing on his experience with the
Pfeiffer inoculants, Siegfried Luebke developed a microbial inoculant
that doubles as both a green manure and compost inoculant. The
end result is CMC Compost Starter®, a mixture culture of 55
different types of microbes.
Clay-Humus Crumb
Image of clay-humus crumb formation in well managed soil,
as seen under a microscope. This beautiful structure is built by
microbes, which
tie humus particles to
clay particles in the formation of clay-humus crumb.
Clay-humus is an architectural masterpiece of Nature.
Source: Siegfried Luebke's CMC Group Laboratory;
Peuerbach,Austria.
Humus Management: Crop Rotations and
Green Manuring
Early on, drawing on the experience of The Pfeiffer Foundation,
the Luebkes learned that microbial inoculation of green manures has
substantial benefits. They observed enhanced humus crumb
formation in comparison to fields managed with non-inoculated green
manures. They also found that inoculated green manures break down
faster and therefore enable the farmer to plant sooner. Normally,
a 3-4 week delay between green manuring and planting is
recommended. Yet, after working down a
green manure with a spading machine, the Luebkes often plant a
vegetable
crop the same day or just a few days after green manuring.
In the spring season of April & May, every day is valuable for
plant growth. Green manures are rapidly accumulating plant
biomass and producing extra nitrogen. It is important, then, when
planting into freshly incorporated green manures, that the soil be
capable of digesting organic matter. The key is a microbially
active soil, enhanced
through inoculation of green manures and regular amendments of
compost.
"Farming is quite different when you work with an active soil," said
Uta
Luebke.
The Luebkes became convinced that green manure inoculation was
making a difference when they were able to roto-till in mid-summer and
the tiller sank down into a loose, friable soil. Normally a
tiller would
just bounce around on hard ground at that time of year.
On the topic of establishing green manures and cover crops, Uta
said that soil needs a vegetative cover at all times. They reseed
a cover crop as soon as they take off a cash crop. Exposed soils
are
prone to loss of organic matter through oxidation and erosion.
The
maintenance and buildup of soil humus should be foremost on every
farmers
mind, according to Uta.
The basic sequence for green-manuring, practiced by the Luebkes,
is as follows: flail chop or rotary mow the green manure and let
it lie
on the field until the moisture is right for tilling into the soil,
then
inoculate it just before turning under. The inoculant is applied at 1
unit/ha (1 hectare=2.47 acres) via boom spray nozzles (1.2 mm,
cone-shaped mist nozzles) positioned on the front of the tractor.
An inoculant spray tank is mounted on the side of the tractor, and
applied at a cost of about $50/ha (about $20/acre). A spade
plow is attached to the back of the tractor.
The tillage implement is a vital component of the humus management
system. Tools that create a hard pan should not be used.
The spade plow is preferred by the Luebkes because it performs primary
and secondary tillage in one pass, working the soil into a friable
condition and providing good aeration.
Following incorporation of fresh organic matter, the microbe
population builds up rapidly. Young green material decomposes in
as little as 5 days. Rain following incorporation is desirable to
move organic matter into deeper layers of soil. Uta said soil
humus can be improved as deep as 2-3 ft, or more.
The Luebkes grow a variety of cover crops. Faba bean is
popular cover crop in Austria. Rye and rye-vetch mixtures are
also common. Legumes are important because they are nitrogen
fixers. One of their main rotations is an alfalfa-grass mixture
that stays in the ground for 4 years. The grass-legume mix is cut
to provide feed for their dairy sheep and green chop for their
compost. On the last rotation, it is chopped down with a flail
mower, inoculated, and turned under as a green manure.
The Luebkes explained that harvest and removal of plant top-growth
does not deplete soil organic matter (OM) when OM is 5% or above; below
5% OM, however, removal of green chop exceeds a sustainable level.
The Luebkes stress the following points in relation to green
manuring:
- Green manures are important because they provide food to
microbes, thus enabling the microbes to perform many important
functions in the soil.
- Be sure there is enough moisture for microbes to do their work;
otherwise, OM will not be attacked properly. Conversely, if soil
is too moist when it's time to green-manure, the crop should be chopped
and allowed to wilt sufficiently prior to incorporation.
- Oxygen is the other important requirement of soil microbes
that should not be overlooked. Incorporation of green manures should
not extend to depths where soil oxygen is inadequate. Partial
incorporation of green manures is necessary, and full incorporation
preferred, to assure optimum microbial breakdown. Microbes are
inhibited or killed by ultra-violet (UV) light when exposed on the soil
surface.
- Always cut and chop the green manure prior to
incorporation. Top removal causes root sloughing (a microbial
food source), and chopping increases the surface area of the crop
residue (which enables the microbes to digest it faster)
- Inoculation of each green manure crop is advised. The
Luebkes use CMC Compost Starter to inoculate green manures.
[Note: CMC Compost Starter is not yet available in the U.S.; see
alternative suppliers in the compost section below.]
- Controlling the breakdown process will help reduce the chance
of putrefaction. For example, if heavy rains compact green
manures after plowdown, go back and work the soil again (after the soil
dries sufficiently to avoid compaction) to assure proper breakdown.
- Especially heavy residues tend to go anaerobic and
putrefy. Avoid too much crop biomass at plowdown by incorporating
earlier in the season, as necessary.
|
 |
| Close-up display of shovels on an Imants spader, a
rotating-type spading machine. |
Imants spading machine in the field; working down crop
residues in one pass. |
Humus Management: Compost Application
The Luebkes recommend the addition of 10-12 tons of compost per
acre annually for the first 2-3 years, then tapering off to about 5
tons. For heavier-feeding vegetables, 8 tons/acre is
recommended. Maintenance rates may be as low as 3 tons/acre with
high-quality compost.
The Luebkes apply 6-8 tons compost per acre for greenhouse
tomatoes, which is about the same rate they use on field-cultured
tomatoes. They use a 1:1 compost/peat moss potting mix for
transplants, adding 1/3 sand for soil blocks.
Humus Management: Compost-Enhanced Weed Control
A decrease in weed pressure is considered a sign of soil
improvement. This is a common observation of organic farmers all
across Europe, according to the Luebkes. One producer who
prepared CMC compost and applied it to carrots reported that only a
single weeding was necessary. Previously, 4-5 weedings were
required.
In a field trial designed to observe the weed suppressive effects
of humified composts, the Luebkes applied immature and mature composts
to vegetable plots. The composts were obtained from seven different
compost windrows at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 weeks into the composting
process. Weeds were noticeably greater in plots treated with immature
composts (e.g., weeks 2, 3, 4) and largely absent in plots treated with
composts of greater maturity (e.g., weeks 5, 6, 7, 8). The
hypothesis for compost-enhanced weed control is that soils treated with
humified composts mimic soil conditions in mature ecosystems.
Conversely, soils treated with immature composts respond to water
soluble leachates (e.g., nitrates and raw humic substances) that signal
weeds of “disturbed” sites to sprout and provide vegetative ground
cover. Nature abhors a vacumn. Weeds respond to ecosystem
signalers to help protect the soil.
Humus Management: Soil Evaluation and Testing
Evaluating the humus condition and biological activity of soils
and composts is an important part of the CMC program. The Luebkes
use the following tests: (1) percent organic matter; (2)
colorimetric humus; (3) circular chromatography; and (4) potential pH.
Percent Organic Matter
Standard organic matter tests, like the Walkly-Black method, are
based on extraction with concentrated sulfuric acid. Typical
organic matter rates for temperate-region soils (North America &
Europe) range
between 0.5% to 2.0% in a sandy loam and 2.0% to 5.0% in a clay loam.
The Luebkes say that 2% soil OM is the minimum amount needed to support
normal biological functioning, a range that echoes "The Humus Law"
developed
by Dr. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer.
Suggested goals for organic matter levels in well managed
agricultural soils:
Field
crops
3-5%
Vegetables, orchards, pastures 5-8%
Gardens
10-14%
The Humus Test
The colorimetric humus test was developed in the United States in
the early 1900s, but it fell out of widespread use. It had been
used by East German agricultural scientists for several decades, and
became more widely known following the fall of The Berlin Wall.
The Luebkes teach it in their seminars, and several commercial soil
labs in the U.S. have started offering it as a regular lab test.
The humus test indicates the degree to which organic matter has
become humified. Humified organic matter is desirable because it
is relatively stable, so nutrients and simple organic compounds
associated with decomposing organic matter are less likely to leach
away.
Briefly, the humus test is a colorimetric comparison test.
Soil or compost samples are processed with a weak alkali solution
(sodium hydroxide) and treated with EDTA chelating agent. The
filtered solution,
or extract, that results from this procedure will have a distinctive
color. The extract is compared to a standardized set of colored
vials on a scale of 0 to 100. These range from light yellow to
dark yellow; light orange to dark orange; and light red to dark
red. The darker the color, the greater the presence of
humus. The number that results is a relative number rather than a
percentage, and is commonly known
as "humus value."
In evaluating soil health, the Luebkes found that the ratio of
humus value:percent organic matter should be at least 2:1
to 3:1. For finished compost, humus values should be
between 50 and 80. Using CMC compost and humus
management
techniques, the Luebkes were able to raise the organic matter of a clay
loam soil from 2% OM to 15% OM, with a humus value of 45 to 50.
Circular Chromatography, The Chroma Test
The chroma test is a common term for circular
chromatography. It
is done by wicking an alkali extract from soil or compost samples onto
circular filter paper previously treated with silver nitrate. As
the solution slowly wicks across the filter paper, separation of humic
fractions occurs through capillarity. The silver nitrate serves
as a photoactive reagent to fix the fractions and make them visible.
In the chroma test, humic substances, depending on their molecular
weight, settle out at different points along the filter paper as they
move by capillarity. Patterns and colors that emerge on the
filter paper provide a visual, qualitative assay. It is commonly
known as a picture-forming test. Sukhu P. Mathur (3) explained
that circular chromatography is "based on the fact that humus is formed
during composting and that as the [composting] process progresses the
relatively low molecular-weight humic substances produced initially are
polymerized into less soluble, macromolecular, mature humus."
Will Brinton provides an authoritative description of the
chemistry behind the chroma test in Sustainable Food Systems
(4).
Chromatograms are interpreted by analyzing the distance, shape,
and color of the central, transitional, and peripheral zones.
Various colors
are noted: white, pink, brown, violet, and black, as are shapes
such as smooth, jagged or irregular.
Interpretation of the chromatogram can identify features such as
biological activity, humus formation, humus condition, enzyme activity,
mineralization, partial decomposition, poor aeration, crude organic
matter versus humified organic matter, fertile status and yield
potential, and excessive cultivation.
The chroma test was developed by Dr. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer as an
on-farm assay that farmers can perform themselves. However,
attention to detail is required and it is time consuming. It is
not widely used because it requires training and experience to
interpret the chromas.
Dr. Pfeiffer made extensive use of the chroma test in his research
at The Pfeiffer Foundation in Spring Valley, New York. He
published a 44-page book, Chromatography Applied to Quality Testing,
containing color plates and descriptive entries for different soils,
composts, and grain samples. It is available for $8 from the
Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, Inc. (5).
One of the most helpful and practical guides to chroma
interpretation is based on the Luebke seminar on humus management,
which includes chroma preparation and interpretation. Der
Chroma-Boden-Test (6) is a German-language book. The chapter
titled Der Chroma-Test Eine Praktishce Anleitung contains a
series of chroma images with detailed interpretive analysis. A
color poster that accompanies the book contain color plates of the
original chromas.
|
Translated excerpts from Der Chroma-Boden-Test:
The chromatogram provides a clear answer to the
simple question: "What is the biological condition of my soil?"
Plate 12:
Good soil formation with nearly ideal humus
relationships; high microbial activity, with continuous break-down
and build-up (transformation) of organic materials. With
such soil, the farmer can expect more than average yields. There
will be no nutrient problems, even without the addition
of mineral fertilizers. Soils of this type are also high in
water-retention, having a high buffer-capacity against acid rain; they
are easy to cultivate, and are resistant to erosion and leaching.
|
Potential pH Test
The potential pH test is a simple method for determining the
exchange capacity of a soil or compost sample. Indirectly, it is
a measure of biological activity and degree of humification. This
test is described by Struchtemeyer in Basic Properties of Forest
Soils (7).
In brief, two samples are prepared. The first sample is
diluted with distilled water. A pH reading of this sample will
provide the actual pH. The second sample is diluted with
potassium chloride (.1 Molar KCl solution). A pH reading of this
latter sample provides the potential pH.
The degree to which potassium ions displace hydrogen ions on the
soil or compost colloids in solution will be reflected in the
difference between the actual and potential pH readings. This is
an indication of
the ion buffering capacity, or the cation exchange capacity, of the
sample. When the pH readings are further apart, they are an
indication of poor exchange capacity. The aim is to achieve as
little difference as possible; less than 0.5 pH units for soils and 0.3
pH units for compost is ideal.
During the humification process, microbes are actively building
long-chain polymers of polysaccharides and other molecules.
Well-developed humus has numerous exchange sites and therefore holds
hydrogen ions more tightly. The actual pH and potential pH
readings will be close together and indicate a high degree of microbial
activity, humus structure, and surface area. Conversely, pH
readings with divergent numbers are an indicator of poor humus
development.
The Complete Luebke Soil Health Picture
To gain a complete picture of soil and compost quality, it is
important to use all the tests described above. Soil tests should
be done by the same lab (either on-farm or through a commercial lab) so
that readings are accurate and meaningful in comparison to each other.
In the U.S., Autrusa/Imants USA used to sell a chroma test kit
that contained all the supplies and instructions needed to prepare
chromatograms. This equipment was donated to the Josephine Porter
Institute for Applied Biodynamics (8). Pike Agri-Lab (9) sells
instruments and supplies to perform the complete Luebke compost test,
used to determine: pH, oxidation-reduction, electrical
conductivity, carbon dioxide, temperature, nitrates, nitrites, ammonium
nitrogen, and sulfides.
CMC Compost Preparation
CMC compost is a high-quality humified compost with the following
characteristics:
- Aerobically produced
- Abundant and diverse microflora
- Nutrients in stable form
- A high ratio of humus to total organic matter
- No sulfide, nitrite, or other harmful plant compounds
- Low ammonium levels
- Nitrogen fixed into stable humus and microbial biomass
For preparation of CMC compost, the following compost site guidelines
are suggested:
1. Slope. The compost site should have a 3-5% slope in the
direction of the windrow. There should be no side slope or
center slope. Water that collects under the compost pile will
result in putrefaction.
2. Compost pad. A good, stable pad is very important when
you are moving heavy equipment around in wet weather. It should
be constructed so that precipitation moves away from the compost
windrows. The USDA Animal Manure & By-Products Laboratory
published an article that describes how soils can be lime-stabilized at
a cost that is considerably cheaper than concrete or asphalt (10).
3. Storage space. Ample space is needed to stockpile yardwaste,
manure, and other feedstock, and for operation of equipment.
4. Access to water. The source may be a fire hydrant, creek,
pond, or well, but it is important that no chlorine is present because
chlorine kills microbes. Water is added when the compost windrows
are turned to maintain moisture at optimum levels.
5. Protection from drying winds. Windbreaks are an effective
method for modifying the environment.
6. Electrical power source. A power source can be helpful
for operation of on-site testing equipment, electrical-powered grinders
and tools, or an equipment shed.
CMC compost is built in layers and laid out in windrows for
mechanical turning. The base layer should be a dry, high-carbon
material like municipal yardwaste (leaves and shredded tree trimmings)
or dried hay or straw. A moist, high-nitrogen material (animal
manure, green chop) is laid down next, and so on, in repeating
layers. Added last to the windrow, are:
- Diabase or basalt rock dust (10-20 lbs/cu yd) —
stimulates microorganisms and provides micronutrients
- Finished compost (10% by volume) — regulates moisture and odor
and provides microbial inoculum
- Clay loam (10% by volume) — retains nitrogen and promotes
formation of clay-humus crumb
- CMC Compost Starter — a microbial inoculant
The use of rock dusts as a mineral amendment to compost piles is
more common in European organic farming. Rock dusts are valued for
their fineness of grind, resulting in a huge surface, and for their
contribution of a broad range of trace elements. Many of these
micronutrients function as biocatalysts for enzymatic reactions.
Keep in mind that Siegfried Luebke developed a database of 3,600
microbial driven enzymatic reactions. Enzymes are critical in the
breakdown of raw
organic matter during the composting process. In turn, organic
acids formed as a byproduct of microbial activity help to solubilize
and mineralize elements in the parent rock dust material, thus making
these mineral elements more bioavailable. When organic matter,
clay, and rock dusts are mixed together in the compost windrow, the
complex biotransformation and repolymerization processes that occur
during composting provide an opportunity for organo-mineral chelated
complexes to form.
The following helpful instructions on the use of rock dusts in composts
were published in the Spring 1993 issue of Remineralize the Earth,
in an article by George Leidig titled "Rock Dust and Microbial Action
in Soil: The
Symbiotic Relationship Between Composting and Mineral Additives"
(11):
- Finely ground rock dust should be added at a rate of 10-20
lbs per cubic yard of raw material
- The particle size should be less than 20 microns in diameter,
or pass through a #300-mesh screen or finer. The fineness of the
material is important, since you want to assure that the minerals are
readily available to the microbes during the composting process
- Magnesium levels should be under 5%, since high magnesium
levels rob nitrogen from the compost and soil
- Calcium levels between 5-10% are preferred—calcium is a
macro-nutrient essential for microbial life and plant growth
- The rock dust analysis should display a well-balanced array
of micro-nutrients, which, as in the soil, stimulates microbial
action. This is even more important in composting, since the
microbes are totally limited to the materials present in the pile for
their nutrition
- Granite dust is not recommended for compost because of its
quartz content. The larger size and slickness of the quartz
particles resist breakdown and inhibit the attachment of organic
particles necessary for proper humus crumb formation
- Rock dusts of volcanic origin are preferred, such as diabase or
basalt, because of their high silica value. Silica is an often
forgotten element necessary for proper cell structure in plants and
animals.
Recent studies have shown silica play a vital role in calcium and
phosphorus assimilation
In addition, other items essential to CMC compost include:
- Use of Sandberger Compost Turner®
- Use of Top Tex Compost Fleece®
- Proper and timely aeration, or turning with a compost turner
- Monitoring temperature and oyxgen levels on a daily basis
- Testing finished compost for percent organic matter, humus
value, potential pH, nitrates, nitrites, sulfides, and ammonium
Top Tex compost fleece is a geotextile fabric material that sheds
rainfall but helps retain moisture inside the pile; it also blocks UV
light harmful to microbes working the outer layers of the pile.
In Europe, where composting is regulated to control nutrient leaching
and runoff, compost fleece is very common and in some locations it is
required by law.
Pending import approval of live organisms, CMC Compost
Starter® —
which is prepared in a laboratory in Austria—is not yet available for
sale
in the United States. Three sources of compost inoculants most
often
cited by farmers modifying CMC compost to U.S. conditions are Josephine
Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics (8), Midwest Bio-Systems (12),
and Petrik Laboratories (13).
Compost Turners and Compost Aeration
One of the unique characteristics of CMC compost is the careful
and frequent turning, or aeration, of the compost windrow. CMC
compost takes 6-8 weeks to prepare. In a 6-week period, the
windrow is turned 17 to 22 times. A typical schedule might go
something like:
Week 1: 7 times per week
Week 2: 6 times per week
Week 3: 5 times per week
Week 4: 4 times per week
Week 5-6: 2 times per week
Turning is best accomplished with equipment designed for the
purpose. The Sandberger Compost Turner® was designed and
tested for use with CMC compost preparation and moves very slowly (900
ft/hr). The drum itself revolves slowly and the tines are
designed to roll the material towards the center of the pile and
thoroughly mix everything together. The end result is a
well-aerated, fluffy pile.
Several Sandberger models are available, including self-propelled
and tractor-pulled types. Tractors used in combination with
the Sandberger turner should have a hydro-static drive or a "creeper
gear." Farmers who don't own a slow-moving tractor can purchase a
diesel-powered "pusher axle" on wheels, which has its own gears to push
both the tractor and attached Sandberger turner at a slow pace.
Sandberger models available in the U.S. range in size (7-ft to
10-ft) and price ($7,000 to $55,000). The pusher axle costs
around $5,000.
Here it may be helpful to note that two additional compost turners have
evolved in the United States, based on the Luebke experience and
compost turner design. These include the Aeromaster compost
turner
from Midwest Bio-Systems in Illinois and the HCL compost turner from
HCL
Machine Works (14) in California.
 |
 |
| Tractor-pulled Sandberger Turner |
Self-propelled Sandberger turner |
Implementing CMC Compost on the Farm
Published information on CMC compost is limited; most of the
technology transfer occurs through compost workshops. This
document summarizes the key points of humus management and CMC compost
compost preparation. For those interested in trying CMC compost, here
are a few suggestions:
1. Acquire some finished CMC compost and use it on test plots or
as a potting mix ingredient. Observe the results and judge
performance in comparison to current practices.
2. Visit a CMC composter and observe compost equipment and windrow
management procedures. Learn how to use testing instruments to monitor
temperature and carbon dioxide, and see what compost fleece looks like.
3. Attend the international CMC seminar hosted by the Luebkes in
Austria, or attend a similar compost seminar here in the United States.
4. Implement parts of CMC compost technology as finances and time
allow. For example, use existing compost equipment, but integrate
other CMC concepts and methods such as clay soil, compost fleece,
frequent aeration, and monitoring for compost quality. "Modified
Luebke compost" has
become a common approach in the USA. Practitioners have found, for
example,
that amending the windrow with 5% clay and 5% compost can be helpful,
yet less expensive. Keep in mind that the microbial inoculant
helps
overall compost quality, but it is secondary to good preparation and
windrow management.
Contrasting Viewpoints on Intensive Compost
Management
While the CMC system emphasizes high quality compost, it also
entails the purchase of a specialized compost turner, compost fleece,
monitoring instruments, and windrow amendments like clay and rock
dust. Essentially, it is an intensive compost windrow management
system geared to producing a premium-grade, humified compost.
However, Will Brinton (15) of Woods End Research Laboratory takes
exception to intensive compost management in “Sustainability of Modern
Composting: Intensification Versus Costs and Quality,” (16) an
article that appeared in the July-August 1997 issue of Biodynamics.
This article reviews two research trials — in Canada and
Pennsylvania — that compared compost biology and economics
on the basis of compost pile management. The trials examined
composts made by the following treatements: No-turn,
Manure-Spreader, Front-End Loader, and Compost Turners. Despite
the advanced equipment technology and management procedures inherent to
the treatments, no appreciable differences were found for oxygen
levels, the Dewar self-heating test for maturity, and microbiological
parameters. Nitrogen and organic matter losses were greater with
increased turning frequency. The costs associated with compost windrow
intensity ranged from $3.05/wet ton to $41.23/wet ton of compost. In
summary, Brinton argues that low-tech composting methods are just as
effective in stablizing nutrients and managing humus. He
concluded, "Our view of sustainability is analogous to a reduced
tillage approach to maximizing soil quality. By carefully
managing composting to achieve proper mixes and limited turning, the
idea of a quality product at low economic burden can be achieved."
Likewise, Steven Wisbaum (17) of Champlain Valley Compost Co. in
Vermont feels that too much emphasis is placed on intensive compost
windrow management and the additional input expenses associated with
clay, microbial inoculants, turning frequency, monitoring, and so
forth. His article, "A Comparison Of High And Low-Input
Composting", (18) summarizes
his viewpoints. It may be helpful to note that Wisbaum uses both
a compost turner and compost fleece, yet he simply turns much less
frequently.
Parallel CMC Composting Systems
Edwin Blosser of Midwest Bio-Systems (MBS) in Tampico, Illinois,
promotes the Advanced Compost Systems (ACS) method and manufacturers
the Aeromaster® line of compost equipment and associated compost
inoculant. Blosser trained with the Luebkes in and as well as the
U.S., and the ACS method parallels many of the same composting
guidelines developed by the Luebkes; i.e., compost turner design,
emphasis on aerobic conditions and frequent turning, windrow
monitoring, and striving for a high-quality, well-humified
compost. Midwest Bio-Systems sponsors a two-day compost seminar a
couple of times each year. Through its association with the
Agri-Energy Resources Laboratory in nearby Princeton, Illinois, Midwest
Bio-Systems offers a complete compost testing service. This
includes feedstock analysis to determine the appropriate compost
windrow recipe, as well as finished compost analysis to determine final
product quality.
Interpretive Summary
Organic farming is based on a healthy soil regularly fed with
organic amendments to provide food and shelter for soil
organisms. The Luebkes evaluate the humus condition through
several innovative soil tests,
and manage soils through the use of well-planned crop rotations, green
manures, rock dusts, proper tillage, microbial inoculants, and CMC
compost.
CMC compost requires specialized training and purchase of
additional equipment and supplies. While many people will not be
able to adopt this technology in its entirety, at least initially, some
farmers are choosing to adopt the general concepts and methods outlined
by the Luebkes, going as far as their current equipment and resources
allow.
On the other hand, the green manuring techniques described herein
are readily adaptable and will greatly speed up formation of the humus
crumb. Whereas some farmers may be hesitant to spend $20 per acre
inoculating a green manure, the cost of the inoculant may be viewed as
a fertilizer input, since no additional N-P-K fertilizers are applied
in
the Luebke system.
Since a transition to a green manure- and compost-managed farm may
take several years before sustained yields can be expected solely
through adequate humus and microbial activity, organic farmers are
advised to amend their soils with limestone and rock minerals in the
transition phase,
as necessary.
Based on my observation, Luebke compost appears to be
better-suited to farms that either generate a lot of organic wastes
(i.e., dairy farms) or to horticultural operations that rely on humus
management (organic fruit and vegetable farms and greenhouse
operations). A lot of time and money is dedicated to preparation
of premium-grade compost. CMC compost is especially well suited
to premium-grade potting mixes.
In some parts of the country, for example in the Mid-Atlantic and
Northeastern states, dairy farmers face phosphorus loading
regulations. By making a good-quality compost, they can bag the
product and sell it to urban green industry (landscapers, turfgrass
keepers, greenhouses) for a profit, thereby reduce phosphorus loading
on the farm at the same time.
Compost teas, which are prepared from high quality composts and
brewed with a microbial food source such as molasses, are rapidly
gaining popularity as a natural disease control practice. CMC
compost, since it can provide a consistently high-quality compost, is
well suited to compost teas for commercial horticulture farms and
greenhouses.
References:
1) Raoul France' and the Doctrine of Life.
2000. By Rene' Romain Roth. 1st Books Library,
Bloomington, IN. 320 p.
It may be helpful to know that Dr. Raoul
France's work is printed in German and therefore inaccessible to
English-speaking North Americans. However, an English-language
biography was published in 2000 and it provides a fascinating account
of Raoul France's lifetime achievements in microbiology, accompanied by
an extensive bibliography. France' is considered the father of
soil ecology, and coined the terms and underlying concepts for
"edaphon," "biocenotics", "biotechnik," "bionics," and
"psychobiology." See:
Raoul France' and the Doctrine of Life is a
fascinating biography. It provides insight to Raoul France's studies
in microbiology, microscopy, soil ecology, and onwards to the unifying
philosophical systems he developed resulting in Bios: The Laws of
the World, and so forth, dating from 1892 to 1943.
Raoul, who was director of the Munich Biological Institute, published
dozens of papers and books, for example:
"Forays into a Drop of Water"
"Edaphon - A New Biological Community"
"Studies on Edaphic Organisms"
"Edaphon - Studies in the Ecology of Soil-inhabiting Microorganisms"
In 1950, Annie France-Harrar published The Last Chance for a Future
Without Want through the Bavarian Agricultural Publishing
House. The book "created a sensation among soil scientists and
agronomists because it sounded an alarm for the future food supply of
humanity by drawing attention to the danger of humus destruction and
soil erosion."
This resulted in an invitation from the Mexican government
to help remediate soils in Mexico. Annie subsequently worked in a
microbial laboratory in Mexico from 1955 to 1961. They developed a new
type of fertilizer called "Edaphon-humus" bricks which "contained a
selection of soil-inhabiting microorganisms in pure culture and which
were used to inoculate agricultural soil with humus-producing
microbionts."
"Besides, she also created "Petrofil" bricks which contained
lithobionts; i.e., microorganisms that
inhabited rock surfaces and caused rocks to disintegrate into soil."
On the web, when you look for Annie France-Harrar, many of
the websites pertain to wurmhumus, regenwurm, regenwurmfarm,
humusproduktion, and so forth.
Altogether, Annie published 36 books and Raoul published 84 books; they
published one book together; plus hundreds of articles and journal
papers. |
2) George Leidig
Autrusa/Imants USA
941 Perkiomenville Rd.
Perkiomenville, PA 18074
610-754-1110
610-754-1112 FAX
[email protected]
http://www.imantsusa.com/
3) Mathur, S.P. 1993. Determination of
compost biomaturity. I. Literature Review. Biological
Agriculture and Horticulture. Vol.
10. p. 65-85. See: http://www.bahjournal.btinternet.co.uk/classic.htm
4) Brinton, William F., Jr. 1983. A
qualitative method for assessing humus condition. p.
382-393.
In: Dietrich Knorr (ed.)
Sustainable Food Systems. AVI Publishing, Inc., Westport,
CT.
5) Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, Inc.
25844 Butler Road
Junction City, OR 97448
888-516-7797
541-998-0105
541-998-0106 Fax
[email protected]
http://www.biodynamics.com/
6) Helmut Voitl/Elisabeth Geggenberger.
1986. Der Chroma-Boden-Test. Die Bodenqualität
bestimmen, bewerten und verbessern.
Ein unentbehrlicher Ratgeber für Landwirte, Berufs -und
Hobbygärtner. Verlag Orac, Wien,
Germany. 181 p.
7) Struchtemeyer, Roland A. 1980. Basic
Properties of Forest Soils. Penobscot Times, Old
Town, ME. 106 p.
8) Josephone Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics
Box 133
Woolwine, VA 24185
276-930-2463
276-930-2475 FAX
Contact: Hugh Courtney
[email protected]
http://www.jpibiodynamics.org
B.D. Compost Starter® and B.D. Green Manure Starter®
9) Pike Agri-Lab Supplies
RR 2, Box 710
Strong, ME 04983
207- 684-5131
207-684-5133 FAX
Contact: Bob Pike, Cheryl Clough
[email protected]
http://www.pikeagri.com/
10) The leaflet from on lime-stabilized soil for use as a
compost pad, from the USDA Animal Manure
& By-Products Laboratory, is on
the Web in two locations as HTML and PDF.
Making Lime-Stabilized Soil for Use
as a Compost Pad
Lawrence J. Sikora and Harry Francis,
USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD and Consultant, Arlington, VA
http://www.anri.barc.usda.gov/ambl/Sikora_pages/Lime_Stab.htm
Making Lime-Stabilized Soil for Use as
a Compost Pad
Lawrence J. Sikora and Harry Francis,
USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD and Consultant, Arlington, VA
http://www.p2pays.org/ref/11/1015817.pdf
11) Leidig, George. 1993. Rock dust and
microbial action in soil: The symbiotic relationship between
composting and mineral
additives. Remineralize the Earth. Spring. p. 12-14.
12) Midwest Bio-Systems
28933 35 E. Street
Tampico, IL 61283
800-689-0714
815-438-7200
815-438-7028 FAX
Contact: Edwin Blosser
[email protected]
http://www.midwestbiosystems.com/
13) Petrik Laboratories
109 Harter Ave
Woodland, CA 95695
530-666-1157
530-661-0489 FAX
[email protected]
http://www.petrik.com/
14) HCL Machine Works
15142 Merrill Ave.
Dos Palos, CA 93620
209-392-6103 Phone
209-392-3000 Fax
[email protected]
http://hclmachineworks.com/index.asp
15) Woods End Research Laboratory
Rt. 2, Box 1850
Mt. Vernon, ME 04352
207-293-2456
Contact: Dr. William Brinton
[email protected]
http://%20www.woodsend.org/
16) Brinton, William F. 1997.
Sustainability of modern composting: intensification versus costs
&
quality. Biodynamics.
July-August. p. 13-18. See: http://www.woodsend.org/pdf-files/sustain.pdf
17) Champlain Valley Compost Co.
245 Ten Stones Circle
Charlotte, VT 05445
802-425-5556
802-425-5557 FAX
Contact: Steven Wisbaum
[email protected]
http://www.cvcompost.com/
18) A Comparison Of High And Low-Input Composting
by Steven Wisbaum
http://www.cvcompost.com/high_low_input.htm
Reading:
"Compost is King on Herbert Ranch" is a 5-page article from the
now-defunct Farmer to Farmer magazine, Issue No. 8
Leidig, George. 1993. Austrian compost technology comes to
the U.S. Northland Berry News. June. p. 10, 17.
Leidig, George. 1993. Rock dust and microbial action
in soil: The symbiotic relationship between composting and mineral
additives. Remineralize the Earth. Spring. p. 12-14.
Mulder, Jane. 1991. Windows into worlds unseen.
Organic Food Matters. Fall/Winter. p. 24-27.
Useful Resources:
Overview of Crops and Green Manures
ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/covercrop.html
Farm-Scale Composting Resource List
ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/biodynamic.html
Alternative Soil Testing Laboratories
ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/soil-lab.html
The Carbon Catcher Program: Using the Earth to Take Carbon from the
Sky. 1993. By Gerry Wass. The Water Foundation,
Brainerd, MN. 31 p.
This booklet summarizes the role of humus in ecological
farming, outlines the basic principles of ecological agriculture, lists
publications and resources, and contains a directory of
alternative agricultural consultants and soil fertility labs.
Available for $4.95 through:
The Water Foundation
9121 CR 23
Brainerd, MN 56401
218-764-2321
[email protected]
http://www.bogfrog.com
Now on the Web as a PDF download:
The Carbon Catcher Program: Using the Earth to Take Carbon
from the Sky
http://www.sustainablefarmingcentralmn.com/WaterFoundation.pdf
The Secrets of Fertile Soils: Humus as the Guardian of the
Fundamentals of Natural Life. 1997. By Erhard Hennig.
OLV Organischer Landbau Verlag Kurt Walter Lau, Xanten, Germany.
202 pages.
This is a popular book from Europe on the importance of
humus and soil life in sustainaning agricultural health. Erhard Hennig
(1906-1998) was a contemporary of Dr. Hans Muller and Dr. Hans Peter
Rusch, the pioneers of organic-biological agriculture in Switzerland
and Germany, and spent 50 years as a research assistant with Dr. Gustav
Rhode in Berlin. An English-language version is available through:
NHBS Mailorder Bookstore
2-3 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon. TQ9 5XN. UK
Tel: +44(0)1803 865913
Fax: +44(0)1803 865280
[email protected]
http://www.nhbs.com/we-sell-books-worldwide/z93rz.html
Key References on Soil Humus and Microorganisms:
Balfour, Lady Eve. 1949. The Living Soil. Faber and
Faber, LTD., London, England. 270 p.
Gershuny, Grace, and Joe Smillie. 1995. The Soul of
Soil: A Guide to Ecological Soil Management. agAccess, Davis,
CA. 158 p.
Howard, Sir Albert. 1943. An Agricultural
Testament. Oxford University Press, New York and London.
253 p.
Jackson, William R. 1993. Humic, Fulvic, and Microbial
Balance: Organic Soil Conditioning. Jackson Research
Center, Evergreen, CO. 958 p.
Kononova, M.M. 1966. Soil Organic Matter. 2nd
English Edition. Pergamon Press, New York, NY. 544 p.
Krasilnikov, N.A. 1961. Soil Microorganisms and Higher
Plants. National Technical Information Service, Springfield,
VA. 474 p. Publication No. TT-60-21126.
Stevenson, F.J. 1994. Humus Chemistry: Genesis,
Composition, Reactions. 2nd Edition. Wiley & Sons, New
York, NY. 496 p.
Waksman, Selman A. 1936. Humus: Origin, Chemical
Composition, and Importance in Nature. The Williams & Wilkins
Co., Baltimore, MD. 494 p.
Web Resources:
Understanding the Soil Process
Petrik Labs
http://www.petrik.com/PUBLIC/library/ups.html
The classic Petrik Lab article on soils, humus, organic
transformation (humification, catabolism, anabolism), edaphon, etc.
The Soil Life - Humus - Soil Fertility Connection
Agri-Energy Resources
http://www.agrienergy.net/ffertconn.htm
The classic Agri-Energy Labs article by Dave Larson, with
the Vitality Theory of Soil Fertility by Siegfried Luebke, background
information on life in the soil, effective and stable humus by H.
Koepf, etc.
Cooking up a recipe for fertility: Boost soil health by
turning formerly discarded organic matter into compost
The Grower magazine | April 2002
http://www.growermagazine.com/home/04-02compost.html
Farm magazine article on Herbert Ranch in Hollister,
California. It discusses their production and use of Luebke
compost, and how they raised soil organic matter on the farm from
0.9 percent to over 3.5 percent in 3.5.
Rock Dust and Microbial Activity in the Soil: The Symbiotic
Relationship Between Composting and Mineral Additives
by George Leidig
Reprint, In: Warm Earth, January 2002 | Number 40
http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~warmearth/articles/rockdust.htm
Controlled Microbial Composting: On-Farm Composting at
Foster Ranch Creates a Quality Product
From the Ground Up, Compost News for Landscape and Agricultural
Professionals
Sponsored by the City of San Jose, February 2002 | pages
1-2
http://www.urbancompost.org/pdfs/newsletter_0202.pdf
Soil Microorganisms and Higher Plants
N.A. Krasil'nikov, Academy of Sciences of the
USSR, Moscow 1958
http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/010112Krasil/010112krasil.toc.html
Loss of Soil Organic Matter and Its Restoration
William A. Albrecht
Soils and Men, Yearbook of Agriculture 1938, pp. 347-360.
http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/010120albrecht.usdayrbk/lsom.html
Sustainable Soil Management: Web Links to Make Your Worms
Happy!
Steve Diver, ATTRA
http://web.archive.org/web/20021004064632/http://ncatark.uark.edu/~steved/soil-links.html
A collection of web resources on soil biology,
mycorrhizae, rhisosphere ecology, the role of microorganisms in organic
farming, soil microbiology, soil fauna, soil foodweb, soil quality,
soil health, NRCS educational materials, earthworms, cover crops,
alternative soil testing laboratories.
Compara.nl
http://www.compara.nl/compara_uk.htm
A European website featuring CMC compost and related
topics like disease suppression, compost teas, humus, etc.
| Note: The concepts and practices associated
with Luebke compost are mainly taught through seminars.
The author attended compost and humus management seminars taught
by the Luebke family and George Leidig in the mid-1990s, and compost
seminars taught by Edwin Blosser in the late 1990s. This
aim of this document is to provide a summary of this European compost
technology, thereby making it available to a wider audience in
North America.
The author advocates multiple approaches to composting
and handling of soil organic amendments and recommends that farmers
match their equipment and composting methods on a case-by-case basis.
|
Steve Diver
[email protected]
Updated June 2004
Also see the ATTRA web page:
ATTRA — National Sustainable Agriculture Information
Service
http://www.attra.ncat.org/
