Just
how good is Rockwater Farms Compost?
For
compost "good" means it is high in plant nutrients
while containing no dangerous heavy metals or other toxic
substances. Two different tests by the NCDA have been
run on this compost to measure for nutrients and to test
for toxic substances.
These
are:
Soil
Test - to measure for the presence of the
nutrients Phosphorus, Potassium, Manganese, Zinc, Copper,
Calcium and Sodium. It also tests pH to determine the
need for lime. The results are stated as both absolute
level of these elements in the soil and as an index that
gives a relative measure. If the index is 50 or above
for a given nutrient, it is deemed that the soil contains
a level sufficient for healthy plant growth.
Rockwater
Farms Compost has index values of well over 50 (all well
over 100) for ALL nutrients.
The pH is 8, indicating that the compost will actually
raise the pH (lower the acidity) of a garden or lawn thus
reducing or eliminating the need for lime.
Click
here to view the Soil Test Report
Click
here to access the NCDA article "Understanding the
Soil Test Report"
Note:
The test does NOT test for nitrogen since that nutrient
is normally subject to leaching. Thus levels of nitrogen
normally can change between the time the soil is gathered
for testing and the plants are put into the soil.
Waste
Analysis
- to test for the presence heavy metals
or substances that may have a harmful buildup in the soil
and to measure the Nutrients available, including Nitrogen.
The
measures for the presence of heavy metals or substances
that may have a harmful buildup in the soil are shown
in the Other Elements section of the reports. The report
indicates that Rockwater Farms Compost contains NO Nickel,
Cadmium, Lead, Aluminum, or Lithium. There is a bare trace
(.33 - 2.3 lbs/ton) of Sodium.
As
importantly, the level of Nitrogen is shown to be quite
high. This measure is relevant since the compost is normally
applied at planting time and since the nitrogen in the
compost is slow releasing it is available to plants over
a longer period of time.
Finally,
the results show a consistently high level of soluble
salts, which indicate very high nutrient availability.
These high levels along with the high pH indicate the
compost should be blended with other materials, thus making
the quantity purchased go even farther.
Click
here to view the Waste Analysis Report.
Click
here to access the NCDA article "Understanding the
Waste Analysis Report"
