Posted: 13 April, 2016. Written by Georgia
CCS has updated the Technical Information page of the website with highly anticipated reports published by WRAP and the Soil Association. These reports may prove to be useful for certified operators and contractors.
Growing Media Package
WRAP has recently completed a project titled ‘Supporting Retailers to Increase their Use of Sustainable Growing Media’ which aimed to support and prepare retailers for the transition to a more sustainable growing media industry. Information about the project can be accessed in conjunction with the revised reports ‘Compost Production for use in Growing Media – a Good Practice Guide’ and ‘Guidelines for the Specification of Quality Compost for use in Growing Media’.
Other related documents which can be found through this webpage include a report which encourages the use of compost as growing media. ‘De-mystifying the use of PAS100 compost in horticultural growing media’ examines nine key issues reported by the Sustainable Growing Media Task Force which represent barriers to the use of compost, and seeks to tackle these issues. Also available is an infographic which provides information about the transportation, production, and extraction processes involved in sourcing the components in a bag of growing media.
DC-Agri Results
WRAP has also recently produced a report titled ‘Field Experiments for Quality Digestate and Compost in Agriculture’ which presents the findings of a 5-year project exploring the effects of renewable fertilisers on crop yield and soil quality. Digestate and compost good practice guidance can also be found in conjunction with this report.
On their website WRAP also provides digestate and compost good practice guidance for farmers, growers, advisers, and agricultural contractors. These guidance documents provide answers to questions such as ‘Are all digestates and composts of the same quality?’ and ‘Can digestate and compost be used for all crops?’
Seven Ways to Save our Soils
The Soil Association has published a report titled ‘Seven Ways to save our Soils’ which addresses the issue of soil degradation and presents seven ways in which soil health can be improved.