Soil Quality and Composting
to Enhance Crop Production
Presented by: Dr. John Biernbaum, MSU
Dept. of Horticulture and Student Organic Farm
When: Saturday, March 24, 2007, 9 a.m. -4 p.m.
Where: B109 Plant and Soil Sciences Building
Parking is available in the Horticulture Demonstration
Gardens Parking lot off Bogue Street between Wilson Rd.
and Service Rd.
Topics to be Covered:
Introduction to Soil Organic
Matter Management for the short
and long term success of your farm
or market garden.
The importance of soil organic matter (SOM):
• How SOM influences soil
biology and reduces the risk from soil born diseases
• How soil microbes digest
SOM and make nutrients available
• How SOM reduces risk of
crop loss due to drought, flooding and soil erosion by
influencing water absorption and
retention.
• Cultural (farming) factors
that decrease or increase soil organic matter
How to increase soil organic matter:
• The role of animal manure
• The role of cover crops
• The role of compost
• Other sources of organic
matter
Compost production and use:
• Understanding the
composting process and methods
• What materials are
available for making compost; pile building demonstration
• Curing, maturity and
assessing quality
• How much to use and how to
use it
There is no cost, but please
register by Wednesday, March 21, to reserve the correct number of lunches.
Please contact Adam Montri,
Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) at (517) 432-3381 or
[log in to unmask] for questions
or to register. Space is limited – please register as soon as possible.
Vicki Morrone
Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist
Michigan State University
C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems
303 Natural Resources Bldg.
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-353-3542
517-282-3557 (cell)
517-353-3834 (fax)
http://safs.msu.edu/
http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/