new composting technique scalable for cropland and even range lands

[Kali]

was at a ranch meeting this past weekend where they were starting on this. could be interesting due to the ratio of fungus to bacteria that this creates.

pdf instructions - http://case.nmsu.edu/case/pasodelnorteagriculturalworkshops/documents/Johnson-Su_Bioreactor_BMP.pdf

[mopinko]

1. hugelkultur.

why this isnt widely practiced, i have no idea.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hügelkultur

[jcgoldie]

2. I've done it on small scale in my garden

The problem with it on any large scale is that it makes tilling up the field impossible for several years.

[mopinko]

3. except tilling is going the way of the dodo.

but really, what should be happening is that farmers should be ringing their fields w it to stop the runoff of soil and fertilizer. when they are able to push that all back onto the fields years later, it becomes worth it.
and w the right machinery, you could knock the piles down, take the soil, and stack the logs back up. time, true. but soil is all, so why arent we not just conserving it, but making it as fast as we can.

and they could get paid tipping fees to dump the wood/landscape waste in the first place.

i agree that it is a long term thing. seems long term thinking is out of fashion.

[jcgoldie]

4. Well

I understand we are talking past each other here and you are talking about sustainability but if it isn’t pragmatic it isnt going to happen. The reality is the biggest trend i see is exactly the opposite of what you are talking about. Here inIllinois at least everyone is burying tiles in their fields for additional drainage and to promote root growth. Yes thats short term focus on this years harvest, but I just dont see where something like hugelkultur would ever be put into practice on a large scale it would be too labor intensive and do little for short term yields.

[mopinko]

5. illinois has been tiling their fields forever.

those tiles must have an outflow. put a pile there.

and it is easily achieved by big machines. not labor intensive at all.
in fact, you could make the dumpers place things where you want them, assuming it is accessible. maybe need to push them around w the front end loader, but that should do.

and i totally understand it does nothing for short term yields, but i would be really sad to learn that farmers, in general, cant think 5-10 years into the future. i do realize that farmers have their gonads in a vice. but remember they would be paid for this, and it is a great way to deal w mud holes and water/water quality in general.



btw, i will be building a new pile at my urban farm next week, which will be filmed for a short 360 documentary. i hope this will actually be a people powered thing, as it is a demo. but my other piles were all built w my bobcat.
i will post as soon as it's ready.

http://facebook.com/moaksark