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WRAP Guides on Compost for Growing Media
Further opportunity for compost use in growing media
According to Defra supported market research, green compost now makes up 26 per cent of all peat alternatives used in growing media1. Amongst the variety of markets they target, many composters have made a very promising start in meeting the needs of the horticulture sector. However there is not yet widespread understanding of the benefits of using compost in growing media and this market's requirements are not always clear to composters. This means that growing media manufacturers sometimes find it difficult to source suitable compost.
As the UK growing media industry continues to seek and develop alternatives to peat-based products, WRAP guidance published in June 2011 aims to help composters, growing media manufacturers and growers increase the uptake of quality compost in horticultural products.
WRAP guides to support market uptake
WRAP's âÂÂGuidelines for the Specification of Quality Compost for use in Growing Mediaâ and âÂÂCompost production for use in growing media â a good practice guideâ are designed to highlight the many advantages of using quality green compost as a constituent in growing media, while helping composters address common barriers specific to this market such as product quality, consistency and availability. Click here for WRAP's webpage about compost use in horticulture, which includes links to both guides.
The guides build upon the existing parameters of BSI PAS 100 certified quality composts, with tighter recommended limits for some key compost characteristics such as compost stability, and recommendation that some additional tests of interest to growing media manufacturers and growers are carried out, e.g. pH and Electrical Conductivity. The good practice guide highlights important practical considerations for composters, such as good quality feedstock, control of the managed composting process, producing compost with acceptable physical and chemical properties, and a thorough understanding of customer needs.
The two guides are intended to;
- demonstrate to composters that there is a long-term market for use of high quality compost in growing media,
- help BSI PAS 100 composters, who see the potential in the horticulture sector, to understand what is involved in servicing this market and its very specific quality needs,
- help those composters make compost suitable for inclusion in growing media,
- support sustained dialogue between composters and growing media manufacturers, and
- encourage better communication between the key partners.
1 Monitoring the horticultural use of peat and progress towards the UK Biodiversity Action Plan target, (SP08020), Defra, July 2010.
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