Assessing Composting, Soil, Crop and Livestock Management for Organic and Transitional Systems in Ontario

Objectives

1. To compare soil characteristics on organic and conventional farms in southern Ontario.
2. To compare soil attributes on organic vegetable vs. grain/livestock farms, to determine if tillage frequency and/or withholding land from cultivation under perennial forages affect soil properties.
3. To assess greenhouse gas emissions from compost using on-farm composting techniques and methods to reduce these emissions.

Researchers

Paul Voroney, E. Ann Clark and Ralph Martin (Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro NS). Maren Oelbermann, PhD, Tahir Rashid, PhD, Karen Maitland, Research Associate, Cory Roberts, PhD graduate student, Melanie Adamson, Undergraduate