UVM Plant and Soil Science Professor Deb Nehr delivered a webinar on Compost for Soil Function & Disease Suppression, as part of the Soil Builders workshop series for decision-makers, professionals and advocates in the Lake Champlain Basin.
The Soil Builder project website states that “concerns about elevated phosphorous levels in the Lake Champlain Basin have contributed to confusion about when and how to use compost.” The Soil Builders workshops are addressing a knowledge gap about the benefits from using compost.
Nehr’s webinar discusses how to manage water infiltration and nutrient availability with compost, why organic matter in compost improves aggregate structure and reduces erosion, and includes examples of using compost to manage soil borne pathogens of plants.