EnviroTerra

Soil Amelioration Services

• Soil Testing
• Reading of Analysis
• Nutrient Recommendations
• Blending of Nutrients into Existing Stock Piled Soil
• Amelioration of Toxic Soils
• Screening

Soil Amelioration and Soil Analysis

EnviroTerra are soil specialists. Extensive experience and the knowledge provides new life to lacking soils by via the adjustment of pH, nutrient and organic carbon (organic matter).

In the past, many estate developments have taken the option to remove anything but exceptional top soil from sites, replacing it with regular production soil. EnviroTerra recommends the analysis of the existing top soil to enable the accurate adjustment of pH, organic matter and nutrient levels so that this existing soil can be returned, as this soil would be more suited to the same environment and would maintain the same biology that is suited to this area. These soils would then be acceptable to the environment and be more than suitable for the health of all plants, lawns and relevant vegetation.

EnviroTerra also have experience in the amelioration of contaminated soils. Through our window turning process certain types of organic products will be added to the contaminated soils to allow microbial activity to cleanse the soil for use in future projects and be reapplied to soil free of contamination.

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Composting Services

• 11 years of experience
• Contract Turning
• Quality Assurance
• Compost to HACCP & BFA Standards
• Design composting area
• Provision of all necessary machinery
• Access to markets in; Agriculture, Horticulture & Landscaping
• Pasteurising service to kill pathogens & weed seeds, USDA standard

Controlled Temperature Composting

Due to the control of temperature (55c to 68c) during the composting there is no evidence of the survival of harmful human pathogens (Salmonella, Listeria and E-coli), weed seeds, chemical residues and no GMO (genetically modified organisms) residues remain in the finished product.

The three stages of composting are:

• Consolidation when raw materials (feedstock) are mixed with water (to field capacity), formed into a windrow and the bulk density of the windrow is established.
• Active stage when the core temperature is maintained ideally between 50 and 60C; and curing stage when the core temperature drops and nutrients are released in the inorganic form.
• In a mature compost, microbes have converted the readily available organic matter into humic acids and microbial cells. In contrast immature composts may contain partially broken down chemicals which may be toxic, and excessive microbial activity which may induce nutrient draw-down if the compost is applied to growing plants.

Characteristics of Quality Compost

A quality compost should have about 20% of the P in the mineral (plant-available) form. To achieve this the compost must have undergone more than 4 weeks curing, during which time the water content of the mix will also decrease.

At sale the water content of the product should be about 30% by weight, providing enough moisture to minimise dust during handling.

At this stage, any chemicals that may be toxic to plants will have been broken down, and sufficient P and K will be available for plant growth. However N may still be predominantly in the organic form which plants cannot use. Therefore if used as an alternative to conventional fertilisers, additional mineral N fertiliser may need to be applied (eg. urea, blood or fish meal).

The compost should be screened before sale, to remove any stones or other large particles.

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