2007-D1 Soil Fertility and Soil Biology

Soil Fertility and Soil Biology
Collins, Bergen

Doug Collins of WSU and Munk Bergen, owner of Pest Management Systems and Heritage Seeds, will share their respective experience studying and managing soil fertility.  Doug is one of a team of soil  scientists at WSU-Puyallup using a farming systems approach to address soil fertility and soil quality questions.  They are evaluating 12 unique organic farming systems that vary in cover cropping, amendment application, and type of tillage. The team is also evaluating how native soil properties influence soil fertility and soil biology at Full Circle Farm in Carnation,   a large organic vegetable farm with four soil types.  Munk Bergen, a private contractor who works with many different organic growers, will discuss his work with the large scale compost system at Columbia Gorge Organics, talking about how to maintain an adequate waste stream and provide consistent quality and quantity of finished compost.  Munk will also address the problems and values of compost management, evaluation of soil mirco-organisms and how good compost practices relate to the nutritional quality of food.