Composts rely on biological processes for enhancing soil nutrition. WSU has conducted extensive research on the use of compost as a soil amendment and source of nutrients. This work points out the need to understand the composition of a particular product (compost is highly variable) and how it acts in a soil, especially in terms of potential nutrient release. As an already-stabilized material, compost may be more useful for improving long-term soil quality and nutrient supply than as an immediate source of nutrients for crops. In addition, active areas of work include composting as a strategy for managing municipal and mixed waste streams, the combination of composting with other waste management processes (e.g. co-composting with biochar), and the potential for composting to break down or retain organic chemical contaminants (e.g. hormones, antibiotics).
Featured Publications
Advancing Organics Management in Washington State: The Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership 2021-2023. (PDF)
Boone, K., Garcia-Perez, M., Jobson, T., Bronstad, E., Crow, V., Hills, K., Whittemore, A. and Yorgey, G. 2023. Advancing Organics Management in Washington State: The Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership 2021-2023. Solid Waste Management Program, Washington State Department of Ecology. Olympia, WA.
Digging deeper: Assessing the predictive power of common greenhouse gas accounting tools for soil carbon sequestration under organic amendment
Ball, KR., Burke, IC., Collins, DP., Kruger, CE., Yorgey, GG. 2023. Digging deeper: Assessing the predictive power of common greenhouse gas accounting tools for soil carbon sequestration under organic amendment. Journal of Cleaner Production. 429:139448
Evaluating Compost Application for Soil Carbon Sequestration on Agricultural Land and Compost Buy-Back Programs in Washington State (PDF)
Ball, K.R., M.P. Brady, I.C. Burke, D.P. Collins, K.M. Hills, C.E. Kruger, B. Stone, E.L. Taylor, and G.G. Yorgey. Evaluating Compost Application for Soil Carbon Sequestration on Agricultural Land and Compost Buy-Back Programs in Washington State. Report to the Washington State Legislature. Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources, Washington State University, Wenatchee, WA
Washington Soil Health Initiative Roadmap
Hills, K. & C. Benedict (Eds.) 2021. Washington Soil Health Initiative Roadmap. Washington State University, Pullman WA. October 2021. https://soilhealth.wsu.edu/washington-state-soil-health-roadmap/
Advancing Organics Management in Washington State: The Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership, 2019-2021 Biennium (PDF)
Jobe, J., K. Hills, J.E. Amonette, E. Bronstad, M. Garcia-Perez, T. Jobson, Y.J. Milan, D. Collins, D. Gang, X. Xiong, N. Stacey, A. Berim, A. Bary, S. Chen, W. Hoashi-Erhardt, N. Khosravi, E.A. Mhyre, S. Seefeldt, and G. Yorgey. 2022. Publication 22-07-002. Solid Waste Management Program, Washington Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA.
Lessons for Compost Policy: What Can Recycling Policy Tell Us? (PDF)
Brady, M. 2019. A technical report completed as part of the Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership. 23 pp.
Emissions from Washington State Compost Facilities: A Review of Volatile Organic Compound Data, and an Estimation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (PDF)
Jobson, T., Khosravi, N. 2019 (updated 02/2020). A technical report completed as part of the Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership. 44 pp.
Integrating Compost and Biochar for Improved Air Quality, Crop Yield, and Soil Health (PDF)
Gang, D., Collins, D., Jobson, T., Seefeldt, S., Berim, A., Stacey, N., Khosravi, N., Hoashi-Erhardt, W. 2019. A technical report completed as part of the Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership. 99 pp.
Differentiating the Value and Cost of Compost Across Likely Farm Use Scenarios in Western Washington (PDF)
Hills, K., Brady, M., Yorgey, G., Collins, D. 2019. A technical report completed as part of the Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership. 17 pp.
Advancing Organics Management in Washington State: The Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership 2015-2017 Biennium (PDF)
Chen, S., Frear, C., Garcia-Pérez, M., Kruger, C., Ewing, T., Jensen, J., Yorgey, G., Gang, D.R., Amonette, J., Ayiania, M., Berim, A., Botella, L., Carbajal Gamarra, F.M., Cleary, J., Dunsmoor, A., Finch, R.W., Fuchs, M., Haghighi Mood, S., Hall, S.A., Han, Y., Jobson, B.T., Long, R., Ma, J., Mainali, K., Moller, D., Neuenschwander, L., Seker, A., […]
Soil Amendments (PDF)
Yorgey, G., W. Pan, R. Awale, S. Machado, A. Bary. 2017. Chapter 7 In Yorgey, G. and C. Kruger, eds. Advances in Dryland Production Systems in the Pacific Northwest. Washington State University Extension, Pullman, WA.
Advancing Organics Management in Washington State: The Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership (PDF)
Chen, S., C. Frear, M. Garcia-Perez, J. Jensen, D. Sjoding, C. Kruger, N. Abu-Lail, G. Astill, I. Dallmeyer, M. Flury, A. Fortuna, J. Garcia-Nunez, S. Hall, J.B. Harsh, H. Iqbal, N Kennedy, J. Ma, S. Mitchell, B. Pecha, R. Pelaez-Samaniego, A. Seker, M. Smith, W. Suliman, G. Yorgey, L. Yu, and Q. Zhao. 2016. Publication 16-07-008. […]
Soil physical properties, nitrogen, and crop yield in organic vegetable production systems
Cogger, C, A. Bary, A. Fortuna, L. Myhre, and D.P. Collins. 2016. Agronomy Journal. 108:1142-1154
Odor in Commercial Scale Compost (PDF)
Ma, J., K. Wilson, Q. Zhao, G. Yorgey and C. Frear. 2013. Ecology Publication 13-07-066
Soil Fertility in Organic Systems: A Guide for Gardeners and Small Acreage Farmers
Collins,D. C. Miles, C. Cogger, R. Koenig. 2013. Pacific Northwest Extension Publication PNW646.
Composts and Nutrient Management
The WSU Puyallup Research Center faculty have conducted extensive work on compost, manure and biosolids. This website provides information on yard waste and food waste composts, clopyralid, calculating bulk density, nutrient management for organic systems and compost facility operator training events. The site has links to the Compost Mix Calculator the Organic Fertilizer Calculator and […]
On-Farm Composting of Large Animal Mortalities
Price, C. and L. Carpenter-Boggs. WSU Extension Bulletin EB2021E. 2008. Composting can be a safe and effective method for disposing of on-farm mortalities when the correct procedures are followed and the system is managed well. This bulletin provides the necessary information for large animal producers in Washington State to start and maintain a safe and […]
Additional Publications
Advancing Organics Management in Washington State: The Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership, 2017-2019 Biennium
Hills, K., M. Garcia-Perez, J.E. Amonette, M. Brady, T. Jobson, D. Collins, D. Gang, E. Bronstad, M. Flury, S. Seefeldt, C.O. Stöckle, M. Ayiania, A. Berim, W. Hoashi-Erhardt, N. Khosravi, S. Haghighi Mood, R. Nelson, Y.J. Milan, N. Pickering, N. Stacey, A.H. Tanzil, J. Zhang, B. Saari, and G. Yorgey. 2019. Publication 19-07-027. Solid Waste […]
Commercial compost application on western Washington Farms
Collins, D.P., H. Harness, and A.I. Bary. 2016. Biocycle. 57(3):63-65.
Dairy Waste Biorefinery (PDF)
Kennedy, N., C. Frear, M. Garcia-Perez, C. Kruger, and S. Chen. 2013. Concept illustration and description.
Organic Waste Biorefinery (PDF)
Kennedy, N., C. Frear, M. Garcia-Perez, C. Kruger, and S. Chen. 2013. Concept illustration and description.
Two novel floor-scale anaerobic digester systems for processing food waste. Part 1: Multi-reactor, liquid recycle system for high solids. Part 2: Moderate solids system. (PDF)
Frear, C., Ewing, T., Yu, L., Ma, J., and Chen, S. 2012. Olympia, WA. Washington State Department of Ecology.
Building Markets for Biofertilizers — Perceptions and Performance
Video of keynote address by Chad Kruger at the 26th Annual BioCycle West Coast Conference April 2012.
Herbicide contamination of dairy derived organic matter in Whatcom County: New developments in 2011 (PDF)
Burrows, C. 2011. WSU Whatcom County Extension. This article is an update on potential aminopyralid residue in manure, composted manure and silage. Mitigation actions include bioassay tests by composting facilities, outreach and education to prevent export of manure from operations where aminopyralid was applied, and proposed product label changes.
WSU Compost Facility
WSU operates a full scale composting facility on the Pullman campus to recycle organic waste, while providing teaching and research opportunities.
Home Gardening: Compost
A peer-reviewed site for Extension Master Gardeners and homeowners to learn about home gardening, including compost.
Compost Images
An archive of digital photos of various aspects of agricultural composting and compost use to assist agricultural professionals and others in their education programs. Produced as part of the Compost Education and Resources for Western Agriculture project with funding from the Western SARE Program.
Browse all Compost Publications
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