Jacqueline L. Stroud, Simon J. Kemp, Craig J. Sturrock

In this study, new and traditional organic wastes (green waste compost, farmyard manure (FYM), anaerobic digestate or straw) were ploughed into an arable field experiment at a range of rates (1–3 t C ha⁻¹) and under spring and winter cropping rotations for 5 years. The stability of the soil surface structure (<5 cm) was assessed in Years 3, 4 and 5 to guide the use of organic wastes in arable field management. In conclusion, to achieve a stable soil surface structure, a 150% improvement in aggregate stability would be needed here and ploughing in organic wastes was not a successful management approach on these arable field experiments.

Soil Use and Management. November 2023