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| Composts using paper waste | |
| Plant researchers headed by Ralph Noble at the University of Warwick, UK, working for the government’s Waste and Resource Action Program (WRAP), found that by replacing about 20% by volume of soil or peat by compost obtained from recycled waste paper or green waste can significantly suppress a range of plant diseases. The findings demonstrate an important commercial use the huge amount of paper waste generated each year (about 500.000 tons/year in the UK). After recycling it is the small fibres that constitute the waste. They are useful for substrates because they hold a lot of water. These recycled composts will be cheaper than using peat. The suppression of plant diseases was noticeable when composts made from recycled paper or plant waste were added to peat. Plants grown in sterile peat are susceptible to fast spreading diseases precisely because the peat is so clean. In contrast, the microorganisms contained in the composts derived from paper and plant waste can suppress plant diseases. The ecological benefits are that a lower requirement for fungicides and less peat is required. The survey found that when added to peat, green compost suppressed plant disease by the following average amounts: Fusarium oxysporum by 61%, Phytophthora nicotianae 72%, Phytophthora cinnamomi 30%, Phythium ultimum 46%, Rhizoctonia solani 29%, Verticillium dahliae 32%. For more information contact Prof. Ralph Nobile. Tel: 0044 24 765 75053, E-mail: ralph.noble@warwick.ac.uk www.warwick.ac.uk |
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