26
nature. Mimicking the natural environment and the regenerative processes of the
planet, organic materials can be harnessed to foster soil regeneration, promoting
sustainable agricultural practices and increased crop productivity (Rosenani et al.
2016). Organic material and healthy soils play a critical role in soil water retention
and both environmental and economic stability, particularly during drought and in
productive arid regions (Lepsch et al. 2019). Employment of soil organic matter
(SOM) can facilitate production and other associated benefits for plants, including
tree, vegetable crops, and potted plants (Brady and Weil 2008).
Organic materials (OM) utilization often promotes greater soil microbiota and
more resilient soil and plant systems (El-Gawad 2008). Healthier plants are more
resistant to pest invasion, promoting less use and reliance on pesticides and herbicides. Being less reliant on external inputs may have economic benefits and promotes localized community self-resiliency. An important part of this resiliency and
renewal process is safely returning nutrients to the source (soil) in the form of compost, as a cycle of continuous regeneration (Hepperly et al. 2009).
All life is made of carbon components. Fossil fuels are derived from highly
decayed carbon-based material. When burned for fuel, carbon is oxidized to create
carbon dioxide – the most prolific greenhouse gas on Earth. Coastal, island, and
non-industrialized countries are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. A
climate change mitigation strategy is to sequester carbon in the soil by returning
carbon-based organic materials to the source. With this, a new way of “carbonfarming” practices can be cultivated (Velasquez-Manoff 2018).
Global methane is approximately 23 times more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Methane’s annual contribution to climate change causing gases is
approximately 1/3 of carbon dioxide emissions (Henson 2014, 32). Methane gas is
produced by the anaerobic decomposition of organic materials and comes from
various sources, including landfills. Compost program development requires the
local utilization of heavy organic waste materials, decreasing both financial and
environmental costs associated with waste transportation.
3.3 Methodology
3.3.1 Case Study 1: On-Farm Organic Waste-to-Resource
The top two pecan growing regions in the USA are currently New Mexico and
Georgia. Increases in the cost of synthetic fertilizers have dramatically diminished
the profitability of growing pecans (Huang 2009; Wells 2012). Additionally, as the
pruning practice of pecan trees has become more common, the amount of carbonbased organic waste materials has increased in the form of woody biomass.
Historically, the woody biomass was burned as the primary form of waste management; however shredding machinery has enabled many farmers to utilize and
E. F. Creegan and R. Flynn
nature. Mimicking the natural environment and the regenerative processes of the
planet, organic materials can be harnessed to foster soil regeneration, promoting
sustainable agricultural practices and increased crop productivity (Rosenani et al.
2016). Organic material and healthy soils play a critical role in soil water retention
and both environmental and economic stability, particularly during drought and in
productive arid regions (Lepsch et al. 2019). Employment of soil organic matter
(SOM) can facilitate production and other associated benefits for plants, including
tree, vegetable crops, and potted plants (Brady and Weil 2008).
Organic materials (OM) utilization often promotes greater soil microbiota and
more resilient soil and plant systems (El-Gawad 2008). Healthier plants are more
resistant to pest invasion, promoting less use and reliance on pesticides and herbicides. Being less reliant on external inputs may have economic benefits and promotes localized community self-resiliency. An important part of this resiliency and
renewal process is safely returning nutrients to the source (soil) in the form of compost, as a cycle of continuous regeneration (Hepperly et al. 2009).
All life is made of carbon components. Fossil fuels are derived from highly
decayed carbon-based material. When burned for fuel, carbon is oxidized to create
carbon dioxide – the most prolific greenhouse gas on Earth. Coastal, island, and
non-industrialized countries are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. A
climate change mitigation strategy is to sequester carbon in the soil by returning
carbon-based organic materials to the source. With this, a new way of “carbonfarming” practices can be cultivated (Velasquez-Manoff 2018).
Global methane is approximately 23 times more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Methane’s annual contribution to climate change causing gases is
approximately 1/3 of carbon dioxide emissions (Henson 2014, 32). Methane gas is
produced by the anaerobic decomposition of organic materials and comes from
various sources, including landfills. Compost program development requires the
local utilization of heavy organic waste materials, decreasing both financial and
environmental costs associated with waste transportation.
3.3 Methodology
3.3.1 Case Study 1: On-Farm Organic Waste-to-Resource
The top two pecan growing regions in the USA are currently New Mexico and
Georgia. Increases in the cost of synthetic fertilizers have dramatically diminished
the profitability of growing pecans (Huang 2009; Wells 2012). Additionally, as the
pruning practice of pecan trees has become more common, the amount of carbonbased organic waste materials has increased in the form of woody biomass.
Historically, the woody biomass was burned as the primary form of waste management; however shredding machinery has enabled many farmers to utilize and
E. F. Creegan and R. Flynn