Options for recycling organics on farm land

Surface mulches of organics protect soil from direct sunlight, reduce sediment loss by wind, and increase water filtration from rainfall. As they decay, organic matter and nutrient content of the soil is increased. Fall-applied newsprint and gin trash reduced winter weeds most, while wood chips and yard trimmings produced little or no effect. While land application of organic materials and MSW offer the potential to reduce solid wastes in landfills and reduce fertilizer and herbicide inputs in crop production systems, the environmental impact on delicate soil and plant ecosystems remains largely unknown. Loading rates of waster paper in combination with different forms of N to maximize crop production and minimize the potential for environmental pollution need to be determined. A basic understanding of the N and P dynamics and the pathways of N and P movement in the plant-soil system is needed to maximize nutrient efficiency with the application of MSW.