No Till Compost

I listened to a very interesting interview with David Johnson on creating compost. First, I’d like to give a quick review of Diego Footer’s In Search of Soil Podcast. Very well done, nice sound quality, and he is an excellent interviewer.

David’s comments on compost production really resonate with the no-till approach. If no-till production’s primary goal is to minimize soil disturbances in order to enhance the soil microbiome and encourage the proliferation of fungi and intricate soil networks then why would we not want the same thing from our compost. I understand that mycorhizzal fungi require plant roots but the proliferation of beneficial soil organisms appears to be related to minimal soil disturbance. I’ve done a review and compost analysis of what I’m able to purchase locally but I question the microbial life within this compost. The “tillage” of compost is likely damaging soil microbial communities more than soil tillage.

Another interesting thought I had while listening, watching, and reading about this bioreactor:

What if you plant a deep rooted legume with their associated arbuscular myrhizzal fungi on the top of the bioreactor? BOOM!! No-till Compost Fungi Reactor

I know the root penetration would not be that deep but I’m going to build 2 of the Compost Bioreactors. May plant a legume on top of the reactor in one after 6 months and see what happens.