SBIR-STTR Award

The Oregon Soil Continuous-flow vermicompost system is a proven technology for recovering high volume soil products and additives from urban and rural organic wastes. To expand the potential benefits of the technology to local communities, this project proposes to identify and quantify the benefits to plant production of using vermicompost produced by the Oregon Soil system. Specific technical objectives include: ¥ Conduct comparative growth trials with plants used in landscaping or home gardens. ¥ Collect data about soil-improvements associated with the use of vermicompost compared to other common soil amendments. ¥Identify and quantify specific nutrient-release and plant-growth-enhancing characteristics of vermicompost in relation to other common soil amendments. ¥ Identify the optimum rate of application of vermicompost for high-value organic farm and nursery crops. ¥ Document observations about disease-suppressive or other plant-health enhancing qualities of vermicompost that will target laboratory study. The project will perform an intensive characterization of vermicompost quality, and a two-part set of growth trials. The data will be analyzed statistically and results published for others to use.Applications:The scientific results from this project will lead to greater success in: ¥ Business and marketing planning. ¥ Competitive product differentiation and the competitiveness of vermiculture as an organics recycling method. ¥ Meeting commercial/public agency product standards and specifications. We anticipate that markets for vermicompost among high-value end users will expand giving vermicompost producers more opportunities to sell their products for higher prices. The public will benefit from greater recycling of organic waste and from the agricultural benefits (e.g., plant nutrients and possible pest and disease suppression) of using vermicompost. The USDA will benefit from the data gathered about potential improvements in soils that will make organic/sustainable farming more

Disposal of organic wastes, including animal, food garden and industrial wastes, is expensive and can create environmental problems. High technology vermicomposting systems can convert such wastes into valuable horticultural growth media or soil amendments. The value of these to the horticultural industry was demonstrated clearly in Phase I research. The Oregon Soil Corporation has operated a continuous flow reactor that will process 1000 tons of waste a year for six years. Oregon Soil Corporation proposes the following research in Phase II. Improvements of the high technology reactor design, operation and efficiency. Assessment and minimization of human pathogen, plant disease and weed seed carry-over during the vermicomposting process. Field plant growth trails of annual and perennial crops to ascertain optimum rates of addition and placement of vermicomposts for field crops. Obtaining maximum economic returns from vermicomposts. Quality standards for vermicomposts to maintain minimum product variability. Formulation, processing and amending vermicomposts for marketing. Market survey to identify major profitable outlets for sale of vermicomposts. During Phase II research, Oregon Soil Corporation plans to build two more reactors for its own operations and supply reactors to five commercial organizations who have agreed to adopt the technology