The benefits in composting cotton trash were discovered at an Organics Workshop staged in Emerald last week.

Central Queensland University’s Institute for Sustainable Regional Development sponsored the workshop which was held at the Emerald Agricultural College and presented by soil scientist, Dr Pam Pittaway.

Dr Pittaway took the workshop attendees on a field trip to a local cotton farm owned by Pat McKay.

“Pat has been looking for alternative ways to improve the organic carbons in his soil. He has been composting cotton trash - the leftovers from the cotton gin – to provide a cheaper fertiliser for this farm, ” explained Dr Pittaway.

A nutrients analysis had been done on the compost. Results will be released at the workshop. “This will allow us to find out exactly what is in the compost. We are mainly interested in the phosphorus and potassium levels, although the nitrogen content will also be of interest, however will not be of value as a cotton fertiliser in the first instance due to its slow release nature.” “If you have the objectives and feel for soil, composting is not that difficult.” And the benefits promise to be amazing.

“The savings could add up to be millions of dollars in regards to space. At the moment in takes a few hectares just to stockpile the cotton trash. The trash is also prone to spontaneous combustion.” Pam provided feedback from the recent Biological Farmers Conference at the workshop.

Since 1977, Pam has specialised in the field of plant, soil and microbial interactions. Her research has ranged from understanding the role of the soil in eucalypt dieback in the coastal forests of Victoria, to understanding the role of free-living nitrogen fixers in the fertility of ponded pasture grazing systems in Central Queensland.

Primary producers have been essential partners in all of her ventures, providing the observations and practical experience to help to focus the research and to keep it relevant.

Most recently Pam finished a three-year contract with the National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture (NCEA) at the University of Southern Queensland.