Let’s talk about compost and rangelands: Field data, roundtable discussion, and field tour
Workshop Description
The Central Coast Rangeland Coalition invites you to a day of conversations about compost application to degraded rangelands. The day’s host, Alameda County Resource Conservation District, will describe its Healthy Soils Demonstration project examining the effects of compost on steep (15-30%) slopes. Preliminary field data will be shared, as well as diverse perspectives on grassland and soil responses to compost, costs, benefits, logistics, and potential problems. After lunch, participants will tour the field site and engage in stations focused on vegetation, soils, and compost quality.
Goals
- Share resources for implementing soil health practices on degraded rangelands.
- Improve understanding of feasibility of compost addition on degraded rangelands with difficult terrain.
- Improve understanding of degraded rangeland responses to compost addition.
- Improve participant understanding of where and how to appropriately apply the compost addition practice on degraded rangelands.
Instructor Information
Ian Howell, Resource Conservationist, Alameda RCD |
Grey Hayes, Education and Research Coordinator, Cal Poly Swanton Pacific Ranch |
Becca Ryals, Assistant Professor, UC Merced |
Kelly Schoonmaker, StopWaste |
Documents & Publications
Document | Author/Source |
CCRC Fall 2021 Agenda | |
List of Attendees - non-harvestable | |
Effects of compost addition to rangeland soils - preliminary results | Rebecca Ryals, UC Merced |
Feasibility of compost addition to rangeland on difficult terrain | Ian Howell |
Station 1: Compost Addition: Aboveground effects | Ling He, USDA NRCS |
Station 2: Reading the soil | Scott Wilson, Cal Poly |
Station 4: RDM and soil health | Felix Ratchiff |