Re-use of agricultural biomass for nurseries using proximity composting

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide a proximity composting plant at a nursery.
\nThe disposal of pruning is an economic burden for farms. This paper shows that the
\nreuse of pruning for composting and producing substrates for the nursery is an
\nefficient procedure to reduce the environmental load and obtain quality ornamental
\nplants. After a spatial analysis on the availability of pruning in a sample area, we
\nhave arranged, at a research partner’s nursery, a plant for proximity composting.
\nUsing the collected data, a life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis was prepared for
\nthe compost and substrates. Agronomic tests, whose results will be published later,
\nwere conducted on four Mediterranean ornamental species. A comparison between
\nthe agronomic and environmental results shows that proximity composting is a
\nconvenient practice that significantly reduces the environmental load of substrates.