Living Soil A Presentation on Compost John Kish

Living Soil A Presentation on Compost John Kish Philomath High School Senior Project Presentation April 13 th, 2007

In The Beginning… • Pollution in Oak Creek from OSU pastures • Shepherd Smith “Soilsmith Services©” • Philomath students were requested to do research • Overseen by the Benton County Environmental Health Department • Funded by an EPA Justice Grant • New building on OSU campus to house compost piles

PHS Compost Team! • • John Kish Katie Mc. Kiernan Brian Wakefield Alison Priewe

My Job • I chose to two jobs on the team which I was assigned to: – Study E-coli levels – Study and research Invertebrates in the Pile

Getting Started • New Science – Never worked with Soil Invertebrates – Knew nothing of Soil Invertebrates, but that they were bugs – Knew a little about compost and how it all worked • Agreement • Calendar Planned

Sampling On Site • Practice Run With Teresa and Team • Division of Pile • Sterile and wellrepresented sample

Leachate • Leachate: (n) a solution resulting from leaching, as of soluble constituents from soil, landfill, etc. , by downward percolating ground water • Making Leachate – Sterile Equipment – 1250 m. L’s of compost • Based on need – 800 m. L’s of distilled water – Refrigerate

Escherichia coli 0157: H 7 • Found In Intestines of animals (Fecal coliforms) – From OSU’s pastures • Coliscan Easygel© Plates used for E-coli testing and research

E-coli Plates

Soil Invertebrates • Research Paper- “Life Underfoot” – Getting Started • Sampling Techniques – Goal: To find and understand the soil food web of the compost file to determine pile’s health

Testing Techniques • Berlese Funnel – Inside/Surface • Baermann Funnel – Nematodes/Bacteria • Emergent Trap – Surface/Air

Invertebrates

Pile Evolution

Status Of Final Compost • Healthy Soil Food Web • Healthy Levels of -coli in Pile • Good Temperature Ranges E

Unexpected Results • • • Gooey texture for compost Growing results with Mr. Mitchell’s lettuce Lots of gravel Blank E-coli plates Blank Berlese results Wonderful preservation with natural antifreeze…even in a trunk for 4 months • No Earthworms/Fly Larvae

The Journey • Seemed simple, but really was a lot of work! • Excellent Experience • Excited to work with Andy Moldenke • Soil is really another world.

Future With Compost • Use in the field of Botany • University of Washington • Research down the road • Benefits Soilsmith Services • Team work experience • Intel Science Talent Search Entry

Pictures

Special Thanks • • • Jeff Mitchell Alice Eldridge Dr. Andy Moldenke Teresa Matteson Daniel Moreno Shepherd Smith-Soilsmith Services Brian Wakefield Katie Mc. Kiernan Molly O’Malley Tom Thompson Anyone Else I’ve Forgotten Thanks!