ISHS Acta Horticulturae 536: XIVth International Symposium on Horticultural Economics
ECONOMICS OF ORGANIC WASTE COMPOST UTILIZATION IN A COMMERCIAL TOMATO PRODUCTION SYSTEM |
| Authors: | S. D. Thornsbury, Peter J. Stoffella, Tara M. Minton |
| Keywords: | cost-benefit analysis, horticulture, biosolid, MSW |
| Abstract:
An economic cost-benefit analysis of incorporating organic waste compost as a soil amendment to traditional commercial tomato production in South Florida was performed. A partial budget was constructed using the AGSYS Budget Generator (developed by T.G. Taylor and S.A. Smith) to estimate a 7% ($1,791/ha) increase in total production and marketing costs for a representative grower using compost as a partial (50%) replacement for an inorganic fertilization program. The substitution of inorganic fertilizers with compost could diminish nutrient leaching, particularly N, and subsequent groundwater contamination. Using a partial compost replacement for inorganic nitrogen would require an increase of $0.52 per carton (at 3459 cartons/ha) or 217 cartons per ha (at $8.25/carton) to breakeven. Additional horticultural benefits have been reported to include suppression of soil-borne plant pathogenic organisms, biological weed control, and improvement in long-term soil biological, chemical, and physical properties, particularly in infertile soils. Such benefits are more difficult to quantify and are often overlooked by growers who currently spend an estimated $3,388 per hectare just on fumigants, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Environmental concerns may include heavy metals or human pathogens, particularly with composts derived from biosolid feedstocks. The future estimation of these non-market costs and benefits would likely provide a different economic outcome than that derived from consideration of only the nutrient-replacement value of compost. | |
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