PREFACE

Composting is a deceptively simple technique and so the process of taking organic material and allowing it to convert by microbial degradation into something more useful is an attractive prospect. This requires the natural development of a microbial population to initiate and prolong decomposition. For a useful product to be created, conditions have to be controlled. While engineering solutions to achieve this can be chosen, doing so without an understanding of either the biology that governs the process or of the type and use of end-product that is wanted is inadequate.

This Symposium was convened to further improve the understanding of composting, its feedstocks, process biology, product formation in terms of stability and maturity and then the application and use of compost for horticultural crops.

Modern horticulture demands sophisticated products such as growing-media. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the development of hydroponic systems such as NFT, rockwool, perlite and their associated fertiliser and control processes. However, there is increasing pressure on horticulture to develop sustainable production systems and there is increasing market demand for organic produce. These priorities further encourage development of sophisticated uses of compost as growing-media, perhaps even to rival use of peat and hydroponic systems. The timing of this conference and the close association of the papers presented here with other sessions under the heading of “Acta Horticulturae Growing Media and Hydroponics” demonstrates this development. The compost-papers presented in this volume represent some important developments in the choice of feedstock, microbial management of compost, stability and maturity and then the ultimate use of compost.

The Symposium was held in the Sani Beach Resort in Halkidiki and while the sweeping bay and the beach were tempting, so too were the lectures. The opportunity to visit some of the delights of the region from the wine tasting to ancient history were also enjoyed by the participants. On behalf of the ISHS Working Group, a very special thanks to all the participants and organisers who made it so worthwhile.

Robin A.K. Szmidt

ISHS Working Group on Composting of Organic Matter (Chairman)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks are offered to the various sponsors, also noted elsewhere in these Proceedings. The Symposium took place in concert with the ISHS Symposium “Growing Media and Hydroponics” which was held at the same venue (31 August – 6 September 1999). Many of the duties of the organising committee and the secretariat were shared and thanks to the individuals who worked together, especially Dr. Eleni Maloupa and Ms Maria Goudara are noted here.

Prof Costas Balis was Convenor of the Symposium. His tragic death on 6 April 2000 left a large gap in the team responsible for this publication. His work for ISHS and this volume of Acta Horticulturae is gratefully acknowledged. In this difficult time special thanks are due to Ms. Vicky Evgeniou and Dr. Katia Lasaridi for accepting the challenge of guaranteeing the publication in his absence. This was done with the invaluable help of Dr. Robin Szmidt who dedicated his time, effort and experience for the completion of this volume.

The families of those that worked long hours during the organisation and the meeting itself deserve heartfelt thanks.

This Symposium was held under the aegis of the ISHS Working Group on Composting of Organic Matter Material.

TO THE AUTHORS:

Manuscripts submitted for this publication were manipulated electronically to achieve a uniform printing style. While in the electronic form, some minor modifications to improve use of English, spelling, grammar and readability were made. Where problems with the electronic file prevented their use, the best available paper copy was manipulated. Such modifications were done in good faith and we apologise for any resultant inadvertent errors, mistakes or other problems. Thanks to all authors for their contribution and understanding.

PREFACE

This volume of Acta Horticulturae is the Proceedings of the International Symposium on Composting of Organic Matter.

Invited and keynote speakers and selected authors of offered oral papers and posters had the opportunity to submit their manuscripts for publication in this volume of the series Acta Horticulturae.

Submitted manuscripts were reviewed by the Editorial Board and amended according to the referee suggestions prior to acceptance.

The ISHS acknowledges the cooperation received from the Editorial Board on reviewing the manuscripts which was a significant contribution to the overall quality of the publication.

The ISHS Board of Directors

OBITUARY: Prof. COSTAS BALIS

Professor Costas Balis convened the Symposium for which this volume of Acta Horticulturae presents papers on compost science and technology. After the meeting at Sani Beach, Halkidiki and before publication of the Proceeding, Costas Balis unexpectedly died of a heart attack while visiting Brussels (B) on 6 April 2000. Prof. Balis had long been associated with ISHS and had previously convened a Working Group Symposium “International Symposium on Compost Recycling of Wastes” in Athens in 1989(Acta Horticulturae 302 (1992)).

Costas Balis was born in 1936 in Kalamata, Messinia, Greece. He studied at The Agricultural University of Athens (AUoA) and was awarded his MSc in 1961. He studied for his PhD in England as a Brook’s Fund Scholar at prestigious Magdalene College, Cambridge. His thesis, entitled “Phialophora radicicola as a root parasite of grasses and cereals” was awarded in 1969. He returned to AUoA where he became Reader, Associate Professor and then Professor. He took the chair of Agricultural Microbiology in 1988. In the intervening time he gained international experience, working in Dublin (Ireland), Fort Collins, Colorado (USA) and Tasmania (Australia). In 1998 he moved to Harokopio University of in Athens, as Professor of Microbiology.

He held a number of academic and committee positions. From 1986 – 89 he was Vice-Rector of AUoA and latterly Rector of Harokopio University from 1997-99. He held the post of President of the Council of the Inter-University Centre for the Recognition of Foreign Academic Titles (DIKATSA) from 1989 – 91. He was a member of the AUoA Research Council and of the National Research Council General Secretariat of Research and Technology. He was a wellknown and respected member of the international research community and was national representative of the FAIR Programme Committee for the European Union.

In terms of his scientific achievements he contributed significantly, including papers in some of the most highly regarded peer-reviewed journals. He was actively involved in applied development work, including the “biowheel” for the treatment of olive mill wastewater. With respect to composting, much of his work was associated with the microbiology of recycling local material, particularly olive-wastes. This is, and will continue to be, an important issue for much Mediterranean agriculture, horticulture and land-use. He published papers not only on composting but also on the microbiology of various agricultural, horticultural and related topics. In particular, he had a keen interest in mushroom biology, particularly Pleurotus sp.. This included growing-substrates but also morphological and physiological aspects of the fungus. He was also involved in a number of other research projects ranging from the microbiology of cheese ripening to viral infection of cucumbers.

He was a keen listener to classical music and this was part of his everyday life which revolved around his work and his family. Of his dreams he will not now have the chance to see the completion of Harokopio University nor will he retire to his dream of sculpture.

He leaves his wife, Mary Antonakou and daughter, Voula Tassiopoulou.