Home>Product Use>Tools for Agriculture

The Recycled Organics Unit has developed a number of tools to assist the composting industry in developing agricultural markets for recycled organics products.

The following agricultural tools have been developed by the Recycled Organics Unit:
  • Calculators for Nutrient Contribution from compost application
    Two calculators have been developed to assist compost producers and sellers to engage in direct dialogue with growers regarding the potential contribution of macro nutrients from the use of compost products. The composted mulch nutrient contribution calculator targets mulch application to orchards and vineyards; the composted soil conditioner nutrient contribution calculator targets the nutrient contribution from the application of digging compost to field crops. These nutrient contribution calculators been developed via literature review and direct consultation with field researchers to provide an initial estimate of the N, P and K nutrient loading or nutrient contribution from the use of composts relative to a grower's normal fertiliser practices.
  • Guide to Researching Agricultural Markets for Recycled Organics Products
    A step-by-step guide to the identification, evaluation and quantitative estimation of regional agricultural/horticultural markets for composts to enable prioritisation of viable market opportunities by recycled organics enterprises. The document provides:
    • Example surveys for growers (appendix 4);
    • A framework for communication of value to growers (page 45);
    • Use of farm budget studies; and,
    • Criteria for evaluating potential market viability, with summary tables of vegetable, orchard and broadacre potential viability in NSW (section 3.3).

  • Information Sheets
    The Recycled Organics Unit has compiled a list of well over 140 information sheet publications specifically useful for the Australian recycled organics sector. 81 of these information sheets are ROU publications and are freely available from the ROU website (www.recycledorganics.com).

    All of the information sheets compiled can now be found through the searchable online recycled organics database www.rolibrary.com

    When searching www.rolibrary.com:
    • Enter the term marketing kit and any other keyword(s) to refine your search (you will get too many hits with marketing kit only);
    • You can also refine your search for information sheets through searching by resource. Select: Product Marketing - Information Sheets, Posters, Presentations and type in your keyword(s).