Assessment of the Economics and Land Quality Benefits of Using Urban Compost in Rural Grain Production: an Oklahoma, Winter Wheat Case Study of the Biffle Farm

Abstract

This study is aimed at urban composting and its applicability to increase crop yield. The study addresses the differences both economically and ecologically in urban compost and synthetic fertilizer. The case study portion of the thesis is directed at the results of urban composting in Oklahoma from a soil nutrient standpoint, while using software to test if the new urban waste application is economically feasible for farmers to use on rural farms as an alternative or as a complement to man made fertilizers. Urban composting program was found to be highly beneficial to increasing Land Quality Indicators (LQI) and individual soil nutrients. There is still profitability on the farms with the added cost of application, however, when the transportation cost was added it became uneconomic on rural farms. It is still profitable on the urban scale for gardening and higher net worth crops. Cities and farmers could set up a bidding system where the city would haul the compost to the farm for a set price, simply redirecting the materials from landfills to nearby farms, adding little or no cost of transport.