Compost

Owing to the potential value of properly completed composts (background), testing final products is more comprehensive than source-input materials (foreground).

Compost is not a single product. The composting process is also not a simple pre-determined set of events with a known outcome.  Here at Woods End, – America’s oldest-running compost lab,  we have spent considerable time “breaking the compost code” scientifically. As a result we are able to offer uniquely meaningful suites of tests to best describe  compost the  process and the product.

No one or two tests can properly characterize compost and this is ther reason Woods End offers some unique packages of tests.

While popular, compost is a poorly characterized growing media, a fact reflected in its continued weak showing in professional markets. When the driver for composting is only a recycling mandate, rather than grower market demand, compost quality is very likely diminished.

Woods End Labs aids composters give their product the value it deserves with a keen eye to process management and efficient quality of the end-product.

We divide the the testing of composting and compost into three  categories:

• Source materials – “Pre-compost state” . Tests to characterize ingredients & mix recipes to establish the process.
• Composting – “Active State“:  Tests to manage quality during the process and the timing for completion.
• End product – “Completed State” - Tests to evaluate  quality and properties of the end-product, such as nutrient value, stability, disease suppression, microbial hygiene.

Each of the above groups requires its own set of tests to accurately represent the status within that category.  Tests that are appropriate may be taken from soil testing protocol, manure protocol,  or growing-media protocols.

For an Overview of Available Analyses, click on LAB DOWNLOADS

To Evaluate What you Need: Please contact us (or call 207 293 2457) for a no-obligation discussion of your testing needs.

Laboratory Certificates and Approvals

Woods End maintains appropriate laboratory inspections, approvals and certifications in the following programs. The laboratory is USDA-APHIS approved  for soil and compost importation (outside of North America).  The lab is  recognized by OMRI for organic soil amendment approval testing. We are approved qualified by MSC- (Mulch and Soil Council) for mulch and soil amendment testing. We are certificants in ALP (Agricultural Laboratory Proficiency) for soil testing. For biodegradability in compost we are BPI approved for compostability. We submit to MAP Manure Analysis Proficiency for farm manure validation, and we are CAP (Compost Analysis Proficiency)  recognized  for compost analysis.

Are You Satisfied with your compost product?
Woods End will help you find the right one – or create it.