Construction requirements for compost blanket application

Construction requirements for compost blanket application

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Parameters^1,4	Reported as (units of measure)	Filter Berm to be Vegetated	Filter Berm to be left Un-vegetated
pH²	pH units	6.0 - 8.5	N/A
Soluble Salt Concentration² (electrical conductivity)	dS/m (mmhos/cm)	Maximum 5	N/A
Moisture Content	%, wet weight basis	30 – 60	30 – 60
Organic Matter Content	%, dry weight basis	25 – 65	25-100
Particle Size	% passing a selected mesh size, dry weight basis	3” (75 mm), 100% passing 1” (25mm), 90% to 100% passing 3/4” (19mm), 70% to 100% passing 1/4” (6.4 mm), 0% to 75% passing Maximum: particle size length of 6” (152mm) (no more than 60% passing 1/4” (6.4 mm) in high rainfall/flow rate situations)	3” (75 mm), 100% passing 1” (25mm), 90% to 100% passing 3/4” (19mm), 70% to 100% passing 1/4” (6.4 mm), 0% to 75% passing Maximum: particle size length of 6” (152mm) (no more than 60% passing 1/4” (6.4 mm) in high rainfall/flow rate situations)
Stability³ Carbon Dioxide Evolution Rate	mg CO2-C per g OM per day	< 8	N/A
Physical Contaminants (man-made inerts)	%, dry weight basis	< 1	< 1

¹Recommended test methodologies are provided in Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost (TMECC, The US Composting Council)

²Each specific plant species requires a specific pH range. Each plant also has a salinity tolerance rating, and maximum tolerable quantities are known. When specifying the establishment of any plant or turf species, it is important to understand their pH and soluble salt requirements, and how they relate to the compost in use.

³Stability/Maturity rating is an area of compost science that is still evolving, and as such, other various test methods could be considered. Also, never base compost quality conclusions on the result of a single stability/maturity test.

⁴Landscape architects, plant specialists and project (field) engineers may modify the allowable compost specification ranges based on specific field conditions and plant requirements.