Composting
Composting is a process which occurs naturally when any plant dies. Microorganisms and invertebrates in the ground attack the plant remains and turns it into humus.
Nutrients in an ecosystem are recycled in this natural way slowly but this composting can be speeded up by providing the right environmental conditions.
what would take months to decompose if left in a neglected mound can be easily turned into soil enriched compost by following three basic rules.
1.Keep your composting process aerated by turning the compost pile every so often.
2, Make sure your compost is kept moist and not allowed to dry out too much.
3. Pay attention to the Carbon to Nitrogen ratio which should be around 30 - 1
These three things will result in raising the temperature at the heart of your pile to around 130 degrees which will ensure the rapid decomposition of your pile. It will also depend on which organic substances are composted and the kind of organisms involved in the composting process.
Without getting too technical let me explain it this way. To create good quick composting you should try and keep a 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen. So 3 -4 pounds of nitrogen material for every 100 pounds of carbon would be a good way to create efficient composting. If the nitrogen levels fall the process slows down, if there is too much nitrogen you will probably notice a very unpleasant smell caused by the ammonia gas.
So how do we keep a good balance of carbon and nitrogen? Well leaves are a great source of carbon and fresh grass cuttings, manures and blood meal are good sources of nitrogen. Increasing the surface area of your composting pile will help the microorganisms to digest more material thereby multiplying and generating more heat.
Insects and earth worms are a tremendous advantage to composting as they break down the leaves and other materials into smaller particles allowing bacteria and fungi to digest quicker.
As the compost decomposes, the available oxygen is used up and so it's important to replace this oxygen by turning the compost pile which also brings newly added waste from the top of the pile into the middle where the microbes are more active.This aeration can be accomplished using a pitchfork or shovel. If this is not done your composting efforts may be rewarded by another odious presence caused by anaerobic decomposition.
Composting is a sure fire way to enrich your gardens and help maintain healthy growing plants. With a little planning and the right construction to house your compost you will save yourself quite a bit of money at the same time as improving your backyard garden.
Nutrients in an ecosystem are recycled in this natural way slowly but this composting can be speeded up by providing the right environmental conditions.
what would take months to decompose if left in a neglected mound can be easily turned into soil enriched compost by following three basic rules.
1.Keep your composting process aerated by turning the compost pile every so often.
2, Make sure your compost is kept moist and not allowed to dry out too much.
3. Pay attention to the Carbon to Nitrogen ratio which should be around 30 - 1
These three things will result in raising the temperature at the heart of your pile to around 130 degrees which will ensure the rapid decomposition of your pile. It will also depend on which organic substances are composted and the kind of organisms involved in the composting process.
Without getting too technical let me explain it this way. To create good quick composting you should try and keep a 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen. So 3 -4 pounds of nitrogen material for every 100 pounds of carbon would be a good way to create efficient composting. If the nitrogen levels fall the process slows down, if there is too much nitrogen you will probably notice a very unpleasant smell caused by the ammonia gas.
So how do we keep a good balance of carbon and nitrogen? Well leaves are a great source of carbon and fresh grass cuttings, manures and blood meal are good sources of nitrogen. Increasing the surface area of your composting pile will help the microorganisms to digest more material thereby multiplying and generating more heat.
Insects and earth worms are a tremendous advantage to composting as they break down the leaves and other materials into smaller particles allowing bacteria and fungi to digest quicker.
As the compost decomposes, the available oxygen is used up and so it's important to replace this oxygen by turning the compost pile which also brings newly added waste from the top of the pile into the middle where the microbes are more active.This aeration can be accomplished using a pitchfork or shovel. If this is not done your composting efforts may be rewarded by another odious presence caused by anaerobic decomposition.
Composting is a sure fire way to enrich your gardens and help maintain healthy growing plants. With a little planning and the right construction to house your compost you will save yourself quite a bit of money at the same time as improving your backyard garden.