Compost and composting techniques

By sakshi

What is compost?• Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and

recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment

• Compost is a key ingredient in organic farming.

• End product of the decomposition of organic matter

WHAT IS COMPOSTING?

•Composting is a natural process that turns organic material into a dark rich substance

•By composting your organic waste you are returning nutrients back into the soil

•Finished compost looks like soil–dark brown, crumbly and smells like a forest floor.

why should I compost?• Adding organic materials to the soil improves moisture

retention.

• Adding decomposed organic material to the soil feeds beneficial organisms.

• Compost provides a balanced, slow–release source of nutrients that helps the soil hold nutrients long enough for plants to use them.

• Composting saves money–you avoid the cost of buying soil conditioners, bagged manure etc.

• Improves water-holding capacity resulting in reduced dependency on watering

What should I compost?• When selecting materials for your compost pile,• AVOID:

• • Wastes that attract pests• • Diseased/Insect ridden plants

Techniques of composting

1) Cold composting

•Cold composting is one of the easiest forms of composting.

•Many beneficial nutrients in cold compost remain uncompromised by high temperatures.

• the process is slower.

•once established, the cold composting bins will provide you with a continuous supply of lawn and garden food.

Hot composting•A hot pile requires enough high-nitrogen materials to get the pile to heat up.

•microbial activity within the compost pile is at its optimum level, which results in finished compost in a much shorter period of time.

•It requires some special equipment, as well as time and diligence. 

•Temperatures rising in a hot-compost pile come from the activity of numerous organisms breaking down organic matter

Types of composting

1.Aerobic composting:

-This means to compost with air

•Organic waste will break down quickly and is not prone to smell.

•This type of composting is high maintenance, since it will need to be turned every couple days to keep air in the system and your temperatures up. 

•It is also likely to require accurate moisture monitoring.

• This type of compost is good for large volumes of compost.

2. Anaerobic composting

•This is composting without air.

• Anaerobic composting is low maintenance since you simply throw it in a pile and wait a couple years

•compost may take years to break down.

•Anaerobic composts create the awful smell most people associate with composting.

• The bacteria break down the organic materials into harmful compounds like ammonia and methane.

3. vermicomposting

•- This is most beneficial for composting food waste. with worms.

•. Oxygen and moisture are required to keep this compost healthy.

•This is medium maintenance compost since you need to feed your rworms and monitor the conditions

Thankyou