First and foremost in this Composting 101 Guide, it would be advantageous to know a few things about composting and how the process works before you jump into it and begin to build your compost pile. Mother Nature will take care of most of the composting procedures because she knows what she is doing, even though breaking down of organic matter into compost is quite a complex process. So without getting too bogged down in the science of it, here is a basic overview of what exactly is going to be happening in your compost pile, and how you can help keep things on course.
How Your Organic Matter Breaks Down
When your organic matter is breaking down, the term composting is used to describe the procedure. Micro organisms in your compost pile will start your waste decomposing in two ways: chemically and physically.
The First Process Of Physical Decomposition
A community of difficult-working little invertebrates obtain the ball rolling by chewing, shredding, and grinding larger pieces of plant matter into smaller pieces with in excess of surface area. This early stage of decomposition permits bacteria and other chemical decomposers to do their part.
Chemical Decomposition In The Compost
Microbes such as fungi and bacteria will release enzymes that break down the complex organic compounds into smaller ones during this stage of composting. The microbes absorb these nutrients into their bodies, and then become food themselves when other organisms eat them. Also, as the microbes dis, their nutrients that they have absorbed will become food as well.
When the microbes and other decomposers get to the point where the substances can't be broken down anymore, the decomposed material binds together to form humus, the end of the composting process. The never-ending food chain of these tiny critters being eaten and eating forms an amazing, delicate food network.
Create The Best Environment For Your Compost Pile
In managing a compost pile, you are basically providing and maintaining a hospitable living environment for the tiny critters that will do all the heavy lifting. The basics that these creatures need for survival are what all life on earth need: water, food, air and a comfortable climate.
Getting The Organic Matter Chopped Up
Here is a general rule, the smaller you make your organic matter in your compost pile, the quicker you will see results and get your compost. The cuts and wounds that are made by cutting and chopping of the plant materials make for an easier break-down of the materials by the microbes. Allowing for easier chemical and physical decomposition, this smaller pieces will also make for easy turning of your pile. Your goal should be to keep organic matter in 2 inch long bits and pieces.
Moisture and Air Requirements Of Your Pile
The organisms hard at work in your compost pile need moisture to survive. Your compost pile should attain between 40 and 60 percent moisture by weight. Select several special areas of your pile and squeeze the compost to determine the moisture level of the compost. If you have the proper moisture levels, your compost should feel like a damp, wrung-out sponge. If it feels dryer than this, then it is time to add some moisture to the pile.
Too much moisture is as bad as not enough; Air flow will be blocked by too much water and this can result in odors in your pile. If you can squeeze more than a drop or two of water out of a handful of ingredients, things are too wet.
If things have been too wet, simply turn the compost pile to introduce air to dry out the wet matter. You can also add moisture at the time of turning if the pile is too dry. There will not be any bad odors from a properly aerated compost pile. Again, if you experience bad odors, you likely have a too high a moisture content. Leaves, straw and sawdust introduce dry carbons to the pile and is another way to reduce excess moisture.
Heat In Your Compost Pile Is Key
As a outcome of the organisms eating, reproducing, and dying in your compost pile, a tremendous amount of heat is generated. Managing this heat will help you produce compost promptly.
Measure the temperature of your compost pile daily with a compost thermometer, to keep track of the heat generation in your pile. Higher temperatures will result in much quicker breakdown of the organic material that do cooler temperatures.
Temperatures in the compost pile will begin to drop as the supply of water, food and air is used up. To increase the temperature of the pile introduce new materials and water to the center of the mix. You will find that temperatures of between 130 and 140 degrees for a minimum of 72 hours will kill all the weed seeds and plant pathogens.
Don't Overdo It
To minimize the possibility of too much moisture, which is a bad thing, keep close control on your temperature. Temperatures over 170 degrees Fahrenheit will shut the process down, because the high heat will inhibit the microbe's activity. This can easily be rectified by turning the pile contents down to the pile core, which released stored heat.
So follow all of these guidelines in this Composting 101 Guide and the outcome will be incredible, rich compost you can use in your garden and landscape bids.
How Your Organic Matter Breaks Down
When your organic matter is breaking down, the term composting is used to describe the procedure. Micro organisms in your compost pile will start your waste decomposing in two ways: chemically and physically.
The First Process Of Physical Decomposition
A community of difficult-working little invertebrates obtain the ball rolling by chewing, shredding, and grinding larger pieces of plant matter into smaller pieces with in excess of surface area. This early stage of decomposition permits bacteria and other chemical decomposers to do their part.
Chemical Decomposition In The Compost
Microbes such as fungi and bacteria will release enzymes that break down the complex organic compounds into smaller ones during this stage of composting. The microbes absorb these nutrients into their bodies, and then become food themselves when other organisms eat them. Also, as the microbes dis, their nutrients that they have absorbed will become food as well.
When the microbes and other decomposers get to the point where the substances can't be broken down anymore, the decomposed material binds together to form humus, the end of the composting process. The never-ending food chain of these tiny critters being eaten and eating forms an amazing, delicate food network.
Create The Best Environment For Your Compost Pile
In managing a compost pile, you are basically providing and maintaining a hospitable living environment for the tiny critters that will do all the heavy lifting. The basics that these creatures need for survival are what all life on earth need: water, food, air and a comfortable climate.
Getting The Organic Matter Chopped Up
Here is a general rule, the smaller you make your organic matter in your compost pile, the quicker you will see results and get your compost. The cuts and wounds that are made by cutting and chopping of the plant materials make for an easier break-down of the materials by the microbes. Allowing for easier chemical and physical decomposition, this smaller pieces will also make for easy turning of your pile. Your goal should be to keep organic matter in 2 inch long bits and pieces.
Moisture and Air Requirements Of Your Pile
The organisms hard at work in your compost pile need moisture to survive. Your compost pile should attain between 40 and 60 percent moisture by weight. Select several special areas of your pile and squeeze the compost to determine the moisture level of the compost. If you have the proper moisture levels, your compost should feel like a damp, wrung-out sponge. If it feels dryer than this, then it is time to add some moisture to the pile.
Too much moisture is as bad as not enough; Air flow will be blocked by too much water and this can result in odors in your pile. If you can squeeze more than a drop or two of water out of a handful of ingredients, things are too wet.
If things have been too wet, simply turn the compost pile to introduce air to dry out the wet matter. You can also add moisture at the time of turning if the pile is too dry. There will not be any bad odors from a properly aerated compost pile. Again, if you experience bad odors, you likely have a too high a moisture content. Leaves, straw and sawdust introduce dry carbons to the pile and is another way to reduce excess moisture.
Heat In Your Compost Pile Is Key
As a outcome of the organisms eating, reproducing, and dying in your compost pile, a tremendous amount of heat is generated. Managing this heat will help you produce compost promptly.
Measure the temperature of your compost pile daily with a compost thermometer, to keep track of the heat generation in your pile. Higher temperatures will result in much quicker breakdown of the organic material that do cooler temperatures.
Temperatures in the compost pile will begin to drop as the supply of water, food and air is used up. To increase the temperature of the pile introduce new materials and water to the center of the mix. You will find that temperatures of between 130 and 140 degrees for a minimum of 72 hours will kill all the weed seeds and plant pathogens.
Don't Overdo It
To minimize the possibility of too much moisture, which is a bad thing, keep close control on your temperature. Temperatures over 170 degrees Fahrenheit will shut the process down, because the high heat will inhibit the microbe's activity. This can easily be rectified by turning the pile contents down to the pile core, which released stored heat.
So follow all of these guidelines in this Composting 101 Guide and the outcome will be incredible, rich compost you can use in your garden and landscape bids.
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Looking for more information on the fine art of composting? Be sure to visit our article Composting 101 Guide for more tips and techniques. Also for more green living tips for your day-to-day life be sure to check out Green Living Made Easy.
