Composting

Composting converts waste, leaves, kitchen scraps and

garden wastes, into a valuable product which, when
used in the garden, results in healthier plant growth
when added to garden soil.

This Slideshow Will Introduce You to Five Basic

Aspects of Home Composting:
1. the organisms that are involved in the composting process
2. manageable components in the composting process
3. types of materials that can be composted
4. home composting systems
5. uses of compost

Composting can also help solve our society's solid

waste disposal problem. Food and yard waste comprise
over 30% of our solid wastes nationwide.

I. Organisms Involved in the

Compost Process

Decomposition is a natural part of the nutrient cycle of

living things. Composting is simply human intervention
to enhance and accelerate the decay process.

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Composting is a microbiological process. Many organisms have
evolved to use decaying matter as their food source. Bacteria
are among the simplest and most common organisms. Single-
celled and microscopic, they are found almost everywhere in the Fungi and molds are also important. White rot fungi are
environment. Although they are too small for us to see, they are well adapted to decompose woody materials like chipped
responsible for most decomposition. brush.

Earthworms are perhaps the most familiar decomposer.

Mites and other soil invertebrates feed on bacteria and By blending soil and organic matter in their digestive
fungi, helping to keep their populations in check. track, they produce stable, nutrient-rich aggregates that
Competition among the different organisms insures that improve the structure of soil.
only the most efficient decomposers multiply.

II. Manageable Components of

the Composting Process

All decomposers are bound together in a complex feeding web.

They turn organic wastes into a usable humus for the soil.

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 While the natural process of decomposition will occur without Organisms utilize carbon as a source of energy and nitrogen
any assistance from us, several factors can be managed to to grow and reproduce. Without enough nitrogen, there will
accelerate the compost process. be few microorganisms, and decomposition will be slow. If
there is too much nitrogen in the compost, some of it will turn
to ammonia that will volatilize, creating an odor.

The optimum C:N ratio is about 30 to 1. This ratio will Leaves, brush, sawdust and wood chips are all good
make fast, hot compost. Grass, animal manures and sources of carbon. Blending these carbon sources with
fresh green plants are high in nitrogen. nitrogenous materials can provide a satisfactory C:N ratio.

Surface area is another key factor to consider. Since

decomposition is a microbiological process, it occurs in thin Decomposer organisms need water also. The
films on the surface of particles. A large particle has less total decomposition process will slow down with either too much
surface area than the same particle chopped into small pieces. or too little water. The optimum moisture content for
Therefore if particles are too big, the process will take longer. A compost is about 40 to 60 percent, damp enough so that a
one-inch wood chip will decompose much slower than grains of handful feels moist to the touch, but dry enough that a hard
sawdust. An easy way to shred fallen leaves is to mow them squeeze produces no more than a drop or two of water.
before raking.

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Most microorganisms active in composting require oxygen to Oxygen will move into the pile if it is loose and there is
live. Their "aerobic" activity forms carbon dioxide and heat plenty of space between particles, as when straw is mixed
as by-products. If too little oxygen gets into the compost, the in the pile. Finer material may need to be aerated by
process can become "anaerobic." This condition results in physically turning the pile with a pitch fork or a compost
foul odors. The by-products of anaerobic decomposition turning tool. With the rapid decomposition that occurs with
include methane and hydrogen sulfide gas. Hydrogen sulfide high nitrogen materials, turning the pile becomes necessary
smells like rotten eggs. to prevent anaerobic conditions from developing.

Heat will be given off as organisms feed on wastes and

Compost piles should be a minimum of one cubic yard
break them down into less complex molecules. Ideal
in size. Smaller piles may not have enough mass to
temperatures for composting are between 90 and 150
hold the heat of decomposition.
degrees Fahrenheit. High temperatures can help kill weed
seeds and disease organisms, but temperatures above 150
degrees Fahrenheit will also kill the decomposers and slow
the process.

III. Materials that can be

Composted

Bacteria reproduce very quickly and are naturally present in

air and soil, so there is usually no need to add them to the
compost pile. Of the many inoculants, or compost starters
available, the best is a handful of freshly made compost.

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 Almost any type of organic material can be composted,
but some are especially easy to manage in a home
composting pile. While most leaves are fairly high in
carbon, maple leaves have a C:N ratio near the
optimum level of 30:1. With the right moisture and
frequent turning, maple leaves can break down in just a
few weeks time.

Brush can compost or be used as mulch if chipped to a

Oak leaves have a C:N ratio of about 60:1, and also reasonable size. Because wood chips have a high C:N ratio,
have high levels of tannins which are resistant to decay. and large particle size, they will break down relatively slowly.
Mixing these leaves with a high nitrogen materials will A better alternative is to spread them on paths or use as
accelerate their decomposition. mulch, easily recycling them to the landscape. Chips are
often available free from arborists and utility companies.

Fresh grass clippings are high in nitrogen, about 20:1. By Short grass clippings are better left on the lawn, where
themselves they are too wet and will mat, creating they will decompose and return nutrients and organic
unpleasant anaerobic odors. But they will compost well when matter to the soil. Contrary to popular opinion, clippings
mixed with a carbon source such as leaves or brush. will not contribute to thatch buildup.
(Special thanks to Seattle Tilth Association.)

Clippings from home lawns treated with pesticides may Vegetable food scraps can be composted at home, but
contain chemical residues. If the type and level of not meat scraps and grease. These can attract rodents
pesticide used is unknown, those materials should not be and other varmints.
added to the compost pile.

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Wood ash can also be added to the compost pile. It has Manures are high in nitrogen, about 20:1, and contain
high levels of potassium and other nutrients for plant many organisms helpful to the compost process. While
growth. horse and cow manure are fine to add to the compost
pile, dog and cat litter may contain parasites which can
cause human disease.

Coarse material, such as corn stalks, small tree and shrub

Other more exotic materials may be available for limbs, can also be composted. Shredding these materials
composting in your area. These aquatic weeds, while a increases the surface area that organisms can work on
problem for water recreation, make excellent compost if which significantly decreases the time required for
dried out a bit. Food processors may also have by- composting.
products that are suitable for composting.

IV. Systems

While operating equipment such as chippers and

mowers, safety glasses should be worn.

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 COMPOSTING TECHNOLOGY
PASSIVE COMPOSTING PILE
Passively
Windrows Aerated
Windrows

Passive
Composting Aerated
Conventional
Pile Static
Method
Pile

Vermi In-
In-Vessel
composting System

Many different options are available to contain your

compost. One option is a holding unit in which wastes are
accumulated. After materials are added to the holding unit
they are left undisturbed to slowly decompose. Snow Another option is a wire cage made from fencing or
fence can make a simple and movable holding structure. chicken wire. This bin works well for light materials like
leaves.

Used pallets are often available for free from

manufacturers. Tied or nailed together, they effectively Moving compost from bin to bin on a weekly basis will make
contain compost in a stable structure. rapid compost and provide considerable strenuous exercise!
The turning unit method is used to make compost quickly
and is more suitable for food wastes. Compost is turned
frequently to provide aeration.

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 WINDROWS

PASSIVELY AERATED WINDROWS

AERATED STATIC PILE

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 VERMI-COMPOSTING
Having redworms and other
decomposer organisms
process our organic waste and
turn it into a great natural
fertilizer.

Stages of Composting
Mace (2004)
Two main periods:
Active composting and curing

Active composting
Active composting is the period of vigorous microbial activity during
which readily degradable material is decomposed

Curing
Curing follows active composting and is characterized by a lower
level of microbial activity and the further decomposition of the
products

Typical Temperature curve observed during the various Compost Phases.

(Source: Digital Engineering Library of McGraw-Hill)

A period of adaptation of the microbes

Lag Phase
characteristically present in the waste

Temperature begins to rise in the mass.

Typical Temperature curve observed during the various Compost Phases.
Pseudomonads, the more numerous types of bacteria
(Source: Digital Engineering Library of McGraw-Hill)
Protozoa and fungi, if present, are not discernible

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 Marked by an exponential increase in microbial
Active Phase numbers and a corresponding intensification Stationary Phase Activity remains at peak level until the supply of
readily available nutrients and easily
of microbial activity decomposed materials begins to dwindle
Uninterrupted rise in the temperature of the composting mass
A sudden drop in temperature during the active stage is an indication of
Continues until the concentration of easily decomposable waste remains some malfunction that requires immediate attention
enough to support the microbial expansion and activity.

Chemical Transformation
Complex compounds are broken down into simpler ones and then
synthesized into new complex compounds

Denitrification
Respiration

Nitrification
Supply of easily decomposable material is depleted Aminization
Maturation

Fermentation Ammonification
The proportion of material that is resistant steadily rises and
microbial proliferation correspondingly declines

Temperature begins an inexorable decline, which persists until ambient

temperature is reached

Ammonification
Respiration

Nitrification

Aminization

Denitrification

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