What is compost
Compost is the end product of the decomposition of organic matter. Well-made compost is a rich, black, sweet-smelling, crumbly, soil-like substance rich in nutrients and organic matter. Compost is magic plant food for both gardener and farmer alike. And compost is full of microorganisms that are beneficial to soils.
Why compost
Compost can significantly improve the health of your soil. Compost contains nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which were in the organic matter. Compost makes these nutrients available in a form that is easily absorbed by plant roots at a rate that is nearly a perfect match for maximum uptake by plants. Additionally, compost often adds micronutrients most growers tend to overlook such as boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc. Not to mention, composting organic wastes keeps them wastes out of landfills.
Compost Happens
Every living thing that dies will decay if left alone. Decay is due to living bacteria that work to break down organic tissues. If left alone, the process of decay will produce varied results - some with very unpleasant odors and textures. To create sweet-smelling compost rich in nutrients and organic matter, we simply choose and control a mix of ingredients to ensure the best possible conditions for the bacteria to do their thing and produce rapid decay.
There are 4 essential components necessary for success with composting. These are nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, & water.
Nitrogen: Nitrogen rich materials are the ignition switches in compost. They heat up the pile and get the 'cooking' process underway. Materials such as grass clippings, green vegetation, dry cow manure, and blood meal are rich in nitrogen.
Carbon: Carbon is the fuel to provide energy to the microorganisms. Dry, tough, fibrous plant materials like leaves, straw, corn stalks, and sawdust all provide a good fuel base.
Oxygen: Even bacteria need oxygen especially if we want them to do an efficient job of breaking down the organic matter.
Water: Water helps keep the decay process from drying up and stopping.
Building a Compost Pile
Some folks take whatever organic matter they gather from food wastes to grass clippings and crop debris and heap it into a pile and let it go. It will create compost - eventually - but it could be a few years before it is ready to be used. If you can afford to or don't mind waiting perhaps this method will work for you.
If, however, you want to get the maximum benefit from the organic matter you add as soon as you can, then building a pile with a recipe in mind stands to reason.
The first thing to do is to bare in mind that not all of the ingredients you collect need to be added at the time you collect them. In other words, control what goes into the pile and when. Add the left over ingredients as you feel the need to adjust the contents of the pile.
The second item to keep in mind is the process of decomposition comes in phases - from cool to warm to hot to cool. How hot? A compost pile can get upwards of 160°F with the right conditions.
The third item is to remember that to keep the ratio of carbon to nitrogen at about 30 to 1 - that is to say 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen.
The fourth item is to build the pile in layers. Alternate layers of fresh plant matter and food wastes with layers of dry materials. Add materials that will allow for aeration where it is needed most, in the center. And water each later to produce moisture content within the pile of 50% - 60%.
How do I know if compost is done composting
Mature, finished compost smells sweet and earthy. It has the texture of rich soil and has a fine 'crumb.' Mature compost has a rich dark brown color and will be cool to the touch.
How to use Compost
Compost can be used in a number of ways. It can be incorporated into the soil to help enrich the soil. It can be used as a side dressing for crops as they grow and need more nutrients at critical stages of their growth, and it can be used as a mulch to suppress weeds while adding it?s beneficial foods to the soil.
Some growers will use compost as a bedding medium for seed starting and still others will use it as an ignition layer, usually in the middle of a new compost pile, they're building.
Comments
If the compost pile smell of ammonia - you have too much nitrogen. Add carbon materials like straw, leaves, and sawdust.
If you need to aerate the compost pile (e.g. get more oxygen into the heart of it), add wood chips or sticks. These will help break up clumps of organic matter that stick together and prevent oxygen infiltration.
References
Campbell, S., (1990), Let It Rot!, Pownal, Vermont, Storey Communications, Inc.
Coleman, E., (1989), The New Organic Grower, Chelsea, Vermont, Chelsea Green Publishing Company.