COMPOST MAKING PRIMER

Aerobic Decomposition by Bacteria and Fungi of a mix of Organic Material along with nutrient recycle organisms required for nutrient cycling.

by: Duane Marcus

The Urban Gardener, Inc.
& Southern Soil Solutions
www.theurbangardener.com

The
Urban
Gardener, Inc.
Your All Natural Garden Center

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 COMPOST REQUIREMENTS
1. MICROORGANISMS
2. FOODS FOR MICROORGANISMS
3. AERATION
4. MOISTURE
5. TEMPERATURE

BENEFITS OF COMPOST
1. ADD BENEFICIAL ORGANISMS TO SOIL
2. RECYCLE NUTRIENTS CAPTURED BY PLANTS
3. IMPROVE SOIL STRUCTURE
4. REDUCE WATER NEEDS
5. SUPPRESS DISEASE CAUSING ORGANISMS
6. DEGRADE TOXINS IN SOIL
7. KEEP ORGANIC WASTES OUT OF LANDFILLS
8. REDUCE WATER POLLUTION
9. ELIMINATE NEED FOR CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS
10.ELIMINATE NEED FOR CHEMICAL PESTICIDES

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1. MICROORGANISMS

BACTERIA F U N G I PROTOZOA N E M AT O D E S MICRO-

A RT H RO P O D S

NUTRIENT RETENTION NUTRIENT MAKE NUTRIENTS MAKE NUTRIENTS AVAIL- MAKE NUTRIENTS AVAIL-
RETENTION AVAILABLE ABLE ABLE

DISEASE SUPPRESSION DISEASE SUP- BUILD SOIL STRUC- BUILD SOIL STRUCTURE BUILD SOIL STRUCTURE
PRESSION TURE

BUILD SOIL STRUCTURE BUILD SOIL STIMULATE PREY GROUPS STIMULATE PREY GROUPS
STRUCTURE

DECOMPOSE TOXINS DECOMPOSE INHIBIT ROOT-FEEDING TAXI CABS FOR ALL OTHER
TOXINS NEMATODES ORGANISMS

Add to pile for microorganism diversity - compost tea, good compost, forest soil, worm castings, collected fungi, nematodes

2. FOODS FOR MICROORGANISMS

TYPE OF EXAMPLES % FOR % FOR FUNGAL

FOOD BACTERIAL COMPOST
COMPOST
Manure, blood meal, spring or fall
HI - NITROGEN
fescue clippings, alfalfa hay, organic
fertilizer, beans, peas, fish fertilizer
10% 10%
GREEN MATTER Garden trimmings, coffee grounds,
kitchen waste, oats, brewery waste 50% 40%
WOODY MATTER Shredded leaves, sawdust, wood chips
40% 50%
Other foods for additional plant nutrients - granite sand, kelp powder, humic acid, ground crab shells, limestone, greensand

3. AERATION
- Ingredients must include coarse as well as fine particles to insure the pile does not become anaerobic.

- The pile must not stay saturated with water to prevent anaerobic conditions

- The pile must be turned regularly to release CO2 and incorporate oxygen

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4. MOISTURE
- The microorganisms require water to function. The pile must be kept moist but not so saturated that
there is no space for air.

- Water must be added as you build or turn the pile to be sure it is thoroughly incorporated. The water
must not be chlorinated because chlorine kills microorganisms. You can spray your pile with a fine spray
held away from the pile to let the chlorine dissipate.

- Moisture levels should be maintained at 50%. Take a handful of ingredients and squeeze it if water runs
out the moisture level is 70% ( ok in the beginning). If a few drops run out it is 50%. If it sticks together
but no water runs out it is 40%. If it falls apart it is 30% or less. Add water immediately.

5. TEMPERATURE
- If organisms are present in sufficient quantities and the foods are present in the correct proportions, the
pile will heat up as the organisms consume the foods.

- You should monitor the temperature with a compost thermometer. The temperature in the middle of
the pile must be above 135º throughout the whole pile for 3 days to kill weed seeds and disease-causing or-
ganisms. You need to turn the pile to get all of the ingredients into the middle and heated to 135º for 3 days
to be sure all the compost at the end of the process has been heated sufficiently to eliminate weeds and
disease. Your pile should be turned 4-5 times.
- The temperature should never exceed 155º. Above 155º all the oxygen will have been consumed by the
hard-working bacteria and fungi and the pile will go anaerobic. Anaerobic organisms do some bad things
to compost. They produce alcohols and other chemicals that are toxic to good organisms. They combine
water and nitrogen into ammonia which is a gas. The ammonia gas escapes into the air taking all the nitro-
gen your plants will need. If your pile smells like ammonia ( or vomit, or poop) you probably have anaero-
bic conditions. Turn the pile immediately!

FINISHED COMPOST
Your compost is finished when it no longer heats up after turning. After the 4th turning it is a good idea to
cover the pile with wet cardboard to retain moisture in the pile and to keep it from getting too saturated
during extended rainy periods. Using the recipe above the process will be complete in 3 - 4 months. The
organic matter will no longer look like plant parts and will be crumbly and dark brown. You can leave the
compost for 6 months or more to increase the diversity of organisms in the compost as temperatures and
moisture levels change causing different species to come to life.

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FROM U. OF ARKANSAS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE