1. Creating Soil Through Composting
By: Matthew Banks
4/16/215
Professional Development

2. Waste Disposal
Average U.S. Household generates 650 lbs of compostable materials every year
31% of MSW 2007
80 million Tons
34% of MSW 2012
85 Million Tons
Equivalent Carbon Dioxide production as 33 million cars for a Year

3. Compost Compostable Materials Yard Waste Food Waste
Composting is a technique used to accelerate the natural decay process.
Converts Organic Material into a Mulch or Humus
Yard Waste
leaves, grass clippings, plant stalks, vines, weeds, twigs and branches
Food Waste
fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells and nutshells

4. Parent Material
Compost
Nature

5. Soil Creation 2 Weeks to 4 Months Turn every 3 Days to 6 Weeks
Up to 3 years
Build-up and decay of Organic Material

6. Creating Soil Humus Loam Humus Loam - Made up of Organic Material
- Made up of OM, Sand, Silt and Clay

7. Soil Profile

8. Methods
Trench

9. Methods
Heap
Avoid Treated Lumber
May need to be ventilated

10. Methods
Bin
Easily Turned
Small Scale
Needs Air Circulation

11. Methods
Windrow

12. Organisms Macro Micro Chemically Break Down Physically Break Down
Mites
Centipedes
Snails and Slugs
Millipedes
Spiders
Beetles
Ants
Flies
Worms
Chemically Break Down
Bacteria
Anaerobic and Aerobic
Fungi
Actinomycetes 
Earthy Smell

13. C:N Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio MATERIAL C:N RATIO Microorganisms
Corn stalks
50-100:1
Fruit waste
35:1
Grass clippings
12-25:1
Hay, green
25:1
Leaves, ash, black elder and elm
21-28:1
Leaves, pine
60-100:1
Leaves, other
30-80:1
Manure, horse and cow
20-25:1
Paper :1
Sawdust :1
Seaweed
19:1
Straw
40-100:2
Vegetable waste
Weeds
Wood chips :1
Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio
Microorganisms
Carbon rich materials
dry and brown
Nitrogen rich materials
wet and green
Excess Nitrogen Causes the release of Ammonia gas and a rise in the pH
Excess Carbon (30:1) Causes the decomposition to slow

14. Temperature 90° - 140° F will kill Major disease organisms
Insect larvae
Weed seeds (may be up to 160° F)
Provide a good environment for the decomposer organisms

15. Improved Water Retention
Why is water Important?
Nutrient Transfer
Germination
Photosynthesis
Transpiration
Bacteria Require Water to
Utilize Organic Molecules

16. Soil pH
Preferred pH between 5.5 and 7.5

17. Soil Conditioning Compost Prevents Excess Nutrient Runoff
According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service
99 million acres
28% of all cropland in the U.S.
Eroding above soil tolerance rates
Compost
Prevents Excess Nutrient Runoff
Reduces plants reliance on Chemical Pesticides
Creates Jobs
Reduces Waste

18. References BioCycle.net
EPA
Growanything.net
University of Illinois