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Published bySimon O’Neal’ Modified over 9 years ago
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3 *Compost is a mixture of decayed organic materials decomposed by microorganisms in a warm, moist, and aerobic environment, releasing nutrients into readily available forms for plant use.
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4 Composting is a process.
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8 Leaves Food scraps Grass clippings Compost
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9 Decomposers These are the microbes (mainly bacteria and fungi) that do all the work for you. Food for the decomposers The organic materials to be composted.
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11 *Obtain energy to carry on life processes. *Acquire nutrients (N, P, K) to sustain population.
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12 Aerobic composting Anaerobic composting presenceabsent or in limited supply oxygen toxicity odor
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13 1. Chemical makeup of raw ingredients or feedstocks. 2. Physical size and shape of feedstocks and porosity of the pile. 3. Population of organisms involved in composting process.
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15 Hot air low O 2 rich cool air O2O2 O2O2 1. Oxygen and Aeration
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17 Turning the pile mixes fresh air into the pile Turning tools can make the job easier
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18 *Optimal range 45-60% by weight. *Low moisture impededs composting process because 1. microbes need water 2. dry pile will become cool, slow down composting. 2. Moisture level
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20 3. Temperature
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21 *Particle size regulate microbial access to food. *Small particles have more surface area than large particles ; easy access. 4. Particle size
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22 shredding
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23 5. Types of organic matter
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24 *Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) are the primary nutrients required by the microorganisms involved in composting. *Microorganisms use carbon for both energy and growth, while nitrogen is essential for protein production and reproduction. 6. Carbon/nitrogen ratio
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25 *If amount of C relative to N is too high, slows composting process. *If C:N ratio is too low, more likely to lose N as ammonia gas (bad odor).
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26 *Green materials have lower C:N ratios than woody materials or dead leaves. Rules of thumb
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27 Browns High carbon materials such as Leaves (30-80:1) Straw (40-100:1) Paper (150-200:1) Sawdust (100-500:1) Animal bedding mixed with manure (30-80:1)
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28 High nitrogen materials such as Greens Vegetable scraps (12-20:1) Coffee grounds (20:1) Grass clippings (12-25:1) Manure –Cow (20:1) –Horse (25:1) –Poultry (10:1), with litter (13- 18:1) –Hog (5-7:1)
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29 Feedstock C:N Ratios C:N RatioMaterials High in Carbon 30-80Fall leaves 40-100Straw 100-500Wood chips or sawdust 100-130Bark 150-200Mixed paper 560Newspaper or cardboard
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30 C:N RatioMaterials High in Nitrogen 15-20Vegetable wastes 15-25Grass clippings 5-25Manure
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31 *Provides humus or organic matter, vitamins, hormones, and plant enzymes which are not supplied by chemical fertilizers. *Kills pathogenic organisms, weeds and other unwanted seeds when temperatures of over 60oC is reached. *Acts as buffer to changes in soil pH. * Improves soil.
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32 1. Biological Contributions: *Inoculation or increased microbial diversity. *Increases microbial activity in soil, primarily by providing carbon as a food source for the microorganisms *Can reduce soil borne plant diseases Improvement of soil by
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35 2. Physical Contributions *Increased water absorption *Increased water retention *Improved drought tolerance *Reduced soil erosion
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36 3. Chemical Contributions *Increase cation exchange (more negative charges) which increases soil ability capacity to hold nutrients. *Good source of micro nutrients. *May buffer pH ( greater stability or resistance to change pH). Have many nutrients that not exist in chemical fertilizer.
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37 Garden trimmings Kitchen scraps Grass clippings Leaves Also Used potting soil Manure Sawdust Hair
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38 Cat or dog waste (attracts pests, could spread disease) Diseased or insect ridden plants (could infect or attack garden plants when compost is used)
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39 *Lime (increases compost pH and promotes ammonia odor problems.
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41 *Simplest technologies are composting bins or backyard piles.
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42 Bin/pile construction
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44 Manufactured bins
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45 The Earth Machine Bin
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