Practical Composting

Compost is an organic amendment that improves soil quality.

Also called "gardener's gold," compost is a nutrient-rich organic amendment added to soil to enrich its quality. The dark, crumbly, sweet-smelling mixture is composed of plant bits broken down and decomposed by bacteria and soil microorganisms. Making compost at home not only saves money, but is an effective means of recycling household waste.

Components

To create compost you need yard trimmings including grass clippings, leaves, weeds, plant cutting and thatch that contribute nitrogen to the compost; kitchen scraps including egg shells, vegetable peels, coffee grounds and fruit peels along with wood ash and ground brush that provide carbon to the compost. Avoid composting fatty foods, bones and meat because of their odor and rodents they attract.

Types

There are three techniques for making compost depending on the climate. Create a compost pit in dry conditions, a compost mound in wet conditions or use a compost bin in either condition. If making a compost pit, dig a 5- by 10-foot trench that is 2 feet deep. Add different organic material in the pit, altering between yard and kitchen waste. Water each layer lightly before adding the next and spread a layer of topsoil at the top. Spread plastic or straw over the mound in the pit during the rainy season.

For the compost mound, mark a rectangular outline that measures 7 feet long by 3.5 feet wide. Add waste to the outline in the same manner as the compost pit but build the mound 4 feet higher than the ground. Compost bins are commercially available enclosed units that contain the compost.

Procedure

Bacteria in the soil break organic matter in the compost unit to release nutrients. All three types of composting procedures provide sufficient bacteria, water and air to complete the job. The compost heaps rot in six to 12 weeks, depending on the size and air temperature, and the contents turn into a dark, lumpy mass. If the contents begin to smell, turn them with a pitchfork to increase air circulation and add leaves, straw or other coarse material.

Advantages

The advantages of home composting are many. Compost, for all the benefits it provides is cheap to make because it basically uses wasted items. It adds nutrients to the soil to improve fertility and ultimately crop yields. Composting feeds living creatures in the soil, improves soil structure and drainage and reduces erosion. Home composting reduces the amount of space household waste takes up in landfills.

Considerations

Chop larger organic waste into 2-inch pieces that are easy to decompose. Wet the contents of the compost pit at least once a week to prevent overheating and keep it damp. Insert a stick into the heap and check it every day to ensure it is warm.

References

• Garden Organic: How Do I Make My Compost
• VSo Agricultural Science Teachers' Handbook: Practical Composting; Peter Taylor; 1999
• Organic Gardener's Composting: Practical Compost Making; Steve Solomon
• Ohio State University Extension; Composting at Home; Frederick C. Michael. Jr., et al
• University of Minnesota Extension; Composting and Mulching; Carl Rosen, et al.; 2008