Home Composting Slide Show

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Home Com ostin Slide Show

Thomas Richard, Robert Kozlowski, Nancy Dickson and Roger KlineJuly 1989

http://compost.css.cornell.edu/slideshow/home.slide.html


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Composting converts waste, leaves, kitchen scraps andgarden wastes, into a valuable product which, when

,when added to garden soil.


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Composting can also help solve our society's solidwaste disposal problem. Food and yard waste comprise

over 30% of our solid wastes nationwide.


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This Slideshow Will Introduce You to Five Basic

As ects of Home Com ostin :

1. the organisms that are involved in the composting process

.

3. types of materials that can be composted4. home composting systems

. uses o compos


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.

Compost Process


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Decomposition is a natural part of the nutrient cycle ofliving things. Composting is simply human intervention

.


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Composting is a microbiological process. Many organisms haveevolved to use decaying matter as their food source. Bacteriaare amon the sim lest and most common or anisms. Sin le-

celled and microscopic, they are found almost everywhere in theenvironment. Although they are too small for us to see, they are

.

(Special thanks to David Emerson).


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Fungi and molds are also important. White rot fungi arewell adapted to decompose woody materials like chipped

rus .


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Mites and other soil invertebrates feed on bacteria andfungi, helping to keep their populations in check.

Competition among the different organisms insures thatonly the most efficient decomposers multiply.

- .


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Earthworms are perhaps the most familiar decomposer.By blending soil and organic matter in their digestive

-, ,improve the structure of soil.

(Substitution - slide not available in electronic form. Special.


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All decomposers are bound together in a complex feeding web.

.(Substitution - original slide not available in electronic form).


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the Composting Process


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While the natural process of decomposition will occur withoutany assistance from us, several factors can be managed to

.(Substitution - original slide not available in electronic form).


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Organisms utilize carbon as a source of energy and nitrogento grow and reproduce. Without enough nitrogen, there will

be few microorganisms, and decomposition will be slow. Ifthere is too much nitrogen in the compost, some of it will turn

to ammonia that will volatilize creatin an odor.


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The optimum C:N ratio is about 30 to 1. This ratio will

, . ,fresh green plants are high in nitrogen.


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Leaves, brush, sawdust and wood chips are all good

nitrogenous materials can provide a satisfactory C:N ratio.


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decomposition is a microbiological process, it occurs in thin

films on the surface of particles. A large particle has less total

.Therefore if particles are too big, the process will take longer. Aone-inch wood chip will decompose much slower than grains of

sawdust. An easy way to shred fallen leaves is to mow them

before raking.


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Decomposer organisms need water also. Thedecomposition process will slow down with either too much

.compost is about 40 to 60 percent, damp enough so that ahandful feels moist to the touch, but dry enough that a hard

squeeze produces no more than a drop or two of water.


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ost m croorgan sms act ve n compost ng requ re oxytgento live. Their "aerobic" activity forms carbon dioxide and heatas b - roducts. If too little ox en ets into the com ost, the

process can become "anaerobic." This condition results infoul odors. The by-products of anaerobic decomposition

.smells like rotten eggs.


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Oxygen will move into the pile if it is loose and there isplenty of space between particles, as when straw is mixed

in the ile. Finer material ma need to be aerated b

physically turning the pile with a pitch fork or a compostturning tool. With the rapid decomposition that occurs with

,to prevent anaerobic conditions from developing.


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Heat will be given off as organisms feed on wastes andbreak them down into less complex molecules. Ideal

degrees Fahrenheit. High temperatures can help kill weedseeds and disease organisms, but temperatures above 150

egrees a ren e w a so e ecomposers an s ow

the process.


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Compost piles should be a minimum of one cubic yardin size. Smaller piles may not have enough mass to

o e ea o ecompos on.


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Bacteria reproduce very quickly and are naturally present inair and soil so there is usuall no need to add them to the

compost pile. Of the many inoculants, or compost startersavailable, the best is a handful of freshly made compost.


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.

Composted


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Almost any type of organic material can be composted,but some are especially easy to manage in a home

carbon, maple leaves have a C:N ratio near theoptimum level of 30:1. With the right moisture and,

few weeks time.

Oak leaves have a C:N ratio of about 60:1, and alsohave hi h levels of tannins which are resistant to deca .

Mixing these leaves with a high nitrogen materials willaccelerate their decomposition.


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Brush can compost or be used as mulch if chipped to areasonable size. Because wood chips have a high C:N ratio,

, .A better alternative is to spread them on paths or use asmulch, easily recycling them to the landscape. Chips areoften available free from arborists and utility companies.


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Fresh grass clippings are high in nitrogen, about 20:1. Bythemselves they are too wet and will mat, creating

unpleasant anaerobic odors. But they will compost well whenmixed with a carbon source such as leaves or brush.

S ecial thanks to Seattle Tilth Association.


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Short grass clippings are better left on the lawn, wherethey will decompose and return nutrients and organic

matter to the soil. Contrary to popular opinion, clippingswill not contribute to thatch buildup.


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Clippings from home lawns treated with pesticides maycontain chemical residues. With few exceptions, these

next. If the type and level of pesticide used is unknown,those materials should not be added to the compost pile.


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Vegetable food scraps can be composted at home, butnot meat scraps and grease. These can attract rodents

an o er varm n s.


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Wood ash can also be added to the compost pile. It hashigh levels of potassium and other nutrients for plant

grow .


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Manures are high in nitrogen, about 20:1, and containmany organisms helpful to the compost process. While

horse and cow manure are fine to add to the compostpile, dog and cat litter may contain parasites which can

cause human disease.


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Other more exotic materials may be available forcomposting in your area. These aquatic weeds, while a

pro em or wa er recrea on, ma e exce en composdried out a bit. Food processors may also have by-products that are suitable for composting.

(Special thanks to David Stern).


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Coarse material, such as corn stalks, small tree and shrublimbs, can also be composted. Shredding these materials

which significantly decreases the time required forcomposting.


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While operating equipment such as chippers and

mowers, sa e y g asses s ou e worn.


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. ystems


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Yard wastes can be composted using a variety ofs stems includin holdin units, turnin units and

mulching. Food composting systems includeincorporation, vermicomposting (composting by

, .


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Many different options are available to contain yourcompost. One option is a holding unit in which wastes are

accumulated. After materials are added to the holding unitthey are left undisturbed to slowly decompose. Snow

fence can make a sim le and movable holdin structure.


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Another option is a wire cage made from fencing orchicken wire. This bin works well for li ht materials like

leaves.


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Used pallets are often available for free from. ,

contain compost in a stable structure.


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rapid compost and provide considerable strenuous exercise!

The turning unit method is used to make compost quicklyand is more suitable for food wastes. Compost is turned

frequently to provide aeration.


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Rotating drums take some of the work out of turning,.

often represent considerable investment for the volumeof material composted.


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Perhaps the easiest way to compost food waste is tobury it in the garden or yard. Bury food waste at least

s x o e g nc es eep o eep an ma s rom gg ngup. Care should be taken not to damage the roots of

nearby plants.


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Recycling food and yard waste can provide a host of benefits fore gar en. ompos ncorpora e n e so prov es m e

nutrients to plants. However, the organic matter it provides cansignificantly improve soil structure, allowing better drainage in

heavy clay soils and improved water retention in light sandy soils.

(Special thanks to Seattle Tilth Association.)


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Screened compost can be blended with soil and peatand used as a rowin media for containerized lants.

A simple screen can be made with hardware cloth and awood frame.


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Coarse, partially decomposed compost can also be

and weed control, but have a cooling effect on soil andwill delay maturity of warm weather crops.


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Fresh compost should not be used for germinating seedlings.The use of sterilized soil is preferred because many seedlingsare suscep e o sease pa ogens. ompos a as age

for at least a year is less of a problem, and may provebeneficial in preventing damping off disease.

(Special thanks to Nancy Trautmann.)


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Home composting provides households with the opportunity toe c en y conver was e ma er a n o a va ua e so

amendment. The ultimate result of the process is a healthier,more productive and easier to maintain garden. Our challenge

is to change residents' values toward waste disposal andmake them aware of alternative disposal practices. Home

the solution themselves and receive a beneficial product for

their own gardens.


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Home Composting Slide Show

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