OMPOST is decomposed organic material. Composting is the natural process of recycling decomposed organic material into Sac J a rich soil known as compost. In this process, organic material is PAS . Y converted to rich dark matter. The resulting substance called “4 ‘compost’ or humus is a conditioner for the soil. i Ls G (eon tae aura Rogker-chia ec so that it can be returned to the earth. It is one of the important methods of biodegradable solid waste disposal. Ww sy We posting? Why Composting? S Addition of compost in garden helps in the growth of plants to grow bigger and better. Compost as a soil conditioner, save money for purchase of lawn and garden products. ee Compost turns poor dirt into nutrient-rich soil It is safe and environment friendly method to decompose biodegradable solid waste. —— What to Compost ?. GEEEELSED Grass clippings, prunings, fruits and vegetables, houseplants, animal's manure, kitchen scraps, garden waste, floriculture and horticulture waste etc. sawdust, newspaper, cornstalks etc. e Paper, leaves, bark, straw, woodchips, @&)_ 4. 2. Se reo 2WHAT NOT Bones, dog/cat feaces, oil, grease, fat, woodash, meat/fish scrap, dairy products, weed seeds, diseased or insect ridden plants, any other waste thatattract pests. The composting process involves four main components - organic matter, moisture, oxygen, and microorganisms. Among the microorganisms, bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi are the most active. There are few simple steps for composting: Pile up organic matter on bare earth, allowing worms and other beneficial organisms to aerate the compost, It is also necessary to keep the compost moist. fihermophiie bacteria ore manly) responsible for the breakdown of proteins and other biodegradable organic matter. Fungi and actinomycetes play an important e in the Se mposi Hignin. The actino: in compost are Streptomyces sp. Bi Micromoncspora sp. The common fungi in compost are Thermonomyces sp, Penicillium dupontii, and Aspergillus fimigatus ‘In winter, the activity of the bacteria slows down; hence the pile should be tured less frequently so that heat can remain trapped in the pile's center In summer, warm temperature encourages bacterial activity and the composting processis fast, Eta Peo eat Cc aR cad ages Fev eleeeuuccuc en, Bue i Keon eas Compost should be covered with wood, | plastic sheets, or carpet scraps. Covering —the two most important components for the helps to retain moisture and heat formation of compost. is CS ae Organic materials) should be added in layers, alternating moist and dry. Moist ingredients may include food scraps, tea bags, seawood etc. Dry materials are straw, leaves, wood ashes etc. Allthe compostable materials are either carbon or nitrogen based. A good compost pile should have much more carbon than nitrogen. Optimum ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N) is key to the success of the composting. Generally, it should be 30:2,The compost prepared from solid waste should be black brown or at least/ black in colour. It should be crumbly in nature with an earthy odour. The pH should be neutral (variation in the range of 6.5 ~7.5 is tolerable). The compost should neither be completely dry nor lumpy and water should not come out of the mass when squeezed. The nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) contents should be >1% each. The nitrogen should be in: the form of nitrates for proper utilization by the plants Standards for Compost In order to ensure safe application of compost, the following specifications for compost quality shall be met: Moisture (wt %) max 25-25 = Total nitrogen (as N) (wt %) min 0.8 ™ Bulk density | Compost pile should be turned or dry Excess moisture x 7 | material such as straw should be added ioTC ETT G ( Compaction Pile can be turned and size can be decreased. PalasaCa Rood (Too much nitrogen High-carbon (brown) items can be added (Too little moisture te) yn 7" (Pile too small) Pile can be made large 7. Poor aeration ) \ 4 pS C Cold weather } Addition of water and turning down of pile can help. Pile can be turned. Pile size can be increased, or pile can be insulated with a layer of material such as straw. rage) Pile too large) (Too much nitrogen Pile size can be reduced or pile can be tumed up and down more frequently Items which are high in carbon content can be added. ead NM Ta Tae Rla id ‘Presence of meat’ scraps or fatty food] wastes All such wastes such as meat and fatty foods should be removed and pile can be covered with a layer of soil and saw dust. Alternatively, animal proof compost bin can be used. Source: U.S. Composting Council Factsheet1/2" to3" into top 4” of soil 1-2" mixed into top 4" - 6" of soil 1/8" - 4 screened compost spread uniformly 1-2" spread uniformly 3° mixed into top 6” of sil 1-3" mixed into top 6" of soil 3” mixed into top 6” of sol 25% - 30% by volume 3°-4" spread uniformly 2°-3" spread uniformly Compost is a full spectrum of essential plant nutrients. It has many benefits. jor of ieen BS Tina IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGY Backyard composting: Composting done at the backside of the house (at domestic level) : Completely decayed organic matter. It is dark, odorless, and rich in soil benefits. Earthworm castings: Manure, i.e., excretion of earthworms. Earthworm castings are high in nutrients for plants and microorganisms. Humus: Decomposed organic matter. Healthy soil will consist of about 3.5 to 5% of this organic matter. Vermicomposting / Wormcomposting: Composting using various worms, such as red wigglers, white worms, and other earthworms. Windrow composting: Production of compost by piling organic matter or biodegradable waste in long rows (windrows).Worms never sleep, so they are producing compost all the tim u Worms do not have lungs, they take ce in oxygen through their ski Sh, G. 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