Organic Agriculture

10
Module 3: – Prepare Composting Area
And Raw Materials
Quarter 1, Week 3
Aussie Charity T. Calibo

(SUPPORT MATERIAL FOR INDEPENDENT LEARNING

ENGAGEMENT)
A Joint Project of
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF DIPOLOG CITY
and the
DIPOLOG CITY GOVERNMENT
TLE– Grade 10
Week 3, Quarter 1: Prepare Composting Area and Raw Materials
First Edition, 2020

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Aussie Charity T. Calibo

Editor: Aussie Charity T. Calibo

Reviewer: Lynne B. Gahisan

Management Team:

Virgilio P. Batan Jr. - Schools Division Superintendent

Jay S. Montealto - Asst. Schools Division Superintendent
Amelinda D. Montero - Chief, CID
Nur N. Hussien - Chief, SGOD
Ronillo S. Yarag - EPS PVR – LRMDS
Leo Martinno O. Alejo - PDO II - LRMDS

Printed in the Philippines by ________________________

Department of Education – Region IX – Dipolog City Schools Division

Office Address: Purok Farmers, Olingan, Dipolog

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are
not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and
gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

What I Need to Know

This module on Organic Agriculture 10 will be of great help to the

Technology and Livelihood Education students. This has been conceptualized to
equip them with the basic knowledge, skills, positive values and attitudes toward
produce organic fertilizer activities. It provides concepts necessary to equip them to
face the challenges ahead for this time of the pandemic. Lessons are prepared in
such a way that it will respond to the needs of teachers and students in this
subject area.

You are now in Organic Agriculture-Module 3: Week 3

Learning Outcome 1: LO 1. Prepare composting area and raw materials

After going through this module, you are expected to:

TLE_AFOA9-12OFIa-j-IIa-j-1

1. prepare bed according to production requirements;

2. create compost bin according to available materials at home; and
3. compare the ways of making compost

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 What I Know

A. True or False

Direction: Write True if the statement is correct, False if it is incorrect.

_______ 1.
Composting needs just a right amount of water and air.
_______ 2.
Compost materials also need a balance diet.
_______ 3.
In composting, the right temperature is needed.
_______ 4.
Brown and green manure is the primary materials of composting.
_______ 5.
Vermin composting is the use of vermin or earthworm in composting.
_______ 6.
Compost area is place in partially shaded area and protected from rain.
_______ 7.
In conventional composting, you can harvest in 14-18 days.
_______ 8.
Appropriate moisture is needed to around 50-60% to hasten
decomposition.
_______ 9. The 14 - day method you need 1m X 1m X 1m pile compost.
_______ 10. Chamber composting is high in investment

MULTIPLE CHOICES
Direction: Read each item carefully. Write the correct answers in a separate sheet
of paper and submit it to your teacher.

1. This method of composting used baskets that are half buried in garden plots.
a. Conventional method b. 14-day composting
c. Basket composting d. Chamber system
2. Which of the following composting method where you can harvest the compost in
3-4 months?
a. Conventional method b. 14-day composting
c. Basket composting d. Chamber system
3. This method of composting is minimal in investment and can harvest in 14-18
days.
a. Conventional method b. 14-day composting
c. Basket composting d. Chamber system
4. Which of the following is composting method that has longer duration of
composting?
a. Conventional method b. 14-day composting
c. Chamber system d. All of the above
5. Which of the following is an example brown compost material?
a. Newspaper b. Rotten vegetables
c. Sawdust d. Hedge trimmings

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 Lesson PREPARE COMPOSTING
3 AREA AND RAW MATERIALS

What’s In

Direction: Answer the following questions in a separate sheet.

1. What do compost organisms need?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. Is it necessary to have a compost pile at home?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What’s New

Direction: Answer the following questions in a separate sheet.

1. List down the 4 methods of composting you know.

_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________

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 What is It

Composting Methods

There are different methods of composting that can be followed in farmstead

compost production. In this module four (4) possible methods are discussed.

These are:
• Conventional method
• 14-day composting
• Basket composting
• Chamber system

All four methods are aerobic and require adequate air and to produce quality
compost. The following are examples of techniques to ensure sufficient
aeration:

• Regular turning of compost pile, especially at the beginning

• Sticking bamboo sticks with holes into the pile
• Layering poles into the heap is efficient and will not require the turning of
the pile anymore

All four methods require appropriate moisture, which is about that of a moist
sponge (50–60%).

• In the dry season, water may be added to the pile, especially during turning
of the pile.
• If not covered with a roof, the compost pile may be covered with big banana
or coconut leaves to protect it from excessive heat.

• In the rainy season, assure good drainage to avoid water logging.

• If there is no roof over the compost pile, it may be covered with banana
leaves, coconut leaves or plastic to avoid compost to get too wet.

Conventional Method of Composting

Steps in Conventional Composting

Duration: long
Investment: minimal
Labor intensity: low

1. Choose a flat area that is partially protected from sunlight and heavy
rains.

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 2. Place a cover lining made of plastic on the ground of the composting site
to prevent possible leaching of nutrients (optional). If this method is
used, soil can be heaped up to around 10–20 cm around the plastic to
create a shallow “tank.” This will further protect the heap from
leaching.

3. Gather plant and animal materials and bring them to the compost site.
4. Chop the crop material manually, or if available, use a shredding machine
to shred plant material as this will speed up the decomposition process
significantly.
5. Soil and/or ashes may or may not be added to the compost pile.
6. The compost heap will be established by layering the biodegradable
material:
• 1st layer: crop and other plant residues (15 cm thick)
• 2nd layer: animal manure to a thickness of about 8 cm
• 3rd layer: soil (if used), about 3 cm
• Repeat sequences until a 1-meter high pile is reached.
7. Insert a hollow tube (bamboo stick or PVC pipe) in the middle of the pile for
air to enter and circulate. This will facilitate aerobic decomposition.
Holes may be put along the bamboo or PVC pipe to add air circuits.
8. Water the pile until it is sufficiently moist. Water regularly to maintain
moisture for appropriate decomposition, but not too wet, as this will
hamper microbial activities.
9. Turn over or mix the pile with a spading fork after 3 weeks, then again after
5 weeks.
10. Harvest the compost in 3–4 months.

Note: Requires lots of space due to the long duration; thus applicable in big
landholdings.

The 14-day Method of Composting

Steps in 14-day Method of Composting

Duration: short
Investment: minimal
Labor intensity: high

1. Choose an area that is partially protected from direct sunlight and heavy
rains.
2. Place a cover lining made of plastic on the base of the composting site to
prevent possible leaching of nutrients (optional). If this method is used,
soil can be heaped up to around 10–20 cm around the plastic to create
a shallow “tank.” This will further protect the heap from leaching.
3. Gather plant and animal materials, and bring them to the composting site.
4. Chop the crop material manually, or if available, use a shredding machine
to shred plant material as the 14-day decomposition time cannot be
met with big chunks of plant material.
5. Thoroughly mix the chopped crop residues with equal amount of fresh
manure (ratio is 50:50).
6. Pile the mixture into a heap measuring at least 1m x 1m x 1m.

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 7. Cover the heap with banana leaves, coconut leaves or other suitable
material such as damaged jute sacks.
8. By the third or fourth day, the heap should be generating heat (process of
thermophilic decomposition). If heat is not enough, add more manure.
9. On the same day (third or fourth), turn the heap inside out so that the
materials from the center will be placed at the outer sides and to
introduce air into the system.
10. Turn the heap every 2 days thereafter to hasten decomposition.
11. In 14–18 days, the compost is ready for harvest.

Basket Composting

Steps in Basket Composting

In basket composting, the degradable home garbage, garden and farm wastes
and leguminous leaves are decomposed in baskets that are half buried in
garden plots.

Duration:
• This will depend on the combination of materials. In the absence of animal
manure, it is important to add crop residues with high nitrogen
content. Depending on crops planted, compost can be harvested
simultaneously with crop. For 30-day crops, it may have to stay for two
cropping cycles.

• The basket will continuously supply small amounts of nutrients to standing

crops until the compost is harvested (through leaching).

• Can be practiced in home gardens or in addition to compost heaps if plant

material and animal manure from surroundings are constantly fed into
the basket.

Investment: minimal
Labor intensity: medium
1. Clean the area allotted for plot preparation. Keep the cut grass and weeds.
They can be used for composting.
2. Dig the area at least 30 cm deep and raise the bed to make the plots by
adding compost from another source.
3. In the middle of the created plots, measure holes with 30 cm diameter apart.
Dig holes of at least 15 cm depth.
4. Drive uneven number (5, 7, or 9) of stakes 30 cm long along the edge of
these holes. Use of uneven numbers of stakes makes weaving easy.
5. Weave long thin strips of bamboo or vines along the stakes to form a basket.
If there are no sources of bamboo or vines, just closely space the
stakes (about 1 cm apart).
6. Place first the most decomposed garbage and manure into basket.
7. Next, place plant materials like leguminous leaves, cut grasses, and weeds.
8. Fill up basket up to the brim with any available organic wastes.
9. Earthworm may be added to hasten decomposition.

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 10. Plant the seeds or transplant seedlings around the basket with a distance
of 15–20 cm from the basket to prevent decomposing materials to
“burn” the plants.
11. Water the seedlings while still young. When the seedlings are big enough,
watering may be done through the basket only, depending on crops
planted. Make sure to mulch crops in the plot.
12. After the crops have been harvested, the compost is harvestable as well
and can be incorporated into the soil while cultivating.
13. Add new composting materials to the basket for the next crops.

Chamber Composting

Duration: shortest
Investment: high
Labor intensity: low

Steps in Chamber Composting

1. Gather the plant and animal materials and bring them to the composting
site.
2. Chop the crop material manually, or if available, use a shredding machine
to shred plant material.
3. Place the animal manure on the bottom chamber followed by the shredded
crop materials, then water. At this stage compost activators or IMO
solution or FPJ may be applied as well.
4. Place manure again, then shredded crop material, water, and spray again
with IMO. Repeat the procedure until the chamber is filled with
biodegradable materials.
5. Allow decomposition process to proceed.
6. Water and turn the materials weekly.
7. When the compost “smells sweet” and is like soil in texture, it is ready for
harvesting.
8. Harvest the compost; sieve to remove parts that are not well decomposed.
9. Air-dry the sieved compost. The parts not well decomposed will be
returned to compost chamber for next batch of composting.
10. After drying, place compost in sacks.
11. Store in dry place until time
of usage.

Fig. 1. Compost shade with concrete Fig. 2. Compost in concrete chamber.

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 Fig. 3. Compost shade with packed
compost.

Note:
High initial investment is
recovered by low labor and high
quality produce
as the environment can be
controlled. Ideally, roofline is
bigger than chambers to create
shaded working area for
shredding, bagging, and storage.

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Compost Bin Incorporating Kitchen Waste

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 What’s More

Direction:
Compare and contrast Conventional Composting and 14-day
Method of Composting. The Venn diagram helps you compare two things.
In the outer circles, write things about them that are different. In the center
circle, write things that are alike. Summarize the differences and similarities
on the lines below. Do this in a short bond paper and submit to the teacher.

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Rubrics

Category 20 15 10 5

Similarities Proficient At the Approaching Unsatisfactory

The Standard Standard The identified
identified The The student character
character identified highlights 2 traits
traits are 4 character or less provided are 1
or more and traits are 3 character or less.
do not or more and traits and
repeat. They do not does not
include well repeat. They repeat. They
described include well include well
examples. described described
examples. examples.
Differences The The The student The identified
identified identified highlights 2 character
character character or less traits
traits are 4 traits are 3 character provided are 1
or more and or more and traits and or less.
do not do not does not
repeat. They repeat. They repeat. They
include well include well include well
described described described
examples. examples. examples.
Organization The Venn The Venn The Venn The Venn
Diagram is Diagram is Diagram is Diagram is
very neat legible and very sloppy very sloppy
and well organized. and it takes and
organized. away from unreadable.
the content.

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 What I Can Do

Direction: Go outside your home. Using the information given above as your guide,
design your own compost bin according to the availability of your materials. If
possible, take a photo of your output and while doing your activity. Please observe
safety in using sharp objects. Take note: This output will be monitored by your
teacher throughout until harvest.

Rubrics

Excellent Very Satisfactory Needs

Satisfactory Improvement
Quality of The learners Students Performed the Build the
Work assembled and followed the correct method compost bed
produced steps and and without using
strong and created 1x1 make bed in organic
unique size of using 2 kinds materials that
composting composting of organic are available in
bed using 3-4 bed using 2-3 materials. the
organic kinds of community.
materials that organic
are locally materials.
available.
Use of the Maximize the Use only 4 Use 2-3 Did not use
Personal use of all PPE types of Personal any of the
Protective (like; boots, Personal Protective personal
Equipment gloves, masks, Protective Equipment Protective
hat, and Equipment. during hands- Equipment.
jacket) while on activity.
lay-outing and
constructing
the bed.
Speed The learners Students lay- Learners Has consumed
finished lay- out and make completed the 3 hours in lay-
outing and composting actual lay- outing and
constructing bed within 2 outing and compost bed
the hours. building of making.
composting composting
bed within 1 ½ bed within 2
hour. hours and 30
minutes.

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 Assessment

MULTIPLE CHOICES
Direction: Read each item carefully. Write the correct answers in a separate sheet
and submit it to your teacher.
1. This method of composting used baskets that are half- buried in garden plots.
a. Conventional method b. 14-day composting
c. Basket composting d. Chamber system
2. Which of the following composting method where you can harvest the compost in
3-4 months?
a. Conventional method b. 14-day composting
c. Basket composting d. Chamber system
3. This method of composting is minimal in investment and can harvest in 14-18
days.
a. Conventional method b.1 4-day composting
c. Basket composting d. Chamber system
4. Which of the following is a composting method that has a longer duration of
composting?
a. Conventional method b. 14-day composting
c. Chamber system d. All of the above
5. Which of the following is an example brown compost material?
a. Newspaper b. Rotten vegetables
c. Sawdust d. Hedge trimmings
6. Compost materials that are brown and dry is called ______.
a. greens b. browns
c. wastes d. Organic
7. What do compost organisms need?
a. Balanced diet of compost materials b. Right amount of air and water
c. Right temperature d. All of the above
8. This method has a high initial investment but is recovered by low labor and high
quality produce.
a. Conventional method b. 4-day composting
c. Basket composting d. Chamber system
9. What is the indicator that a compost is ready?
a. it smells sour b. it smells rancid
b. it smells sweet d. it smells bitter
10. What is the ideal compost pile for a 14 – day compost method?
a. 1m x 1m x 1m b. 2m x 2m x 2m
c. 3m x 3m x 3m d. 4m x 4m x 4m

Direction: Write True if the statement is correct, False if it is incorrect.

_______ 11. The compost area is the place in a partially shaded area and protected
from the rain.
_______ 12. In conventional composting, you can harvest in 14-18 days.
_______ 13. Appropriate moisture is needed to around 50-60% to hasten
decomposition.
_______ 14. The 14 - day method you need 1m X 1m X 1m pile compost.
_______ 15. Chamber composting is high in investment

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 Additional Activities

Direction: Arrange the following compost materials inside the box based on the
standards of building a compost pile. Use a separate sheet and submit to your
teacher.

kitchen waste grass clippings brown leaves

woodchips brown leaves green leaves

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 Answer Key

Reference

Organic Agriculture: A Training Manual, PCAARRD Training Module No.

4/2012, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources
Research and Development (PCAARRD), Department of Science and Technology
(DOST), Los Baños, Laguna, 2012, in the Philippines

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