Group 3 Reducing

decomposi
Report tion in real
life
 Reducing decomposition in real life
The egyptians mummified
their dead kings and queens.
This process removed all water
from the mummy and so
stopped decomposers form
breaking down the dead tissue.
Archaeologists have found very old remains
of people who have fallen into peat bogs. A
famous example of is the Tollund Man. The
Tollund Man lived during the 4th century BC
and is the most well preserved
Pre-historic adult body in the world. In peat
bogs there is low oxygen, low temperatures
and acidic water, which cam naturally
mummify dead remains in a similar way to
the process that the Egyptians undertook
 The most favourable
conditions for composting
What is compost? Compost forms through
Gardeners and farmers improve the quality of
their soil by adding compost. Compost is made decomposition. Therefore,
from dead plants. Once spread on the soil, the factors that affect the
compost is broken down into materials by rate of decomposition also
decomposing bacteria and fungi, as well as by
other organisms, such as worms. Adding affect how quickly
compost helps to recycle minerals so that they compost is formed.
are absorbed by new plants and used in growth. Gardeners often make
Compost also improves the quality of soil by
compost in a compost heap
increasing aeration and water retention . or bin. To speed up the rate
of decomposition the
conditions inside are kept:
 1. warm - Compost bins are

Thank you
usually
black, which absorbs heat. Heaps are
often covered with an old piece of carpet
to insulate the compos.

2. moist - water is added at regular intervals.

3. Aerated – the compost is regularly ‘turned’

for
listening !
with a garden fork to mix up the contents,
prevent the contents becoming compacted and
to introduce oxygen