TLE 9

RECYCLING/COMPOSTING
PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES
Don't you know that there are
materials in the farm that can
be produced as plant
supplement?
Compost is organic matter that has been
decomposed and recycled as fertilizer and
used as soil amendment. Compost is a key
ingredient in organic farming as well as
plant crop production. There are plant
leftovers and other biodegradable
materials such as dried leaves, saw dust,
kitchen waste, weeds, manure, grasses,
leaves, vines and other that could be used
for making compost.
The following are
the steps in
preparing
compost:
1. Choose a site near your
supply of waste materials. It
should also be near your
house and at a
level that will not
be flooded easily.
2. Construct a shelter to protect the
pile from hard rain, measuring at least
two meters by three or four meters. If
this cannot be done, provide covering
of the pile with
polyethylene
materials.
3. Spread a
five to six-inch
layer of soil
under the
shelter.
4. Gather and dust weeds, leaves, animal
manure, wood ashes, garbage, garden waste,
kitchen leftovers, and other biodegradable
materials on top of the soil layer. Continue
adding
weeds, grasses, garden
cuttings until the pile
is about shoulderhigh.
Keep the sides of
pile vertical with
lightly dished top
to hold water.
5. Water the pile evenly everyday or
every two days to keep it moist. The
moisture will help in rotting the file
faster.
6. Provide aerators like bamboo poles
in the middle of the pile to allow air to
pass down the pile thereby helping
decomposers in its process.
Modern method of composting nowadays is a
multi-step, closely monitored process is aided
by shredding the plant matter, adding water
and ensuring proper aeration by regularly
turning the mixture. Worms, fungi and
organisms further break up the material.
Aerobic bacteria manage the chemical
procesa by converting the inputs into heat,
carbon dioxide and ammonium. The
ammonium is further nitrites and nitrates
through the process of nitrification.
Compost is generally recommended as an
additive to soil, or other matrices such as
coir and peat, as a tilth impover, supplying
humus and nutrients. It provides a rich
growing medium, or a porous, absorbent
material that holds moisture and soluble
minerals, providing the support and
nutrients in which plants can flourish,
although it is rarely used alone, being
primarily mixed with soil, sand, grit, bark
chips, vermiculite, perlite, or clay granules to
produce loam.
Compost can be tilled directly into the
soil or growing medium to boost the
level of organic matter and the overall
fertility of the soil. Compost that is
ready to be used as an additive is dark
brown or even black with an earthy
smell.
 Group 1
Shane Ivan
Jackielyn Chrinz
Marvie Joross