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CompostingComposting
Steve Chaney.Steve Chaney.
Texas AgriLife Extension Texas AgriLife Extension ServiceService
Tarrant CountyTarrant County
If you want to have a healthy, productive landscape the first key is to build great soil. Many gardeners make the mistake of looking first to fertilizers, tonics, or a multitude of miracle working concoctions to produce great plant. There is no long-term substitute for proper soil building.
If your soil is poorly drained, too acidic or alkaline, compacted, low in organic matter or has poor structural characteristics, it doesn’t matter how much fertilizer you add, the results will be disappointing.
Build your soil first and then fertilizers can play their proper role in promoting plant health and production. Fertilizers are most effective when used to fine tune a soil situation that is already working relatively well. Healthy soil grows healthy, productive plants and is the place where any great landscape begins.
Start by adding compost to improve the soil’s structure, internal drainage and water holding ability. It stimulates soil microbes and breaks down to feed plants gradually over time. If drainage is at all in question, build raised planting beds to insure that plant roots don’t sit in soggy wet conditions.
Organic fertilizers can be an integral part of a good soil building program for your garden and landscape. Along with compost additions and soil testing they provide the basis for a healthy productive landscape.
While some organic fertilizers provide a quick fix, similar to the way synthetic products can, most are for a long-term solution. The goal is to build soil that needs few additional inputs rather than soil dependent on a continual series of “quick fixes”. Gardeners who want to garden naturally are willing to build their gardens over time recognize the value in such an approach. They will enjoy the benefits for years to come in terms of great soil, healthy plants, and productive gardens.
Types of Natural Fertilizers
•Alfalfa Meal - 3% Nitrogen•Blood Meal - 12 % Nitrogen•Bone Meal - 12% Phosphate•Corn Gluten Meal - 10% Nitrogen•Cottonseed Meal - 6 % Nitrogen•Feather Meal - 12% Nitrogen (slow release)•Fish Meal - 10 % Nitrogen•Fish Emulsion - 5% Nitrogen•Greensand - 5% Potash (slow release)•Kelp Meal - 1% Nitrogen•Gypsum - 0 % Nitrogen ( calcium and sulfur)•Lime - 0% Nitrogen ( calcium)•Soft Rock Phosphate - 30% Phosphate ( very slow release)•Potassium Magnesium Sulfate - 22% Potash , 18% Mg , 27% Sulfur
Forest FloorForest Floor
Nature recycles Nature recycles leaves and plants. In leaves and plants. In a forest, leaves fall a forest, leaves fall forming mulch that forming mulch that protects the soil. protects the soil. Over time they Over time they decompose into decompose into nutrients that feed nutrients that feed forest plants. forest plants.
CompostCompost
Broken down Broken down (decomposed) (decomposed) organic matter organic matter
A soil A soil enrichment enrichment productproduct
Composting BenefitsComposting Benefits
Improve Your Soil Improve Your Soil Quality Quality
Moisture retention Moisture retention Increased aeration Increased aeration Reduce erosion Reduce erosion
potentialpotential
Composting BenefitsComposting Benefits
Improve your Soil Improve your Soil Texture Texture
Clay soils Clay soils – Easier to work Easier to work – Helps drainage Helps drainage
Sandy soils Sandy soils – Prevents nutrient Prevents nutrient
and water lossesand water losses
Composting BenefitsComposting Benefits
Save on your Save on your gardening bills gardening bills
Soil Soil amendment amendment savings savings
Water use Water use savings savings
Yard waste Yard waste disposal costsdisposal costs
Home Composting BenefitsHome Composting Benefits
Helps Our Helps Our Environment Environment
30% of waste 30% of waste stream is organic stream is organic material material
Pro-active Pro-active alternative to land-alternative to land-filling and filling and incineration of incineration of organic wasteorganic waste
What’s Happening in the Pile?What’s Happening in the Pile?
Organic matter is Organic matter is decomposed by decomposed by living creatures living creatures
Starting materials Starting materials converted to ‘less converted to ‘less complex’ forms complex’ forms
It becomes It becomes “unrecognizable” “unrecognizable” humushumus
Microscopic Decomposers Microscopic Decomposers
Chemically convert organic materials Chemically convert organic materials Mostly single-celled organisms Mostly single-celled organisms
– Bacteria considered most productiveBacteria considered most productive– FungiFungi– ActinomycetesActinomycetes– ProtozoaProtozoa– RotifersRotifers
Physical Decomposers Physical Decomposers Arrive in the pile Arrive in the pile
after lower level after lower level decomposers have decomposers have ‘worked’ material ‘worked’ material
Grind and chew Grind and chew remaining organic remaining organic materialmaterial
mites, snails, slugs,earthworms, millipedes, sowbugs, whiteworms
Organic Matter Organic Matter DecompositionDecomposition
2 Basic 2 Basic Processes Processes – Aerobic Break-Aerobic Break-
down down – Anaerobic Break-Anaerobic Break-
downdown
Aerobic DecompositionAerobic Decomposition
Organisms require Organisms require more than 5% oxygen more than 5% oxygen
Occurs in nature (leaf Occurs in nature (leaf litter on forest floor) litter on forest floor)
Community of Community of decomposers affected decomposers affected by: by: – Aeration Aeration – Moisture Moisture – Organic materials used Organic materials used – TemperatureTemperature
Anerobic DecompositionAnerobic Decomposition
Organisms utilize Organisms utilize less than 5% less than 5% oxygen oxygen
Occurs in nature Occurs in nature (Marshes, mud (Marshes, mud flats) flats)
Production of Production of Methane gas Methane gas
Associated with Associated with ‘bad’ odors ‘bad’ odors
Required: Oxygen (Aeration)Required: Oxygen (Aeration)
Home composting Home composting should be ‘Aerobic’ should be ‘Aerobic’
Aerobic Aerobic composting is up composting is up to 90% faster than to 90% faster than Anaerobic Anaerobic composting composting
Anaerobic odor Anaerobic odor emissions are emissions are avoidedavoided
Goal: Achieve High TempsGoal: Achieve High Temps
Importance of High Importance of High Temperature Temperature
Pathogen kill Pathogen kill – (Harmful bacteria, etc.) (Harmful bacteria, etc.)
Weed seed kill Weed seed kill Pest control Pest control
– (Flies, plant parasitic (Flies, plant parasitic Nematodes)Nematodes)
Checking temp with a Checking temp with a compost thermometercompost thermometer
The Composter’s Role:The Composter’s Role:
The Home Composter The Home Composter is responsible for is responsible for making a suitable making a suitable “living” environment “living” environment for beneficial for beneficial decomposers. decomposers. – Pile size Pile size – Aeration Aeration – Weather Weather – Moisture Moisture – Particle size Particle size – Carbon:Nitrogen ratioCarbon:Nitrogen ratio
Sizing a Compost PileSizing a Compost Pile
To reach higher To reach higher temperatures temperatures needed: needed:
4’ x 4’ x 5’ (L x W x H) 4’ x 4’ x 5’ (L x W x H) 3’ x 3’ x 4’ (Minimum 3’ x 3’ x 4’ (Minimum
Size)Size) Too small of Pile Size Too small of Pile Size
– Decomposition slows Decomposition slows – Temperatures remain Temperatures remain
lowlow
Moisture MaintenanceMoisture Maintenance
Moistening piles Moistening piles Decomposers need water Decomposers need water
to maintain their activity to maintain their activity Place pile close to water Place pile close to water
source source Apply moisture to 55-Apply moisture to 55-
65% 65% Squeeze testSqueeze test
Working with WeatherWorking with Weather
Protecting piles Protecting piles Excess rain leads Excess rain leads
to anaerobic to anaerobic decomposition decomposition
Cool temps slow Cool temps slow decomposition decomposition
Wind may cool pile Wind may cool pile Avoid potential Avoid potential
nutrient leachingnutrient leaching
Achieving AerationAchieving Aeration
Turning piles Turning piles Introduces oxygen to pile Introduces oxygen to pile
organisms organisms Hastens decomposition Hastens decomposition Set a schedule that works for Set a schedule that works for
youyou
Good Compost Materials Good Compost Materials
Grass clippings Grass clippings Leaves Leaves Farm manure Farm manure Yard clippings Yard clippings Vegetable scrapsVegetable scraps Sod, Hay Sod, Hay Non-noxious Non-noxious
weeds weeds Sawdust Sawdust
Garden residueGarden residue
Bad Compost MaterialsBad Compost Materials Pig and pet manures Pig and pet manures Meat scraps Meat scraps Fats or oils Fats or oils Diseased plants Diseased plants Noxious & perennial Noxious & perennial
weeds weeds Recently fungicide-Recently fungicide-
treated plants treated plants (within a month)(within a month)
Selecting Compost MaterialsSelecting Compost Materials
Decomposers need Decomposers need Nitrogen to break-Nitrogen to break-down Carbon down Carbon materials for use as materials for use as their energy source. their energy source.
Influence of C : N RatioInfluence of C : N Ratio
Optimum decomposition Optimum decomposition occurs when “Starting” occurs when “Starting” mixture ratio is 30:1 mixture ratio is 30:1
Selecting Compost MaterialsSelecting Compost Materials
Low C : N Low C : N – Alfalfa hay 18:1 Alfalfa hay 18:1 – Grass clippings 19:1 Grass clippings 19:1 – Rotted manure 20:1 Rotted manure 20:1 – Oak leaves 25:1 Oak leaves 25:1 – Vegetables 26:1Vegetables 26:1
High C : N High C : N – Leaves 50:1 Leaves 50:1 – Corn stalks 60:1 Corn stalks 60:1 – Straw 80:1 Straw 80:1 – Pine Needles Pine Needles
90:1 90:1 – Sawdust 300:1 Sawdust 300:1
Influence of LOW C : N RatioInfluence of LOW C : N Ratio
‘‘Mostly Grass’ Mostly Grass’ Initially Initially
– Organism populations skyrocket Organism populations skyrocket – Fast temperature increase Fast temperature increase – Fast decomposition Fast decomposition
LaterLater– O2 and N depleted O2 and N depleted – Odors Odors – Temperature decreaseTemperature decrease
Influence of HIGH C : N RatioInfluence of HIGH C : N Ratio
‘‘Mostly Straw’ Mostly Straw’ Effects Effects
– Low temperatures Low temperatures – Slow organism population Slow organism population
growth growth – Slow decomposition Slow decomposition – Material looks the same after 3 Material looks the same after 3
weeksweeks
Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations
Turning piles Turning piles Need pitchfork Need pitchfork Rebuild pile next to Rebuild pile next to
old pile old pile Old top, becomes Old top, becomes
new bottom new bottom Old outside; new Old outside; new
middle middle Add moisture to Add moisture to
55-65%55-65%
Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations
Layering method Layering method – 1 layer of hay, 1 1 layer of hay, 1
layer of grass, repeat layer of grass, repeat Pre-mixing method Pre-mixing method
– Mix materials before Mix materials before piling it piling it
Alternate fork Alternate fork method method – 1 fork full of hay, 1 1 fork full of hay, 1
fork full of grass, fork full of grass, repeat repeat
Using Finished CompostUsing Finished Compost
Compost Value Compost Value Use as a soil Use as a soil
amendment amendment Apply in tandem Apply in tandem
with other fertilizer with other fertilizer sourcessources
Use Compost in Potting Soil Use Compost in Potting Soil
1 T single super phosphate - ground 1 T single super phosphate - ground 2 T limestone or dolomite 2 T limestone or dolomite 4 T dried manure or blood meal or 4 T dried manure or blood meal or
cottonseed meal cottonseed meal
Container mix (fertilize as Container mix (fertilize as necessary) necessary)
1 gallon vermiculite 1 gallon vermiculite 1 gallon compost 1 gallon compost
( matured) ( matured)
The Living Soil
By Mike Shoup - Antique Rose Emporium
The development and maintenance of a good garden is dependent on the management of the soil. Roses old and new do best in a well prepared bed incorporated with lots of organic matter. It is rare to see our native forests in a state of starvation. Mother Nature has ensured that these plants grow and stay green without the aid of man’s synthetic fertilizers. The constant decomposition of leaf litter, dead branches, and bark that falls to the ground in these areas provide nutrition.
The gardener would do well if he could mimic this program in his landscape. Good results have been achieved using the following guidelines. Mixing 3 inches of decomposed organic matter like composted leaves or manure into 6 to 8 inches of soil. Roses and perennials should be planted in this mixture and mulched with 3 inches of coarser material like hardwood bark. Mulch will slowly decompose, providing a continual source of food for fungi and bacteria, creating a living and nutritive soil. The addition of more mulch biannually insures the continuation of this process.
The advantages , besides not having to apply synthetic fertilizers, are numerous. Beds retain moisture, the pH of the soil is buffered, weeds are kept at bay, soil temperatures fluctuate less, and the appearance is better.