As more organizations and individuals discover the value of composting morecompost will be produced and utilized and as the body of end-use related information grows, the benefits of using compost have become more recognizable and with research more measurable. Because of its many qualities, compost is extremely versatile and beneficial in many applications.
Compost is unique in it's ability to improve the fertility of the soils andgrowing media physically (structurally), chemically (nutritionally) and biologically. Many individuals use compost for the lush green growth their plant receive shortly after applying the compost, caused by the plant-available nitrogen, the real benefits of using compost are long-term and related to its content of beneficial bacteria and organic matter.
Some of the benefits of using compost include:
Increases moisture infiltration and permeability of heavy soils, thus reducing erosion and runoff.
Improves the soil structure, porosity, and density, thus creating a better plant root environment.
Supplies a variety of macro and micronutrients.
Improves water-holding capacity, thus reducing water loss and leaching in sandy soils.
May control or suppress certain soil-borne plant pathogens.
Improves cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soils and growing media, thus improving their ability to hold nutrients for plant use.
Supplies significant quantities of organic matter.
Improves and stabilizes soil pH.
Supplies beneficial micro-organisms to soils and growing media.
Can bind and degrade specific pollutants.
The Compost Decomposition Process
Compost is nature's way of renewal. It is the end product of a complex feeding pattern involving a myriad oforganisms, including bacteria, fungi, worms, and insects. After this process is completed a rich earthy substance remains. Put it in your garden an your plants will love it. Keep in mind composting replicates nature's natural system of breaking down materials on the forest floor. In every forest, grassland, jungle, and garden, plants die, fall to the ground, and decay. They are slowly dismantled by the small organisms living in the soil. Eventually these plant parts disappear into the brown crumbly forest floor. This is called humus and keeps the soil light and fluffy.
Humus is your goal when we start composting. By providing the right environment for the organisms in the compost pile, It Is possible to produce top quality compost. We usually want to organize and hasten Mother Nature's process. By knowing the optimum conditions of heat, moisture, air, and materials, It's possible to speed up the composting process. Besides producing more good soil faster, making the compost faster creates heat which will destroy diseases and weed seeds in the pile.
The list of organic materials which can be added to the compost pile is long. There are industrial and commercial waste products you may have access to in abundance. The following is a partial list: corncobs, cotton waste, restaurant or farmer's market scraps, grapevine waste, sawdust, greensand, hair, hoof and horn meal, hops, peanut shells, paper and cardboard, rock dust, sawdust, feathers, cottonseed meal, blood meal, bone meal, coffee, alfalfa, and ground seashells.
Following is a chart listing common composting materials
Type of Material
Use it?
Carbon/ Nitrogen
Details
Algae, seaweed and lake moss
Yes
N
Good nutrient source.
Ashes from coal or charcoal
No
n/a
May contain materials bad for plants.
Ashes from untreated, unpainted wood
Careful
Neutral
Fine amounts at most. Can make the pile too alkaline and suppress composting.
Beverages, kitchen rinse water
Yes
Neutral
Good to moisten the middle of the pile. Don't over-moisten the pile.
Bird droppings
Careful
N
May contain weed seeds or disease organisms.
Cardboard
Yes
C
Shred into small pieces if you use it. Wetting it makes it easier to tear. If you have a lot, consider recycling instead.
Cat droppings or cat litter
No
n/a
May contain disease organisms. Avoid.
Coffee ground and filters
Yes
N
Worms love coffee grounds and coffee filters.
Compost activator
Not required, but ok.
Neutral
You don't really need it, but it doesn't hurt.
Cornstalks, corn cobs
Yes
C
Best if shredded and mixed well with nitrogen rich materials.
Diseased plants
Careful
N
If your pile doesn't get hot enough, it might not kill the organisms, so be careful. Let it cure several months, and don't use resulting compost near the type of plant that was diseased.
Great source of nitrogen. Mix with carbon rich materials so it breaks down better.
Meat, fat, grease, oils, bones
No
n/a
Avoid.
Milk, cheese, yogurt
Careful
Neutral
Put it deep in the pile to avoid attracting animals.
Newspaper
Yes
C
Shred it so it breaks down easier. It is easy to add too much newspaper, so recycle instead if you have a lot. Don't add slick colored pages.
Oak leaves
Yes
C
Shredding leaves helps them break down faster. They decompose slowly. Acidic.
Sawdust and wood shavings (untreated wood)
Yes
C
You'll need a lot of nitrogen materials to make up for the high carbon content. Don't use too much, and don't use treated woods.
Pine needles and cones
Yes
C
Don't overload the pile. Also acidic and decomposes slowly.
Weeds
Careful
N
Dry them out on the pavement, then add later.
Sod
Careful
N
Make sure the pile is hot enough, so grass doesn't continue growing.
Making Compost
Compost can range from passive - allowing the materials to sit and rot on their own - to highly managed. Whenever you intervene in the process, you're managing the compost. How you compost is determined by your goal. If you're eager to produce as much compost as possible to use regularly in your garden, you may opt for a more hands-on method of composting. If your goal is to dispose of yard waste, a passive method is your answer.
