COMPOST PREPARATION

Composting is the biological decomposition of biodegradable solid waste under controlled predominantly aerobic conditions to a state that is sufficiently stable for nuisance-free storage and handling and is satisfactorily matured for safe use in agriculture”.

Composting is a microbial decomposition process in which organic solid waste is subject to biological breakdown in a moist, warm and aerated environment. Most of composting processes are designed and managed as aerobic operations with atmospheric oxygen because of the rapid rate of degradation and the lack of offensive odours, as compared to anaerobic operations without atmospheric oxygen

The quality of finished compost is based on the course of microbial/biological processes The principal factors that affect microbial growth and activity during this process include temperature, pH, oxygen concentration, moisture content, organic matter content, and carbon-nitrogen content.

 TYPES OF COMPOSTING 

Nitrification is the biological oxidation of ammonia with oxygen into nitrite followed by the oxidation of these nitrites into nitrates. Degradation of ammonia to nitrite is usually the rate limiting step of nitrification. Nitrification is an important step in the nitrogen cycle in soil...

Aerobic composting: - This means to compost with air. High nitrogen waste (like grass clippings or other green material) will grow bacteria that will create high temperatures (up to 160 degrees). Organic waste will break down quickly and is not prone to smell. This type of composting is high maintenance, since it will need to be turned every couple days to keep air in the system and your temperatures up. It is also likely to require accurate moisture monitoring. This type of compost is good for large volumes of compost.

Anaerobic composting: - This is composting without air. Anaerobic composting is low maintenance since it is simply  thrown  in a pile and wait a couple of years. If debris is thrown in a pile it will generally compact to the point where there is no available air for beneficial organisms to live. Instead it will be got very slow working bacteria growing that does not require air. The  compost may take years to break down.  Anaerobic composts create the awful smell which most people associate with composting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

• Urine (diluted with water 20:1)
• Comfrey leaves
• Nettles
• Grass cuttings

Other Green Materials

• Raw vegetable peelings
• Tea bags and leaves, coffee grounds
• Young green weed growth  avoid weeds with seeds
• Soft green prunings
• Animal manure from herbivores e.g. cows and horse
• Poultry manure and bedding

METHOD FOR COMPOST PRODUCTION

The hot method of composting was used for production of compost. In this method constructed pits of 1.25x1.25x1.25 meter size (total volume 1.95 m3) were used to accelerate the decomposition process so as to kill most of the weed seeds and pathogens. It requires 25% FYM, 25% poultry manure/waste, 50% sugarcane press mud or 50% sugarcane bagass. In case of non-availability of sugarcane press mud or sugarcane bagass, FYM and poultry waste are used in equal quantities. Dissolve 400 gm yeast in 250 liters of water. This yeast solution is sufficient for decomposition of 10 tones of organic waste. Mix organic waste well after addition of yeast solution and make its heap. After making heap cover and seal it with plastic sheet for three weeks.It require many microorganism for fermentation. Fermentation of plastic sealed organic waste material is complete in three days, whereas its biodegradation is complete in three weeks time after which compost is ready for use. Instead of yeast, Effective Microorganisms (EM) solution can be used. Mix four liters of EM solution and four liters of molasses in 500 liters of water. Spray it on 10 tones of organic waste. Compost may be applied @ 1 ton/acre.   Heap of organic material after having mixed with yeast/EM is being covered with plastic sheet. After three weeks the plastic sheet is removed from well decomposed organic material. For EM multiplication, mix one liter EM solution and one liter sugarcane molasses in 20 liters of water. Keep the mixed solution for three days. During this time shake the solution daily for few minutes. EM solution is ready for use after three days.