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Composting 101 2018 02-18
- 1. COMPOSTING 101Ellen Book, Master Gardener Miami-Dade County Cooperative Extension
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- 7. Was NOT me 7
- 8. A Tumbler Bin Composter 8
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- 15. GREENs = nitroGenBROWNs = carBon NitroGen = ProteinCarBon = Energy 15
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- 25. AS PILE TEMPERATURES & TIME IS NEEDED FOR VARIOUS MICROORGANISMS TO COLONIZE 25
- 26. Left: (1 year old) Last year’s material all garden stuff, grass & leaves, kitchen: banana peels veg. trimmings from the pile’s top. Middle: (2 years old) bottom of this year’s pile put into bags Right: (3 years old) Finished product from the bags to be used in the garden & greenhouse this year GUESS WHERE THIS COMPOST WAS MADE? 26
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- 28. Smaller surface areas decompose faster 28
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- 33. The free compost bins have trapdoors at the bottom to access the compost. 33
- 34. Check for moisture when turning the compost. The consistency should feel like a wrung-out sponge. 34
- 35. Unfinished compost may stress plants, causing yellowing or stalling growth 35
- 36. Heat cooks most weeds 36
- 37. LANDFILL SITES37
- 39. COMPOSTING 101 QUESTIONS? Upcoming Gardening Programs: Friday, Feb 23, 2018 55th Annual Ag/Farm Tour & Luncheon Saturday, Feb 24, 2018 Plant Clinic at USDA Community Day Saturday, Feb 24, 2018 Rain Barrel/Water Conservation Workshop at Upper East Side Farmers Market Access this presentation at: http://tinyurl.com/CompostMiami101
Editor's Notes
- Composting materials with a very low C:N ratio of 7:1 would rot very quickly, because they are high in nitrogen, eg. fish, this decomposes very quickly Composting materials with a very high C:N ratio of 500:1 would take a long time to decompose, because they are low in nitrogen, and need to be broken up, eg. tree branches
- The bacteria responsible for the composting process require two elements, in C to N proportions, as nutrients to construct their bodies as they reproduce and multiply.
- In the process of composting, microorganisms break down organic matter and produce carbon dioxide, water, heat, and humus, Different communities of microorganisms predominate during the various composting phases. Initial decomposition is carried out by mesophilic microorganisms, which rapidly break down the soluble, readily degradable compounds. The heat they produce causes the compost temperature to rapidly rise. As the temperature rises above about 40°C, the mesophilic microorganisms become less competitive and are replaced by others that are thermophilic, or heat-loving. At temperatures of 55°C and above, many microorganisms that are human or plant pathogens are destroyed. Because temperatures over about 65°C kill many forms of microbes and limit the rate of decomposition, compost managers use aeration and mixing to keep the temperature below this point. During the thermophilic phase, high temperatures accelerate the breakdown of proteins, fats, and complex carbohydrates like cellulose and hemicellulose, the major structural molecules in plants. As the supply of these high-energy compounds becomes exhausted, the compost temperature gradually decreases and mesophilic microorganisms once again take over for the final phase of "curing" or maturation of the remaining organic matter.
- Compost heat is produced as a by-product of the microbial breakdown of organic material.
- For temperature readings, use a probe that reaches deep into the compost. Leave the probe in place long enough for the reading to stabilize, then move it to a new location. Take readings in several locations, including at various depths from the top and sides. Compost may have hotter and colder pockets depending on the moisture content and chemical composition of ingredients. Where do you find your hottest readings? For systems in which air enters from the bottom, the hottest locations tend to be two-thirds or more of the way up. By graphing compost temperature over time, you can tell how far along the decomposition has progressed. A well constructed compost system will heat up to 104F -122F within two to three days. As readily decomposable organic matter becomes depleted, the temperature begins to drop and the process slows considerably. The temperature at any point depends primarily on how much heat is being produced by microorganisms and how much is lost through aeration and surface cooling. How long the system remains hot therefore depends on the chemical composition of the ingredients as well as the size and shape of the system. Moisture content also affects temperature change; since water has a higher specific heat than most other materials, drier compost mixtures tend to heat up and cool off more quickly than wetter mixtures, providing adequate moisture levels for microbial growth are maintained.