The NADEP method of composting involves constructing a permanent, rectangular brick tank for composting a wide range of organic materials over 90-120 days. The tank is filled in layers consisting of dry/green plant materials, cow dung or biogas slurry, and sieved soil, and is sealed to retain moisture for 3 months to produce 2.5 tons of compost fertilizer as an alternative to farmyard manure. This method reduces costs, improves soil fertility, and supports organic farming through compost production without external inputs.

1. Bioved Research Institute of
Agriculture Technology &
Sciences
NADEP COMPOSTING
Presented By
Mr. Sawan Kumar Verma

2. NADEP method of making miracle compost was first invented by a farmer named
Narayan Deotao Pandharipande (also popularly known as “Nadepkaka”) living in
Maharashtra (India).
NADEP method uses a permanently built tank of mud or clay bricks, or cement
blockettes.
This is good where moisture is limiting, and is the best way to make compost after
the rains have finished and during the dry season.

3. The NADEP method of organic composting uses a wide range of
organic materials such as crop residues, weeds, forest litter and
kitchen waste with an end-product of a fertilizer that serves as a good
alternative to farmyard manure.
The composting tank construction is a rectangular brick tank with a
90-120 day decomposition time.

4. This method of making compost involves the construction of a simple,
rectangular brick tank with enough spaces maintained between the bricks for
necessary aeration.
The recommended size of the tank is 10 ft (length) x 5 ft (breadth) x 3 ft
(height).All the four walls of NADEP tank are provided with 6// vents by
removing every alternate brick after the height of 1ft. from bottom for
aeration.
Tank can be constructed in mud mortar or cement mortar.

5. Raw materials required for filling NADEP tank
Agricultural waste (Dry & green) – 100-150 kg.
.

6. Cattle dung or biogas slurry – 98 – 100 kg

7. Fine sieved soil – 100-150 kg

8. Water – 1350-1400 litres

9.  The important technique in the manufacture of Nadep
compost is that the entire tank should be filled in one go,
within 24 hours and should not go beyond 48 hours, as
this would affect the quality of the compost.
 Before filling: the tank is plastered by dilute cattle dung
slurry to facilitate bacterial activity from all four sides.
 It is also filled in definite layers each layer consisting of
the following sub layers.

10. The three layers used to fill the tank are as follows:
First layer: use 100–150 kg of dry or mixed dry and green plant
materials to make a layer 15–25 cm thick at the sides, and slightly
thicker in the middle.
Second layer: mix 80 kg of cow dung in 25–50 liters of water and
sprinkle or scatter it over the plant materials so they get completely
moistened.
Third layer: cover the wet plant waste and cow dung or slurry layer
with 50–60 kg of clean, sieved top soil.

11.  Continue to fill the tank like a sandwich with these three layers
put in sequence. Put more materials in the middle of the tank than
around the sides. This will give a dome shape to the filled tank
with the center 30–50 cm higher than the sides.
 Cover the last layer of plant materials with a layer of soil 7–8 cm
thick. Make a cow dung plaster and cover the soil so that there
are no cracks showing. The top of the filled tank can also be
covered with plastic, particularly to protect the compost making
process during rainy seasons

12.  After 15-30 days of filling the organic biomass in the
tank gets automatically pressed down to 2 ft.
 After this filling the tank is not disturbed for 3 months
except that it is moistened at intervals of every 6-15
days.
 The entire tank is covered with a thatched roof to
prevent excessive evaporation of moisture.
 Under no circumstances should any cracks be allowed
to develop.
 If they do, they should be promptly filled up with slurry

13.  Reduced cash expenses on chemical fertilizer, improved
soil fertility, increased yield .
 Supports organic crop production, reduced dependence
on outside inputs .
 From each NADEP tank approximately 2.5 tons of
compost is prepared within 90-120 days.
 The use of compost reduced the need for mineral
fertilizer thus reducing production costs and outside
dependence.

14. Thanks a lot...