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

BinsBins

BinsBins

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.

CompostingComposting

The EndThe End