Composting Basics

1
Composting Basics

• Chip Boling
• Clemson Extension Service

2
What is Composting

• Composting is controlled biological reduction of
  organic wastes to humus

3
Benefits of Compost

• Improves soil structure
• Supplies plant with essential plant nutrients-not
  a substitute for fertilizer
• Stores nutrients for long-term availability to
  plants
• Supports beneficial soil life

4
Qualities of Finished Compost

• Fine
• Dark
• Sweet Smelling
• Doesnt heat up under otherwise good composting
  conditions
• pH is 7.0-9.0

5
Factors Affecting the Composting Process

• Carbon and Nitrogen content of materials
• Size of particles-surface area exposed
• Moisture levels
• Aeration of materials in the compost
• Volume of materials

6
Microbes (Decomposers)

• Bacteria
• Actinomycetes
• Protozoa
• Fungi (most like 70-75 F and some will even
  tolerate 120 F)

7
Optimum CarbonNitrogen Ratio is 301 (By
Weight)
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CarbonNitrogen Ratios (By Weight)

• Materials with High Nitrogen Ratios
• Kitchen Scraps 12-201
• Grass Clippings, green 12-251
• Coffee grounds 201
• Cow manure 201
• Horse Manure 251
• Horse Manure (w/litter) 30-601
• Poultry Manure (fresh) 101
• Pig Manure 5-71

9
CarbonNitrogen Ratios (By Weight)

• Materials with High Carbon Ratios
• Foliage (leaves) 30-801
• Corn Stalks 601
• Straw 40-1001
• Bark 100-1301
• Paper 150-2001
• Wood Chips Sawdust 100-5001

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Items That Go Into A Compost Pile

• Aquatic Weeds
• Bread
• Fruit (avoid pits)
• Tea Leaves
• Garden Wastes
• Wood Ash
• Egg Shells
• Evergreen Needles
• Wood Chips

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Items That Do Not Go Into A Compost Pile

• Butter
• Cat Dog Manure
• Diseased Plants
• Fish Scraps
• Hard Seeded Weeds
• Mayonaise Salad Dressing
• Meat Bones
• Peanut Butter
• Vegetable Oil

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Temperature of Your Pile

• Psychrophilic Bacteria 55 F
• Mesophilic Bacteria 70-100 F
• Thermophilic Bacteria 113-155 F
• Many decomposers die when temperatures rise above
  160 F

13
Ideal Temperature

• 90 F to 140 F is Optimum
• 160 F is Sterilization Temperature

14
Avoiding Pests

• Keep high protein and fatty waste out!
• Encourage pile heating.
• Build an animal-proof compost bin.

15
Shredding

• Speeds the composting process by increasing the
  amount of surface.
• Small amounts of shredding can fluff the pile.
• Excess shredding can reduce porosity causing
  compaction.

16
Fertilizers That Are Organic Sources of Nitrogen

• Blood Meal (15)
• Coffee Grounds (2)
• Compost (1-2)
• Cottonseed Meal (6)
• Fish Emulsion (10)
• Manure (0.5-1)
• Seaweed Emulsion (2)

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Creative Composting

• Grasscycling
• Vermicomposting
• Sheet Composting
• Pit and Trench Composting

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Uses for Compost

• Soil Amendment (no more than 1/3 by volume)
• Mulch (never more than 2-3 inches)
• Top Dressing for Lawns
• Component in Potting Mixes

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Clemson Extension Service

• Charleston
• 722-5940
• Berkeley
• 723-3800 ext.4140
• 719-4140
• Dorchester
• 832-0135
• 563-3441