Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Making Good Compost
Ifyoupileupvegetablematterandletitrotoveraperiodoftime,thenyouwillgetcompost.
However if you want to make good compost over a shorter time then there are certain steps
you have to follow.
Compost is basically formed when vegetable or organic matter is broken down by aerobic
organisms.Thesearefungiandbacteria,whichneedoxygentolive.Inorderforthebacteria
to break down the cellulose in plant matter they need nitrogen, and the more nitrogen they
get the quicker they will do their job and the quicker you can achieve good compost.
Typical Compost Bin Layout
Compost Ingredients:
•
Carbon (
Dried Matter
):
Dried leaves, straw, wood chips, grass, small
twigs.
•
Nitrogen
(freshmatter):Vegetablescraps,lawnclippings,weeds,manure.
•
Soil:
The addition of good soil adds minerals and micro-organisms to the
compost, thereby stimulating aerobic composition
This layering process - including watering well between layers - generates significant heat
which also kills disease organisms and weed seeds etc, in effect making it suitable for use in
the garden. If there is a shortage of nitrogen then the whole process is lengthened. The job
