How to Turn Organic Waste into Compost?
Waste from plants and animals can be used to make compost. Composting is a natural process that recycles organic material into a soil conditioner that improves soil quality and increases food yields.
Summary: Composting is the natural breakdown of organic materials through mixing with oxygen from the air to form a stable, soil-like material.
Waste materials: Food waste, agricultural waste, animal dung, used animal bedding, wood chips.
Product: Chemical-free soil conditioner/compost.
Benefits:
– Compost increases organic matter in the soil.
– Higher yields – increasing the amount of organic matter and plant nutrients in the soil can improve crop yield potential.
– It can be used, at least in part, instead of expensive inorganic fertilisers – compost contains slow release, crop-available nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It also contains plant micronutrients such as magnesium and sulphur.
– Better soil structure and water management – compost improves soil structure, which improves water infiltration and retention and is good for crops.
– Inhibiting pests and diseases – the organic action of compost can help to inhibit pests and diseases within the soil.
– Fuel savings and traffic tolerance – compost improves soil structure, making it easier to work with. If you are using a rotavator or tractor it will use less fuel. Improving soil structure will make it more resistant to compaction from tractors and will extend the conditions in which it can be worked.
Key Ingredients: Carbon and Nitrogen
The fastest way to produce compost is to use about two parts of green material to one part of brown material. This will ensure that there is the correct balance of nitrogen and carbon for the composting microbes to work.
If there is too much carbon, the composting process will be slow. If there is too much nitrogen you may end up with a smelly pile. It is important that air gets into the pile to help it decompose quickly, therefore aim to ensure that
the pile has enough structure.
The compost should be slightly moist. If it is too dry, add a small amount of water and mix in.
There are many ways to build a good compost heap. Here we recommend TOGO 24 hours composters to you. Can turn any food waste to compost in 24 hours with a 90% reduction rate at your finger tips.
Marketing and selling compost
If you want to sell your compost to farmers or gardeners, you should sieve it. You may have to give away free samples to convince people that something made from ‘waste’ will be good for their crops. One way of convincing them is to grow a market garden on your site using your compost to demonstrate how well it works.
Talk to farmers and agricultural stores to see how much people pay for imported compost. Can you supply yours at a lower price?
Remember to explain the benefits of using compost.