Sweet smelling compost Recycle organic waste

Press, 30 April 1982, Page 11

Sweet smelling compost Recycle organic waste

GARDENING

by ]

M.Lusty

The virtues of compost making and adding it to the garden soil have long been extolled, and this has become more emphasised in the last few years.

The benefits from doing this are many, but the main value of compost in the soil is that it helps to maintain and build up the organic matter content, which in turn improves the structure by making it more granular. Increasing the soil's organic matter content increases its productive ability, and improves its water-holding capacity. . . Plants which are growing . in more favourable growing conditions not only show better response but are also more able to withstand adversities. Materials for composting can include leaves, sawdust, grass clippings, straw of all kinds, soft hedge clippings, kitchen scraps, weeds, paper, wool waste (shoddy), animal manures of all kinds, and so on. Avoid treated saw dust, ‘hormone sprayed crop residues, perennial weeds and certain diseased plant refuse, very woody material and bones.

There are many ways of making compost, but there are certain essentials for success. Apart from a regular supply of material, air, warmth, and moisture are necessary to stimulate the bacterial activity required for the breakdown processes. An accelerator or activator

may be desirable to promote this action and lime to neutralise or sweeten the acidic tendency so often associated with this project.

Facilities for the adequate build up and retention of the materials to be composted is important. Trundling’ the wheelbarrow in to the far corner of the garden where it is unceremoniously tipped undoubtedly forms a heap, as suggested by the unfortunate combination of this word with compost; but is not the way to go. The construction of good holding and handling facilities for composting, such as

the one illustrated, are well worth while, enabling the material to be readily processed in good time. The advantage of having three bins as shown in the picture, is that while one bay is being filled, one is breaking down while tne third is just about ready for use. Less elaborate compost bins can be made or purchased. Various prefabricated designs are on the market, including wooden, fibreglass, and concrete ones. Very popular, too, is the tumbler concept, which is an ideal way of composting small amounts of organic refuse in a short time. Turnover of material is important, and the size of allotted holding bins or receptacles should be governed by the amount of compostable material likely to be available on a fairly regular basis.

.Material should be spread out in layers to decompose, not dumped in heaps—lso- - layers are ideal. If possible each layer should be topped with 25 to 40mm of soil. The addition of animal manure will act as an accelerator; alternatively one of the proprietary accelerants could be used, or a sprinkle of a nitrogenous fertiliser such as ammonium sulphate, urea, or nitrate of soda applied.

Where much dry material is being incorporated the addition of moisture is also desirable, but should not be excessive.

Compost build-up procedure should be repeated layer for layer until a consolidated height of about one metre is reached at which point it should be allowed to settle while a new heap is formed. Lime can prove beneficial,

but should not be overdone for on many occasions the finished product may actually be near to neutral in reaction, which would restrict its use on plants which are less sensitive to alkaline conditions.

A completed compost heap should be allowed to break down for several weeks before it is turned during which time it will generate heat Progress should be periodically checked to reveal whether there is a need for aeration, moisture or otherwise.

It is impossible to give advice on the duration of processing and turning as so much is dependant on the type of materials incorporated and how quickly and ably the whole thing has been built up. The end product should be friable, dark brown, and moist, with little or no smell.