What is Composting

Very often, we come across addition of farmyard compost in garden soil preparation. In fact, compost is a primary source for plant nutrients in organic gardening. This eco-friendly plant fertilizer is nothing, but the main product of composting. So, what is composting? It is the natural way of breaking down moist organic materials into simpler forms under controlled aerobic condition. The same working is applicable to a composting toilet. Here, we will discuss the basics of composting and how does it work in yielding soil conditioner.

Composting for Kids

The overall procedure of composting is easy to understand. Any organic material obtained from living things (vegetables, plants, animals) can be decomposed into nutritious particles for plants. Composting used is used to recycle the nutrients to increase soil fertility. In short, compost is a type of organic fertilizer for soil that is useful for supporting plant life. Besides growing healthy plants and flowers, the procedure of making compost indirectly helps in maintaining a cleaner home and surrounding.

Depending upon the kind of organic matter that you used for making compost, there are three composting types. The first is backyard composting in which you can compost all backyard wastes, including leaves, branches that have been pruned, grass clippings and food scraps. The second type is called vermicomposting or worm composting that involves the use of earthworms for decomposition of food remains and wastes generated from the kitchen. And if you have a lawn, go for the third and last type of composting called grasscycling. Over here, the organic matter is exclusively of grass clippings.

How does Composting Work?

As aforementioned, composting occurs naturally, where there is a source of organic matter and favorable environmental condition. We all have heard that the topsoil of a thick forest is fertile and rich in humus soil. The soil fertility in the area is contributed by the leaves and plant parts that fall from large trees. The pile of solid organic matter undergoes decomposition with the help of microorganisms, resulting in humus soil. This natural process is referred to as mulching, and when we tried the same decomposition process in controlled environment, it is called composting.

Microbes (bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes) play a major role in transforming organic materials to nutrient form. And for composting to take place efficiently, there are certain requirements in addition to organic matter. The objective is to create favorable conditions for the microbes to remain in an active state. Maintaining optimal temperature (155° F), moisture content (45 percent) and air circulation is essential for composting process. Hence, you should not saturate the decomposing materials with water. Another important factor is the carbon to nitrogen ratio, which should fall within a specific range (30:1 in dry weight).

How to Compost at Home?

To compost at home, you should make use of a proper equipment and follow simple tips. Nowadays, compost bins having slots for air circulation are sold in home supply stores. Feed only biodegradable, organic wastes in the bin, making sure that the particle size is 2-3 inch. Also, maintain the above mentioned range for temperature, moisture content and carbon to nitrogen ratio. While very low temperature negatively affects the microbial activity, high temperature kills them. Likewise, air circulation is crucial to increase microbial action. For proper aeration, you can consider using a rotating compost bin instead of the regular one.

The resulting compost resembles crumbly, dark brown humus soil, which you use in lawns, vegetable gardens and other gardening projects. So, say yes to composting and you can have a continuous supply of natural fertilizer for organic gardening. That way, you can move a step forward for sustainable agriculture and enjoy chemical free, home grown vegetables.