Organic Compost – Aeration Fertilizer Options For Rapid Composting
Composting is a natural process that has been used for thousands of years. It involves the accumulation of organic matter (i.e. organic wastes) on the forest floor, from fallen trees or other vegetation, after the plant matter has dies and decays. This organic matter is usually decomposed into humus. Humus is composed of amino acids, nitrogen, and sulphur compounds.
Compost is simply a combination of different ingredients put together to improve and fertilize the soil in which plants grow. It is most commonly prepared by decomposing organic waste and recycling food and plant waste. The resulting mixture is very rich in nutrients and micro-organisms, including aerobic bacteria and fungi. This enriched soil is used to feed the plants that are growing in it. Feeding is normally done through a compost accelerator or a composting fertilizer.
One way that composting requires energy is by burning of the foods waste and decaying vegetation for heat energy. Most compost makers use a oxygenating composting accelerator. These can be either human manure fish waste or dead leaves and grass clippings. There are several types of these fertilizers available including oxygen (Oxygen, Biocatrastear), iron (iron tablets), sulfur (Sulfate), potassium (potash) and nitrogen (nitrate). Most composting requires the liberal application of compost teas and other aids including fertilizers (compost tea, manure teas and some commercial fertilizers). Some manufacturers also suggest the mixing of acidic and alkaline materials for the purpose of improving the soil’s acid / alkalinity balance.
Most bacteria that are used in composting are aerobic, meaning that they consume oxygen and breathe carbon dioxide in the process. Anaerobic bacteria or those that don’t require oxygen to survive consume carbon dioxide and do not breathe. The most efficient and productive bacteria are known as nitrobacteria. Other helpful bacteria such as aerobic and anaerobic are present, but they do their work only at the very slowest rate of adding organic matter to the compost heap.
Fertilizer is added to a compost pile usually at the rate of about one pound of compost per square foot. Some breeds of bacteria such as the winter pulse are slower than others. During a season of good dry weather, it is advisable to pile compost even more frequently because that will allow you to aerate the pile and add more carbon. However, keep in mind that with rapid composting, you need to have plenty of topsoil available to decompose quickly.
For most gardeners, the first step to composting is to get a good compost tumbler. I have found the rotating stand compost tumbler to be excellent. This type of composting bin has a spout that allows it to be filled quickly with a slow release form of humus. The slow release method of humus feeding provides the beneficial nutrients such as potassium and nitrogen slowly. It also does not burn the garden beds because the humus is constantly being recycled.
The other option for a compost bin is to add either blood meal whole-wheat meal or red wig to the bottom of the bin and mix up your soil with it. Blood meal and whole wheat meal are good for the garden because they contain high levels of nitrogen and they also have the minerals such as potassium and magnesium. Red wigs are also a good option because they have the benefits of potassium and nitrogen in addition to providing good levels of phosphorus and potassium. The blood meal is excellent for garden plants because it feeds and maintains the PH level of the soil.
To make compost quickly is done with the use of a rototiller. This type of aeration system will knock down all the topsoil and turn it into a highly nitrogen-rich compost. The use of the rototiller should be done in conjunction with other methods of decomposition microorganisms. These are the bacteria that break down the organic matter on a daily basis. There are many compost bins available that work great with these different methods and all can be found at your local garden store.
