Compost For Small-scale Farmers Fertilization God’s Way
What is compost? • Aerobic decomposition by BACTERIA and FUNGI of a mix of organic material.
• Putrefying Organic Matter is NOT Compost.
Requirements For Making Compost
• Plant Material • Water • Nitrogen Source • Oxygen • Micro-organisms
Quantities All the quantities suggested are in order to make 8mÂł of compost. Size of pile to get 8mÂł: 2.25m x 2.25m x 1.6m or: 2m x 2m x 2m
Plant Material • Almost any organic material that you can find. • Green Material (Cut Green) (40% ± 3 m³) eg. Grass, leaves, weeds • Dry/Woody (40% ± 3 m³) eg. Maize Stova, sticks, seed pods, leaves, straw, wood shavings. Timing Late summer months when there is a lot of plant material available.
Water • You will need about 800 litres • An open drum full of water is useful to ensure that all the material is well saturated. • Thus dunk all the material before you add it to the pile. • Add water as needed, when turning.(Use squeeze test).
Nitrogen Source • Manure (from Kraal) (15% or 16 wheel barrows) • Legume (lucerne, soya, beans) (20%) • Urea (16kg) or Ammonium Nitrate Remember: If you use the urea or AN the quantities of plant material need to be increased to achieve the desired 8 m³.
Oxygen This you don’t physically add, BUT you need to ensure that the conditions are suitable for adequate air flow. How? • Do NOT compact the material. • Ensure at least 5% (½ m³) of the material is larger than 3cm in size. • Turn the pile on time.
Thermal Compost We are making thermal compost. It will get HOT! • Produces Heat due to reproduction of Bacteria • Heat to over 55°C for as long as possible (3 days)
Reasons for Temperature • We require the temperature to be above 55 °C to kill weed seed, pathogens and pests. • Above 70 °C we start to kill the desirable or good bacteria. We control temperature by turning the compost pile. Thus we need to measure or observe the temperature daily.
Building the Pile • Peg out the area where the pile will be built • Wet all the material thoroughly and add it to the pegged area. • As the pile grows take special care to keep the sides and corners neat. • Keep mixing all the materials to ensure a good blend. • The nitrogen source must be added throughout the pile.
Turning the Pile • The temperature of your pile should reach 70 °C within 2-3 days.
• Turn It! • When turning ensure the material on the outside of the pile is placed on the inside, so that it is also heat treated. • The Second turn should be 4-5 days later. • After that once a week for 3-4 turns should be enough. • Once the temperature stabilizes below 40 °C it should be ready for use.
Turning Cycle
Turning the Pile • Turn 1 after 3 days of temp over 55 ˚C • Mix thoroughly • Inside to outside • Outside to inside
Turning the Pile • Turn 2
after another 3 days over 55 ˚C
• Inside to outside • Outside to inside
Turning the Pile • Turn 3
after another 3 days over 55 ˚C • Inside to outside • Outside to inside • Check Moisture
Turning the Pile • Turn 4 • Inside to outside • Outside to inside • Check moisture
Turning the Pile • Turn 5
• Inside to outside • Outside to inside • Check Moisture
Turning the Pile • Turn 6 •• ••
Inside Inside to to outside outside Outside Outside to to inside inside
• Check Moisture
Turning the Pile • Turn 7 • Inside to outside • Outside to inside • Check Moisture
350 ml per planting station