There are many recipes for making compost: in a heap, in a pit, in a garden bed, in a barrel, with the addition of preparations with effective microorganisms. Each summer resident has his own proven method, which gives high-quality compost. It is possible to debate about the choice of a recipe for a long time, but nevertheless, some issues require a separate discussion.
For example, the duration of the maturation of the compost. Most farmers and summer residents do not make any special efforts for this. You just need to dump or pour into a compost pit or heap all organic waste and once a year transfer the accumulated mass from one side to the other. In three years, microorganisms will do their job, and you get excellent compost. Efforts are minimal, but a lot of time will pass.
If the summer resident needs compost very soon, then you can speed up the process of its preparation. True, you have to sweat a lot. The process will not end with one waste collection. Now you will need to check the temperature, moisten, re-lay and reload the compost heap.
Compost composition
Any organic waste (plant and animal) is suitable for compost, except for animal bones and their wool. These two components will only be able to rotate within a decade. That is, they can be used, but the duration of the decomposition of bones and wool is a rather long process.
For quick compost preparation, you can use any organic matter, except:
- Wood waste (large chips, large pieces of wood and tree branches are not suitable).
- Feces (animals and humans).
- Food waste, consisting of oils, fats, as well as fish and meat residues.
It is very important that the fertilizer contains as many components as possible and that the nitrogenous and carbonaceous layers alternate with each other. The nitrogenous group of waste is all plant residues (grass, cleaning vegetables and fruits, grain), food waste, cow dung and bird droppings. And carbonaceous is waste paper, wood ash, needles and fallen leaves, small sawdust, dry grass and straw. The variety of compost composition makes it the most valuable.
Example of constructing a compost pit:
- 1 layer (about 50 centimeters thick) - nitrogenous waste
- 2nd layer (about 10 centimeters) - fertile land
- 3rd layer (about 50 centimeters) - carbon waste
- The alternation of layers continues until the entire space of the pit is filled.
Aerobic and anaerobic compost
If there is air access to the ingredients of the compost heap, then it is aerobic compost, and its absence is anaerobic.
Aerobic view compost has one important advantage - it is prepared in just 20-30 days. Many summer residents often need quick compost. The construction of the compost heap begins with a drainage layer consisting of broken bricks, small twigs and wooden sticks. Then you need to lay the layers of organic matter without compaction. And on top of the pile must be covered with a thick film so that the moisture does not evaporate longer. The heap must be thoroughly mixed every 5-7 days.
For compost anaerobic you definitely need a compost pit about one and a half meters deep.This compost will be ready for use in 2-5 months, depending on the local climate and weather. The pit is filled with the same organic layers, alternately, but be sure to compact them as much as possible. The filled pit is covered with plastic wrap and covered with a small layer of earth. The compost pit must be compacted in such a way that there is absolutely no access to air.
The compost preparation time can be shortened a little more with the help of various preparations - accelerators, with which each organic layer must be shed. Solutions with effective microorganisms significantly speed up the composting process. Instead, you can use liquid manure or bird droppings, but not in pure form, but in the form of a solution.
How to quickly compost in 3-4 weeks
Record-breaking fast composting belongs to Australian Jeff Lawton. He made it in just 18 days. True, the local rather hot climate rendered him great help in this. Since our summer can not always please with stable high temperatures, it will take a little more time for the compost to mature.
There are necessary prerequisites in this recipe. First, you need to come up with a structure for the compost heap, which will consist of two compartments. From time to time, the contents of the heap will need to be shifted from one part to another. Secondly, the size of the heap must be at least one meter in height and around the perimeter. Thirdly, cow dung must be present among the nitrogenous components. And the amount of carbonaceous organic waste should be twenty-five times higher than the amount of nitrogenous components.
The composting area should be in a well-lit area in direct sunlight. The construction of the heap begins with drainage, which is necessary for good ventilation and air exchange. You can put branches of medium-sized trees, and then alternately layers of waste containing nitrogen and carbon. To speed up the chemical processes, fish waste should be placed approximately in the center of the heap.
Each next layer should be slightly smaller than the previous one, so that you end up with a cone-shaped pile. Above - necessarily carbon waste. The finished "structure" must be thoroughly watered, covered with a dense opaque film and left for four days.
After four days, the most active composting steps begin. The pile must be thoroughly mixed with a shovel, transferred to a free adjacent compartment, poured with water and covered with foil. This procedure must be repeated six more times (every other day).
It is very important that the temperature in the middle of the compost heap is always around 45-55 degrees Celsius. It can be tested by sticking your hand into the contents of the heap from time to time. If the temperature is much lower, then it is necessary to water the structure with urea. If, on the contrary, the temperature is high, then you need to add wood ash or straw.
If all the requirements and recommendations are followed, in 3-4 weeks you should get a slightly moist dark-colored compost without an unpleasant odor. The mixture will be monotonous with the smell of damp earth. This quick compost is no different in efficiency from the conventional long-term compost.
