How to produce Compost 

Introduction

  

 Composition  is  the natural  process of rotting or decomposition of organic  matter by micro organisms , under controlled conditions. Organic matters are very important in regard to crop growing, because it is useful  in many ways to the soil to increase soil  aeration, increase water holding capacity ,increase microorganisms

Organic  sources

Ø Animal  manure-;

      

     Cow –Dung , poultry manure ,pig manure, goat dung.

Ø Green manure .

pasture ,Grasses ,Gliri  cidia

Ø  Crop residue

can be used some over ripe fruits  such as pineapple , banana, papaw, straw.

Ø Industrial  waters

sow dust ,coir dust ,fruit water

Ø Weeds

Ipil ipil  kauru , pethithora , suriya  will sunflower

                                                   

 Factors affecting for comport production temperature

Ideal initial temperature inside the heap should be 55-65c pathogens are desteroyed at 55 c . the microbial activities are move slowed over temperature 70 c  because they are destroyed .

Aeration-;

Good aeration is essential for good composting process .removed excess heat ,water ,gases can be removed by make holes in the pile at several points .also there lode can be used to supply aeration.

Ph value-;

Ph of the row materials should not exceed 6-7 and high pH is higher pH loads to generate NH3 and ;may be lost of nitrogen to the at masphere . application of ask or liming material is not recommended during composting.  process.

Moisture

Moisture is important for metabolic activities of micro organism. optimum moisture condition in composting materials 50-60%. how moisture condition in composting occurred most slowly and excess moisture condition is occurred an erabic  decomposition

inoculation

Produced compost should be added to the leap .if is leaped to increase the micrcccrganisns  of the compost leap.

        

           Turning

The pile [leap]  is turned in their times . if is leaped to.

Ø  improve  aeration.

Ø reduce time  period for composting process.

Ø distribute air througheat  the pile.

Ø Mixing nurerial  a copesitien of compost.

Ø prevent overheating .

Ø at ajust moisture condition.

           

         

      Nutrient  supplement

          

one retie is important and optimum C/N ratio is 30:1 to 40:1.to reduce C:H  ratio which nuturol materials should be used green leaves .eppawala  rock phosphate.

     SLS Standards  for compost

characteristies                                         Roguiremeat

PH                                                               6.5-8.5

organic carbon %  min                                2.0

N[%]                %  min                                1.0

p 2    0 5      [%]    min                                 0.5

k2 O            [%]    min                                 1.0

nb

Mg  o           [%]   min                                  0.5

Cao              [%]   min                                  0.7

C:N              [%]   min                                  10-25

CD        ppm         max                                  10

Cr          ppm        max                                   1000

Cr         ppm         max                                     400

pb         PPm        max                                      250

Hg        ppm        max                                         02

Mi        ppm        max                                       100

Zn        ppm         max                                    1000

Methods of composting

1)                Bin method

The bin method is helpful when there is only limited space. (Urban areas) This is a most suitable method for domestic areas and no turning long time is taken to decay.

2) Cage method

This is suitable for small farms easy handling no turning long time is taken to decay.

         

3)    Pit method

This is suitable for small scale production turning is hard labor is high and long time is taken to decay. This is not suitable for commercial compost production.

4)   
Heap or pile

This is the most suitable method for compost production.

Procedure

·        A suitable place is selected has following characters.

ü Not flooded, no direct sun rays, water supply facilities, not near to the houses or water sources.

·        Place is cleaned, remove gravels and level the earth surface. If the surface is not hard it should hard. Drains should be made around the place.

·        When compost heap is prepared maximum width and long should be 5-6 feet and 14-15feet exepectively raw materials should be placed as three layers.

ü First layer

Dry grasses or straw is put in to the lower layer. Then it is helped to remove excessive water across the leap. Therefore animal waste materials are not used for lowest layer. After grass or plant residues put as a layer.

ü Second layer

Animal waste materials are used as the 2^nd layer. This layer height can be changed 2”-3” to 8”-9”. If moisture content is not sufficient should be watered. After pre-produced compost sample is spread over the layer to increase microorganism’s activities.

ü Third layer

If animal waste materials were used as second layer plant residues can be used as the third layer. Also if the plant residues were used as the second layer animal waste materials can be used as third layer. Rock phosphate can be used to increase the nutrient quality.

Compost heap is prepared putting those layers one by one up to height 6-7 feet. After heap is covered with black polythene. It is helped to protect by rain fall. When cover the heap shouldn’t be covered the all heap. There should be lower area without covering. It is helped to aeration well.

After preparing compost water should be added according to the environmental condition. After1st, 2^nd, 3^rd months compost heap should be turn out respectively as 1^st turn out, 2^nd and 3^rd turn out. After 1 to 2 weeks compost can be used.