Compost

Read about Compost in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Compost. Mixed and rotted vegetable matter, particularly manure and litter, used as a fertilizer and amendment. The mixture of bulky fertilizing materials known as compost, while of little importance to the general farmer, plays an important part in garden practices. Many of the garden crops must be made in a very short time, or are of delicate feeding habits. Their food, therefore, must be easily assimilable. It is good practice to pile all coarse manures, sods, weeds, or any rubbish available for the purpose, in big flat heaps (Fig. 1043), to ferment and rot before being applied to the garden soil. If desired, chemical manures, especially superphosphate (dissolved bone or South Carolina rock) and potash (muriate or kainit), may be added to make the compost the richer. By spading or forking the heaps over a few times at reasonable intervals, a homogeneous mass is easily obtained, which can be applied in greatest liberality without fear, or more sparingly, in accordance with the needs of the particular crop. Of equal, if not still greater importance, is the compost heap which gives soil for greenhouse benches, flats, hotbeds and coldframes. This compost is principally made of sods shaved off a rich pasture or meadow and piled in alternate layers with stable manure, more of the latter being used for forcing succulent crops, and less in growing plants which should be short and stocky, like cabbage or tomato plants. Garden litter may be added to the pile, as leaves and trimmings. All compost heaps, during dry weather, need frequent and thorough moistening with water, or, better, with liquid manure. Turn several times during the year, to ensure thorough rotting of the materials. T. Greiner. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

For the process of producing compost see composting

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A handful of compost

Compost is the aerobically decomposed remnants of organic materials (those with plant and animal origins). Compost is used in gardening and agriculture as a soil amendment, and commercially by the landscaping and container nursery industries. It is also used for erosion control, land/stream reclamation, wetland construction, and as landfill cover (see compost uses). Compost is also used as a seed starting medium generally mixed with a small portion of sand for improved drainage.

Compost ingredients

Given enough time, all biodegradable material will compost. However, not all compost feedstocks are appropriate for backyard composting. Most backyard systems will not reach high enough temperatures to kill pathogens or deter vermin, so pet droppings, non-vegetarian animal manure, scraps of meat, and dairy products are best left to operators of high-rate, thermophylic composting systems.

British composting standard

The British Composting Association worked to establish an industry standard for the composts, the BSI PAS 100 certified by the British Standards Institute. The specification covers the entire process; from raw materials and production methods, through quality control and lab testing ensuring certified composts are quality assured traceable safe and reliable.

Compost types and ingredients

• Biodegradable waste
• Coffee grounds
• Compost tea
• Effective Microorganisms
• Green waste
• Humanure
• Humus
• Leaf mold
• Mulch
• Spent mushroom compost
• Worm compost

See also

• Anaerobic digestion
• Composting

• List of composting systems
• Mechanical biological treatment
• Soil conditioner
• Waste management

References

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