Creating Soil Through Composting By: Matthew Banks 4/16/215 Professional Development

Waste Disposal Average U.S. Household generates 650 lbs of compostable materials every year 31% of MSW 2007 80 million Tons 34% of MSW 2012 85 Million Tons Equivalent Carbon Dioxide production as 33 million cars for a Year

Compost Compostable Materials Yard Waste Food Waste Composting is a technique used to accelerate the natural decay process. Converts Organic Material into a Mulch or Humus Yard Waste leaves, grass clippings, plant stalks, vines, weeds, twigs and branches Food Waste fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells and nutshells

Parent Material Compost Nature

Soil Creation 2 Weeks to 4 Months Turn every 3 Days to 6 Weeks Up to 3 years Build-up and decay of Organic Material

Creating Soil Humus Loam Humus Loam - Made up of Organic Material - Made up of OM, Sand, Silt and Clay

Soil Profile

Methods Trench

Methods Heap Avoid Treated Lumber May need to be ventilated

Methods Bin Easily Turned Small Scale Needs Air Circulation

Methods Windrow

Organisms Macro Micro Chemically Break Down Physically Break Down Mites Centipedes Snails and Slugs Millipedes Spiders Beetles Ants Flies Worms Chemically Break Down Bacteria Anaerobic and Aerobic Fungi Actinomycetes  Earthy Smell

C:N Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio MATERIAL C:N RATIO Microorganisms Corn stalks 50-100:1 Fruit waste 35:1 Grass clippings 12-25:1 Hay, green 25:1 Leaves, ash, black elder and elm 21-28:1 Leaves, pine 60-100:1 Leaves, other 30-80:1 Manure, horse and cow 20-25:1 Paper 170-200:1 Sawdust 200-500:1 Seaweed 19:1 Straw 40-100:2 Vegetable waste Weeds Wood chips 500-700:1 Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio Microorganisms Carbon rich materials dry and brown Nitrogen rich materials wet and green Excess Nitrogen Causes the release of Ammonia gas and a rise in the pH Excess Carbon (30:1) Causes the decomposition to slow

Temperature 90° - 140° F will kill Major disease organisms Insect larvae Weed seeds (may be up to 160° F) Provide a good environment for the decomposer organisms

Improved Water Retention Why is water Important? Nutrient Transfer Germination Photosynthesis Transpiration Bacteria Require Water to Utilize Organic Molecules

Soil pH Preferred pH between 5.5 and 7.5

Soil Conditioning Compost Prevents Excess Nutrient Runoff According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service 99 million acres 28% of all cropland in the U.S. Eroding above soil tolerance rates Compost Prevents Excess Nutrient Runoff Reduces plants reliance on Chemical Pesticides Creates Jobs Reduces Waste

References BioCycle.net http://www.biocycle.net/2014/07/16/state-of-composting-in-the-u-s/ EPA http://www.epa.gov/compost/pubs/index.htm Growanything.net http://www.growinganything.com/soil-ph-tester.html University of Illinois http://web.extension.illinois.edu/homecompost/science.cfm