By piling kitchen scraps and garden debris in a bin or heap, gardeners create an ideal habitat for decay organisms These microorganisms break organic material down to form humus In addition, the heat inside the pile from all the biologic activity will kill off many disease organisms and unwanted seeds Compost piles benefit from the addition of manures (for their high nitrogen count and the beneficial bacteria they harbor), occasional watering (so that it is moist not wet), and frequent turning (for aeration) See also activators
the process of converting organic matter into humus This is accomplished by microorganisms living under proper conditions Top
The controlled microbial degradation of organic waste to yield a humus-like product
A natural process by which naturally occurring micro organisms such as bacteria and fungi convert organic material (food scraps and peelings coffee grounds, egg shells, paper towels etc ) into a soil-like material called compost Used to enrich soil Backyard Composting: composting of organic materials from a household
The controlled biological decomposition of organic material in the presence of air and water to form a humus-like material Controlled methods of composting include mechanical mixing and aerating, ventilating the materials by dropping them through a vertical series of aerated chambers, or placing the compost in piles out in the open air and mixing it or turning it periodically
- This is the process in which solid organic materials are decomposed in the presence of oxygen through the action of bacteria and other microorganisms Dewatered biosolids are mixed with sawdust or wood chips that act as bulking agent by absorbing water and increasing the porosity of the mixture This mix is then composted and cured for a minimum of six weeks High temperatures (103 degrees to 150 degrees Fahrenheit) generated during this process pasteurize the mixture A peat like product is the end result Composted biosolids are easier to handle, store and use than liquid and dewatered biosolids
Turning food and other organic wastes into soil Composting gives us the opportunity to relieve overburdened landfills and sewage treatment facilities (by limiting the use of our garbage disposals), as well as allowing us to enrich the soil for our gardens and landscapes Many states have now passed ordinances excluding yard waste from landfills A good home-composting set up would include a compost bins for collecting kitchen waste and a compost pile where kitchen waste can be combined with yard clippings, turned occasionally until it becomes soil There are many residential model chipper-shredders on the market to assist in the breakdown process, as well as a wealth of information on composting techniques to produce the most perfectly balanced soil blends
Transformation by micro-organisms (microscopic fungi, bacteria )or organic waste to a humus-like product in the presence of water and oxygen
Biological decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms under controlled, aerobic, conditions to a relatively stable humus-like material called compost
Site where food scraps, leaves and garden trimmings are turned into rich new soil, with the help of worms, containment bins and turning machines Large-scale or demonstration project, information and resources for home and garden composting and leaf recycling programs May include drop-off site for food scraps, or good place to buy locally produced compost May be run by the city or a separate group
A solid waste management technique of accumulating organic matter and then allowing natural biological decomposition to occur The material breaks down in the presence of oxygen to form humus-like material that can be used to improve soil
the biochemical process which occurs when organic matter is broken down by decomposer organisms into a nutrient rich soil conditioner called humus