Making Gourmet

Compost

By: Duane Marcus

The Funny Farm
Stone Mountain, Ga
www.funnyfarmatl.com
Composting Defined
Composting is the process of
utilizing the aerobic organisms in
the soil food web to quickly break
down organic materials to create
organic matter and humus and to
make the nutrients bound up in
organic materials available to plants
Why Make Compost?
1.ADD BENEFICIAL ORGANISMS TO SOIL
2.RECYCLE NUTRIENTS CAPTURED BY PLANTS
3.IMPROVE SOIL STRUCTURE
4.REDUCE WATER NEEDS
5.SUPPRESS DISEASE CAUSING ORGANISMS
6.DEGRADE TOXINS IN SOIL
7.KEEP ORGANIC WASTES OUT OF LANDFILLS
8.REDUCE WATER POLLUTION
9.ELIMINATE NEED FOR CHEMICAL
FERTILIZERS
10.ELIMINATE NEED FOR CHEMICAL PESTICIDES
 SOIL FOOD WEB DIAGRAM

PLANTS
RELEASE NUTRIENTS
FEED BACTERIA & RELEASE NUTRIENTS
IN FORMS PLANTS FUNGI IN FORMS PLANTS
CAN USE CAN USE

ORGANIC MATTER
-LEAVES
-FRUIT & SEEDS
FEED EXUDATES
BACTERIA IN
-ROOTS FEED EXUDATES
RETURN FOR -STEMS FUNGI IN
NUTRIENTS -BRANCHES RETURN FOR
NUTRIENTS
-BARK
CONSUME SOFT STUFF CONSUME TOUGH STUFF
LIKE LEAVES, FRUIT LIKE BARK, WOOD

BACTERIA FUNGI
EXTRACT STORE NUTRIENTS STORE NUTRIENTS
NUTRIENTS
FROM SOIL
EXTRACT
NUTRIENTS
CONSUME BACTERIA, FROM SOIL
NEMATODES & CONSUME FUNGI
EACH OTHER CONSUME BACTERIA
& FUNGI

PROTOZOA
(FLAGELLATES, NEMATODES MITES
AMOEBAE, CILIATES) RELEASE
RELEASE NUTRIENTS
RELEASE NUTRIENTS
NUTRIENTS

PREDATORY PREDATORY
LARGER NEMATODES MITES
PREDATORS RELEASE RELEASE
WORMS, SOW BUGS, NUTRIENTS NUTRIENTS
ANS, MILLIPEDES,
SPIDERS
RELEASE NUTRIENTS
 SHREDDERS

• Break down organic litter and mulch

•
 Fungi
• Continue breakdown of organic matter
• extract nutrients from soil and mineral
fertilizers
• transport water and nutrients to plants via
mycelium
• bind soil particles together which improves
soil structure and water retention
Mycorrhizal fungi
 Bacteria
• breakdown organic matter
• extract nutrients from the soil and minereal
fertilizers
• make nutrients available to plants
• bind soil particles together improving soil
structure and water retention
• fix nitrogen from the atmosphere
rhizobium bacteria colonize
legumes and fix nitrogen
from the atmosphere
 PROTOZOA
- flagellates, amoebae,
ciliates
• eat bacteria and fungi releasing nutrients
that are available for plants to use
• ciliates present in compost is an indication
of anaerobic conditions
Testate amoeba
Other members of the
soil food web
• nematodes - some eat bacteria, some eat
other nematodes, some eat plants
• rotifers
• mites
• ants
• spiders
Nematodes
 Rotifer

Unknown organism
Earthworms
 Compost
Foodweb Analysis
Report prepared for:
The Urban Gardener Inc Report Sent: 09/01/2006 For interpretation of this report please contact:
Duane Marcus Sample#: 01-103216 | Submission:01-017664 Local Advisor: or regional lab
347 Boulevard SE Unique ID: WORM Soil Foodweb, Inc
Atlanta, GA 30312-3350 USA Plant: info@soilfoodweb.com
(404) 529-9977 Invoice Number: 1633 (541) 752-5066
duanemarcus@mac.com Sample Received: 08/28/2006 Consulting fees may apply

Organism Dry Weight Active Total Active Total Hyphal Nematodes per Gram of Soil
Biomass Data Bacterial Bacterial Fungal Fungal Diameter Identification to genus
(µg/g) (µg/g) (µg/g) (µg/g) (µm)
Results 0.190 239 3281 123 5688 3 Bacterial Feeders
Cephalobus 2.04
Comments Too Wet Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Metadiplogaster 0.21
Expected Low 0.45 15 100 15 100 Panagrolaimus 0.07
Range High 0.85 25 3000 25 300 Rhabditidae 0.56

Protozoa Total Percent Mycorrhizal

Numbers/g Nematodes Colonization
Flagellates Amoebae Ciliates #/g ENDO ECTO
Results 14481 14481 438 15.0 Not Ordered Not Ordered
Comments High High High Low
Expected Low 10000 10000 50 20
Range High 100 30

Organism Total Fungal Active to Total Active to Total Active Fungal Plant Available
Biomass Ratios to Total Fungal Bacterial to Active N Supply
Bacterial Bacterial (lbs/acre)
Results 1.73 0.02 0.07 0.52 100-150
Comments High Good Good Low
Expected Low 0.75 0.01 0.01 0.75
Range High 1.5 0.1 0.1 1.5
728 SW Wake Robin Avenue Corvallis, OR 97333-1612 USA
(541) 752-5066 | info@soilfoodweb.com
www.soilfoodweb.com 01-103216: Page 1 of 2
 Compost
Foodweb Analysis
Report prepared for:
The Urban Gardener Inc Report Sent: 09/01/2006 For interpretation of this report please contact:
Duane Marcus Sample#: 01-103215 | Submission:01-017664 Local Advisor: or regional lab
347 Boulevard SE Unique ID: HEN Soil Foodweb, Inc
Atlanta, GA 30312-3350 USA Plant: info@soilfoodweb.com
(404) 529-9977 Invoice Number: 1633 (541) 752-5066
duanemarcus@mac.com Sample Received: 08/28/2006 Consulting fees may apply

Organism Dry Weight Active Total Active Total Hyphal Nematodes per Gram of Soil
Biomass Data Bacterial Bacterial Fungal Fungal Diameter Identification to genus
(µg/g) (µg/g) (µg/g) (µg/g) (µm)
Results 0.540 59.4 4613 237 1555 2.5 Bacterial Feeders
Cephalobus 11.34
Comments In Good Range Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Metadiplogaster 1.78
Expected Low 0.45 15 100 15 100 Panagrolaimus 0.27
Range High 0.85 25 3000 25 300 Fungal/Root Feeders
Aphelenchoides Foliar nematode 0.27
Protozoa Total Percent Mycorrhizal
Numbers/g Nematodes Colonization
Flagellates Amoebae Ciliates #/g ENDO ECTO
Results 2564 8520 788 25.3 Not Ordered Not Ordered
Comments Low Low High Good
Expected Low 10000 10000 50 20
Range High 100 30

Organism Total Fungal Active to Total Active to Total Active Fungal Plant Available
Biomass Ratios to Total Fungal Bacterial to Active N Supply
Bacterial Bacterial (lbs/acre)
Results 0.34 0.15 0.01 4.00 100-150
Comments Low High Good High
Expected Low 0.75 0.01 0.01 0.75
Range High 1.5 0.1 0.1 1.5

728 SW Wake Robin Avenue Corvallis, OR 97333-1612 USA

(541) 752-5066 | info@soilfoodweb.com
www.soilfoodweb.com 01-103215: Page 1 of 2
Why Make Compost?
1.ADD BENEFICIAL ORGANISMS TO SOIL
2.RECYCLE NUTRIENTS CAPTURED BY PLANTS
3.IMPROVE SOIL STRUCTURE
4.REDUCE WATER NEEDS
5.SUPPRESS DISEASE CAUSING ORGANISMS
6.DEGRADE TOXINS IN SOIL
7.KEEP ORGANIC WASTES OUT OF LANDFILLS
8.REDUCE WATER POLLUTION
9.ELIMINATE NEED FOR CHEMICAL
FERTILIZERS
10.ELIMINATE NEED FOR CHEMICAL PESTICIDES
 Types of Composting

• Hot Composting - thermal composting

• Cold Composting
• Vermicomposting - worm composting
 Requirements for
successful composting
1.MICROORGANISMS
2.MOISTURE
3.AERATION
4.FOODS FOR MICROORGANISMS
Compost is only as good as the ingredients that go into it
- a soil test is required to determine if your plants will be
deficient in any nutrients
 Foods for Microorganisms
TYPE OF FOOD EXAMPLES % FOR BACTERIAL % FOR FUNGAL COMPOST
COMPOST

HI - NITROGEN Manure, blood meal, 10% 10%

alfalfa meal, seeds, coffee
grounds, fish fertilizer,
brewery waste, grains and
seeds
GREEN MATTER Fresh garden trimmings, 50% 40%
kitchen waste, brewery
waste, spring or fall fescue
clippings or hay
WOODY MATTER Shredded leaves, sawdust, 40% 50%
wood chips

Be careful of using too much manure based

compost. This can result in excess potassium
in the soil throwing off the phophorus/
potassium ratio
 Gourmet Compost Ingredients
To add micronutrients

• Kelp Meal
• Local Granite Sand - 810 sand
• Green Sand
To add nitrogen
• Whole oats or other seeds
• Alfalfa meal
• Feather meal
• cottonseed meal
 • AERATION
- Ingredients must include coarse as well as
fine particles to insure the pile does not
become anaerobic.
- The pile must not stay saturated with
water to prevent anaerobic conditions
- The pile must be turned regularly to
release CO2 and incorporate oxygen
 • MOISTURE
- The microorganisms require water to function. The pile must be
kept moist but not so saturated that there is no space for air.
- Water must be added as you build or turn the pile to be sure it is
thoroughly incorporated. The water must not be chlorinated
because chlorine kills microorganisms. You can spray your pile
with a fine spray held away from the pile to let the chlorine
dissipate.
- Moisture levels should be maintained at 50%. Take a handful of
ingredients and squeeze it if water runs out the moisture level is
70% ( ok in the beginning). If a few drops run out it is 50%. If it
sticks together but no water runs out it is 40%. If it falls apart it is
30% or less. Add water immediately.
 • TEMPERATURE
- If organisms are present in sufficient quantities and the foods are present in
the correct proportions, the pile will heat up as the organisms consume the
foods.
- You should monitor the temperature with a compost thermometer. The
temperature in the middle of the pile must be above 135º throughout the whole
pile for 3 days to kill weed seeds and disease-causing organisms. You need to turn
the pile to get all of the ingredients into the middle and heated to 135º for 3 days
to be sure all the compost at the end of the process has been heated sufficiently
to eliminate weeds and disease. Your pile should be turned 4-5 times.
- The temperature should never exceed 155º. Above 155º all the oxygen will have
been consumed by the hard-working bacteria and fungi and the pile will go
anaerobic. Anaerobic organisms do some bad things to compost. They produce
alcohols and other chemicals that are toxic to good organisms. They combine
water and nitrogen into ammonia which is a gas. The ammonia gas escapes into
the air taking all the nitrogen your plants will need. If your pile smells like
ammonia ( or vomit, or poop) you probably have anaerobic conditions. Turn the
pile immediately!
 Compost Pile
Construction
• Minimum size 3’x3’x3’
• layer ingredients starting with woody
materials, then green, then high nitrogen,
then gourmet ingredients
• water thoroughly
• repeat
• when all materials are used up turn the pile
to mix everything together
 Compost Pile
Maintenance
• Keep Moist
• Turn weekly (or when interior
temperatures reach 155º) repeat for 3
weeks or until pile no longer heats up
when turned
• Turn monthly thereafter
• Should be ready in 6-9 months
 Using Compost
Properly
• Compost should be applied as a top-
dressing
• Apply no more than 1” at a time. 1/2” is
sufficient- too much compost can throw
your nutrient ratios out of balance
• Apply each time a new crop is planted to
boost the soil food web so nutrients will be
available to your plants. Get a soil test
regularly.
Vermicomposting
Requirements for Successful
Vermicomposting
1.MICROORGANISMS
2.MOISTURE
3.AERATION
4.FOODS FOR MICROORGANISMS
5.COMPOST WORMS -RED WIGGLERS
6.CONTAINER
TYPES OF CONTAINERS
WHAT CAN YOU PUT IN A WORM BIN?

DO PUT IN DON’T PUT IN

VEGETABLE SCRAPS MEAT AND FAT
SHREDDED PAPER LOTS OF CITRUS
TORN CARDBOARD LOTS OF ONIONS
TOILET PAPER TUBES PET FECES
How do you get the
worms out?
GROWING OYSTER MUSHROOMS ON
WASTE PAPER OR COFFEE GROUNDS