Advantages of using compost

·          Improves overall soil fertility.

o    Improves the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils.(due to the presence of high organic matter fraction improve crop production directly and indirectly, by improving the soil properties).

o    Act as a supplier of humus substances ,major plant nutrients and a good source for providing secondary and micro nutrients

o    Increase the soil water retention ability.

o    Improves the soil structure.

o    Improves the Cation Exchange Capacity.

o    Improves the microbial activities.

o    Acts as buffer to changes in soil pH.

o    Provides vitamins, hormones and plant enzymes which are not supplied by chemical fertilizers.

·          No environmental pollution.

·        Free from pathogenic organisms, weeds and other unwanted seeds.(due to the heat generated at the composting process)

·          Easy to apply when compared to other organic manures.

·          Increase yield due to the improvement of soil fertility.(can obtain a long lasting yield improvement)

3.Barrel method

• Select suitable barrel or a  compost bin.
• Make holes on the walls and bottom of the barrel.
• Place  the compost barrel or compost bin on few bricks in a suitable place.(bricks can be arranged as a circular shape or as square shape)
• Inoculants can be added to increase the decomposition of raw materials.
• Produced compost could be collected from the bottom of the barrel.   

Important

• Raw  materials can be added at any time.
• Barrel can be filled with different raw materials alternatively according to their decomposition rate.
• If  the moisture is insufficient inside the barrel water should be added.

4.Cage method

 

• Prepare a cage with stakes.
• Add different raw materials.
• Inoculants  can be added to increase the decomposition of raw materials.
• Since drying is fast in the cage method water should be added regularly to maintain the reasonable moisture content inside the cage.
• Top  of the cage can be covered with coconut frond or with suitable covering materials to maintain the optimum moisture content inside the cage.
• Produced compost could be collected from the bottom of the cage.

   

Important

• Raw  materials can be added at any time.
• Cage can be filled with different raw materials alternatively according to their decomposition rate.

            

2.Heap method

·          Raw materials are laid on the cleaned ground.  

·          Arrange about 6-7 layers using different slow decomposition and fast decomposition raw materials.

·          In general, use any kind of suitable raw material as any layer of the heap.

·          Or use use followings to fill up the layers.

·       1^st  layer- weeds or tree loping or leaf fall

·      2 ^nd layer -green leaves, grass or Salvenia

·      Add water (only if raw materials do not contain sufficient moisture).

·      Add  small amount of inoculants.(compost or decomposed garbage)

·      3^rd layer -banana leaves

·      4^th layer -leaf fall

·      5^th layer- animal waste

·      Add inoculants again

·      6^th layer - pieces of chopped banana trunk

·      7^th layer - leaves

·      Then add again small amount of inoculants.

·          Finally add enough water and cover the top most layer with a covering material(polythene or terracotta).

·          1^st  turning- after 14 days.

·          2^nd turning –after 30 days.

·          3^rd turning-after 60 days.

·          While turning add water only if the moisture is insufficient.

·          After 90 days compost can be used for the cultivations.

Important

•   Always remember to cover the heap with a polythene or covering material.
•   Before arranging the layers remember to stand four stakes in the middle of the heap with some distance with each stake for ventilation.    
•   Always keep a space between the cover and the ground for ventilation.
•   Every 4-5 days interval open the cover and check the moisture content inserting a pole in to the compost heap.
•   If moisture content is not enough add enough water and cover the heap again.   
•   During the “turnings”, if  moisture content is not sufficient water should be added.
•   Arrange alternatively slow decomposition and fast decomposition raw materials to accelerate the decomposition rate.   

Basic steps in Compost Production

  

1.Selection of a site

Selection of a site is based on following factors.

·                  Availability of Raw materials

·                  Availability  of Irrigation facilities

(Important-Site should not be in the close vicinity to drinking water well)

2.Preparation of the selected site

• Choose a shaded and well- drained area.
• Site should be well cleaned by removing stones and unwanted materials should be removed.
• Level the site.
  
  

3.Collection of raw materials

Following locally available raw materials can be used.

Straw,Green leaves,Crop residues,Weeds,Banana leaves,Banana trunk,Salvenia,

Sow dust,Vegetable peeling,Animal waste ( Cow-dung, Poultry manure),decayed

                  fruits and vegetables.

1.Pit method

·          Normal size of a pit – length-10 m , width- 5m  , height- 70 cm

·          Size can be adjusted according to the availability of materials.

·          Bottom of the pit should have a slight angle to avoid the retention of the water.

·          Open of the pit should have height about 15cm from the ground level in order to prevent the rain water flowing in to the pit.

·          Pit should be located in a suitable place where irrigation and transportation (easy accessibility) facilities are available.

·          Keep a space in the one side of the pit for easy  mixing of the raw materials.

Procedure

·          Cut the composting materials in to small pieces(10-15cm).

·          Loosen the soils in the bottom of the pit and stand 4 stakes about 80 cm height in the upright position.

·          Lay raw materials on the bottom up to 10-15 cm height.

·          Lay a thin compost layer (inoculants) on that layer.

·          Arrange about 7 layers following the same procedure.

·          Use followings to fill up the layers.

·       1^st  layer- weeds or tree loping or leaf fall

·      2 ^nd layer -green leaves, grass or Salvenia

·      Add water (only if raw materials do not contain sufficient moisture).

·      Add  small amount of inoculants.(compost or decomposed garbage)

·      3^rd layer -banana leaves

·      4^th layer -leaf fall

·      5^th layer- animal waste

·      Add inoculants again

·      6^th layer - pieces of chopped banana trunk

·      7^th layer - leaves

·      Then add again small amount of inoculants.

·          Finally add enough water and cover the top most layer with a thin soil layer(covering material)

·          After 3 days remove the four stakes which were inserted in the pit.

·          1^st  turning- after 14 days.

·          2^nd turning –after 30 days.

·          3^rd turning-after 60 days.

·          While turning add water only if the moisture is insufficient.

·          After 90 days compost can be used for the cultivations.

Important

·   Every 4-5 days interval open the cover and check the moisture content by inserting a pole in to the compost pit. If moisture content is not enough add enough water and cover the pit again.

Methods of Composting

Methods available for production of compost are,

(1)   Heap method

(2)   Pit method

(3)   Cage method

(4)   Barrel method

Disadvantages and advantages of different composting methods.

Method	Importance	Advantages	Disadvantages
Heap method	· Easy and very popular method. · Suitable for both large and small scale farmers. · Considered as a     successful method.	· Faster Decomposition. · Aeration is easy. · Easy to maintain optimum moisture level. · Turning is easy. · According to the availability of raw materials heap size could be arranged.
Pit method	· Suitable for dry areas. ·  Not suitable for commercial compost  producers. · Suitable for small scale farmers. · Not considered as  a successful method.		·  Laborious method. ·   Hard and Expensive to make  a pit. · Poor aeration. · Slow decomposition. · Turning is difficult. · Difficult to maintain optimum  moisture level in  rainy seasons. · May create odor. · Contamination with soil particles.
Cage method	·   Suitable for home gardens and small scale farmers. ·  Top of the cage should be covered with coconut frond.	· Suitable for limited raw materials  availability areas. · Good aeration. · No odor. · Quick drying. · No turning involved · No systematic preparation of layers. · Kitchen waste and daily collected raw  materials such as leaves can be used.	· Decomposition is slow. · Open for air and rain.
Barrel method	·  Suitable for urban areas and home gardens.	·  No turning involved. ·  No systematic preparation of layers. ·   Kitchen waste and daily collected raw materials such as leaves can be used.	· Poor aeration. · Create bad odor. · Decomposition is slow. · It is costly to buy a Barrel.