Composts

What is compost and why use it?

What organisms are involved in the composting
process?
What chemical changes occur during composting?
What are the optimal conditions for composting

Does composting kill harmful pathogens (plant

and human), nematodes and weed seeds?

Temperature
Moisture
Oxygen

Safety regulations

Compost production systems

Small scale
Commercial

What is compost why

use it?
Composting is the
decomposition of plant
remains and other onceliving materials to make an
earthy, dark, crumbly
substance that is excellent
for adding to houseplants or
enriching garden soil.

compost improves soil structure, texture, aeration - increases

the soil's water-holding capacity.
Compost loosens clay soils and helps sandy soils retain water.
improves soil fertility and stimulates healthy root development
Organic matter provides food for microorganisms - nitrogen,
potassium, and phosphorus mineralized

The Science of
Composting

Composting is the natural process in which living

organisms decompose organic matter into
inorganic matter in the soil.
The organisms feed on the organic material and
through respiration generate the energy that they
use for movement, growth, reproduction or
stored energy.
The organism excrete inorganic material that
enriches the soil.
When the organisms die, their bodies add to the
organic matter in the compost pile.

Fresh Organic
Materials

Oxygen

Microbes,
Moisture,
and Time

Compost

Carbon
Dioxide

Energy

Slide credit: Tom Richard, Penn State

University

Organisms use carbon as a source of

energy and nitrogen to grow and
reproduce.

Too little N:
there will be few
microorganisms,
and decomposition
will be slow.
Too much N:
some will turn to
ammonia that will
volatilize, creating
an odor.

ExperimentaltesteffectofC:Nratioonnitrogen
retentionincompost

Initial C:N ratio

Final
nitrogen
%

Nitrogen
conservation
%

20

1.44

61.2

20.5

1.04

51.9

22

1.63

85.2

30

1.21

99.5

35

1.32

99.9

Factors affecting the

compost process
C:N
ratio

Aeration

Size and
texture

NB. Moisture level also critical

Moisture level is also critical

Optimum moisture content
40-60%
Feels moist to touch, but
when squeezed only
produces few drops

Ideal conditions for

composting
Parameter
Moisture
C:N ratio
Oxygen
Temperature
Bulk density
pH

OK
40-65%
20-40:1
>5%
43-66 C
1000 lbs/yd
5.5-9.0

Ideal
45-60%
25-35:1
>10%
54-60 C
1000 lbs/yd
6.5-8.0

The Science of
Composting

Composting goes through three distinct phases that can

be characterized by temperatures.

Mesophilic Phase (moderate temperature)

Thermophilc Phase (high temerpature)
Mesophilic Phase (moderate temperature again)

The Science of
Composting
Mesophilic Phase 1 (10-40 C)

Lasts only a few days

Explosive growth of bacteria and fungi
Rapid breakdown of soluble sugar and starches

Thermophilic

Can last from several days to several months depending on size of

system
Mixed population of heat loving organisms
High heat helps breakdown of proteins, fats, tough plant material
like cellulose
High temperature (>55 0C) kill weeds and pathogen harmful to
humans
Higher temperature (>600C) kill organism needed for decomposition

Mesophilic

Phase (>40 0 C)

Phase 2 (10-40 0 C) Curing Phase

Can last several months

Bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes( mix between bacteria and fungus,
give earthy smell) predominate. Invertebrates active.
Supply of organic material has decreased. Remaining organic
material is slowly broken down.
Additional chemical reactions take place to make remaining organic
material more stable

The Science of Composting:

Chemistry
Important factors in compost chemistry
Carbon-Nitrogen Mix (C/N Ratio)
Carbon provides energy source and building material
for 50% of composting organisms cells
Nitrogen important in formation of proteins, nucleic
acids, amino acids, enzymes etc. for organisms
30:1 Carbon to Nitrogen optimum mix (decreases in
curing phase)
Brown and woody carbon
Green and moist nitrogen

The Science of Composting:

Chemistry
Important factors in compost chemistry
Oxygen
Needed to oxidize carbon for energy
Without oxygen will produce rotten egg smell

pH Level
Acids form as organisms digest organic material and
lowers pH
Lower pH encourages fungi and the break down of
tough matter
If pH too low (<4.5) limits microorganisms activity

Changes in Ammonium-N
distillation method; fresh sample

Changes in Carbon to
Nitrogen Ratio

Dan Sullivan and Linda Brewer

Changes in cation exchange

capacity
CEC
-1
(cmol kg compost-C)

(ash-free; pH 7)
500
400
300

FA
PA

200
100
0

20 40 60 80 100 120 140

Composting time (days)

Temperature

Fatty acids

NH3
emitted

pH
days

Compost chemistry - pH

The Science of Composting:

Physics
Important factors for compost physics:
Temperature

3 Phases
Want to maintain temperature between 55-600C
Temperature impacted
Heat generated by organism
Heat lost to environment through conduction, convection
and radiation shape and size of pile
Moisture content (specific heat and heat capacity of
water)

The Science of Composting:

Physics
Important factors for compost physics:
Particle size

Microorganism activity occurs on surface of

organic material
The more surface area for organisms to attack,
the quicker the decomposition want smaller
particles
Flip-side: The smaller the particles, the more
dense and compact the material resulting in poor
oxygen circulation

The main players

1. Bacteria:
major decomposers, breakdown
simpler forms of organic material

2. Actinomycetes:
degrade complex organics such as
cellulose, lignin, chitin, and proteins
earthy smell, long spider webs
filaments
3. Fungi:
Break down tough debris, too dry, too
acidic or too low in nitrogen for
bacteria to eat

What do microbes in
compost do?

Consume organic matter to grow

Mineralize nutrients

Organic to inorganic forms (protein to NH4)

Transform nutrients

Stabilize organic matter

Aerobic oxidation produces CO2
Anaerobic produces reduced compounds
organic acids, alcohols

Nitrification pH and temperature sensitive

NOTE: invertebrates not important in high temperature

composting, only in cold

Compost Quality
Compost Maturity and Nitrogen Release
Characteristics in Central Coast Vegetable
Production
July 2002
CA Integrated Waste Management Board
Marc Buchanan, PhD

Compost Maturity

Compost Maturity

Compost Quality Measures

C:N below 25

COMPOST QUALITY INDEX for Commercial Products

Based on 13 monthly samples for green waste, 11 for blend, and
1 poultry manure compost.

Inorganic N Released (lb N/acre)

Inorganic N release Spring and summer 2000

Poultry

400

Blend [M-18]

300

Green [M-1]

200
Check

100

50

100

150

Days Afte r Incorporation

200

250

60
Blend

% Nitrogen Released

50

Green

40
30
20
10
0
-10
-20

VIM MM MM

VM VIM VIM MM

Compost Maturity

VM

Growing Issue

How effective is composting at killing

pathogens?
Weeds, plant disease organisms
Human pathogens!!!!

U.S.A. Composting Regulations

Biosolids, Class A compost (U.S. EPA 40 CFR Part 503)

Time-temperature relationship (PFRP)

Vector Attraction Reduction

14 days, 40 C minimum, 45 C average temperature

Pathogen testing criteria

Static aerated pile, 3 days > 55 C

Turned windrow, 15 days > 55 C, turned at least 5 times

Fecal Coliforms < 1000 MPN/g TS

or Salmonella < 3 MPN/4g TS

USDA National Organic Program 205.203 (c)

Time temperature 55 C 70 C (CFR Part 503)

Turned windrow 15 days with at least 5 turns

In-vessel or static aerated system 55 C 70 C for 3 days

C:N ratio 25:1 40:1 (NRCS code 317 composting facility)

Why turn windrows at least 5 times in 15 days?

Prevent regrowth of Salmonella

Non-uniform heating
Turn cooler material into insulated center

> 55 C
Done properly it works, but can
less intensive regimes work too?

NOSB Compost Task Force

Composting regulations too prescriptive

Manage compost to reach 55 C for 3 days

Vermicompost

Aerobicity maintained by adding thin layers every 1-3 days

70-90% moisture
12 months for outdoor windrows, 4 months for wedge systems
or indoor containers, 2 months for vertical flow reactors

Processed manure

Heat to 65 C for 1 hour

Dry to < 12% moisture
Negative for Salmonella and fecal coliforms

Animal pathogen
destruction

Meet current time-temperature standards

Will not eliminate all weed seeds or all plant pathogens

Attain sanitation target for particular end-use,

quality assurance testing

Use technology that is financially attainable

Composting process

Contain and treat leachate

Exclude vectors
Avoid pathogen regrowth conditions
Avoid recontamination of product

Compost production
systems

Small scale

Compost piles
need to be at
least one cubic
to hold the
heat from
decomposition

Passive composting

Commercial composting
Large scale
Passive aeration with turning or actively
aerated systems

Feedstock conditioning - grinding

Moisture management - most important

factor to stabilize biological and

Processing turned windrows

Compost blankets to moderate moisture

www.vanierselcompost.com/. ../productie.htm

Composting - windrow
Turning helps
aeration and
to move
material from
edge into hot
center region

CO2
Hot
Cool

O2
Graphic credit: Tom Richard, Penn State
University

Composting Static
forced air
CO2

Hot

Cool

O2

Graphic credit: Tom Richard, Penn State

University

Air forces heat

outwards
Some systems
can switch
direction to keep
base core at
high enough
temperature
Also helps
control odor

Processing - forced aeration

Hot ammonia kills!!!

Contain, treat leachate

Compost blankets beware moving from fresh to curing

www.vanierselcompost.com/. ../productie.htm

Cure compost with 40-50% moisture

to promote competitive microorganisms and
avoid salmonella regrowth

CASFS Farm compost

piles 2008