Category:Composting

Introduction

Compost or Humus is an organic fertiliser that can be made to replenish and improve the quality of soils and to keep soil healthy. Compost can be made in a number of different ways both in the developing world and the developed world out of locally available materials.

As well as providing improvements to soil, composting allows efficient reuse of natural resources, manure, dead plant, kitchen waste which would otherwise be treated as waste.

For organic farming composting is a key to allowing good and healthy growth of plants and crops without resorting to pesticides and fertilisers. This is particulary useful in the developing world where the cost is prohibative.

Classifications of compost

Vegetation composting

Using the left over parts of crops, plant materials (both dry and green), manure

Boma composting

This takes place where animals are kept. Making compost from the bedding, manure and urine

Weed compositing

Composting can also be classified as:

Hot

This is when a compost is specifically made to aid composition. When decomposing the soil will heat up inside. Hot compost is more difficult to make but will decompose much quicker

Cold

Sometime called "lazy person's compost". Tends to be slower to decompose, but is used for convenience or when materials are scarce