Extreme Composting

Forerunner · #**2681** 07/03/13, 08:17 AM

I think there should be strict and severe legislation passed that mandates a PHD in soil science and a Masters in bio-engineering before anyone is allowed to build a compost pile or plant a garden.

Seriously.

The world would be a better place.

am1too · #**2682** 07/03/13, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CesumPec

I've stated this prior in this thread, but no telling where.

This isn't exact science, but I have read several university/peer reviewed sources that say to use this rule of thumb. The top 6.7 inches of an acre, no matter the soil type, you call 2,000,000 lbs. If your soil test came back and said you have 5% OM, you have roughly 100,000 lbs of OM/ac. And most places I've read recommended about 6 - 7% OM as the goal for the largest range of fruits and veggies, more can be better, but the cost and labor of maintaining 15%, 30%, or even more is generally not economically viable. So to raise your OM% from 5% to 6%, add another 20,000 lbs of OM.

But the problem is that your soil just might have been at 5% because that is equilibrium with your naturally occurring local conditions. You might add another1% OM but that is good only for a year. The next year it will have decayed and maybe be only .05% or less. In hot, humid Florida, the half life of soil amendments is very short; OM decays rapidly and sorta disappears within 2 years. You can probably get a good estimate of how long your added OM will last by how long a cold compost pile takes to turn into dirt.

The concept of half life is important because you might get a hot pile or trench that decomposes rapidly and reduces by half in a few months, but once it the pile goes cold, it might take another year to reduce by half again.

The book I liked the best, whose title escapes my memory now, said to avoid a lot of needless scientific measuring, calculating, worrying, and decay rate testing. Just compute your additional OM needs, add that much this year, and half that much every year there after until you decide to get your garden soil tested again and then adjust your OM imports accordingly.

I hazard to guess weight is the only way to approach the %.

So far I think I am doing OK. It is interesting how things affect the soil. I am gathering more leaves. Some is fall clean up from a pile of 50,000 yards. It is nice and damp. I'll rake leaves in town this fall. A neighbor paid me $150 to rake and remove 100 yards of leaves. Yep they were deep. Right now they are smothering an invasive weed.

Paquebot · #**2683** 07/03/13, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by am1too

I hazard to guess weight is the only way to approach the %.

You are quite correct for determining both before and after percentages. When I am hauling leaves and see 15-20 bags neatly piled beside the curb, the first in line tells me if they will be a load. If I can pick up the bag with one hand, that's as far as it goes. I see little reason to be hauling air which would not be in a bag of shredded material. That's similar to the difference between a tub of chainsaw sawdust or a round the size of the tub. Volume is the same but density is very much different.

Martin

am1too · #**2684** 07/03/13, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paquebot

You are quite correct for determining both before and after percentages. When I am hauling leaves and see 15-20 bags neatly piled beside the curb, the first in line tells me if they will be a load. If I can pick up the bag with one hand, that's as far as it goes. I see little reason to be hauling air which would not be in a bag of shredded material. That's similar to the difference between a tub of chainsaw sawdust or a round the size of the tub. Volume is the same but density is very much different.

Martin

That is why I have a pick up and trailer. I'm thinking about a shredder to use on site. I can pick one up at auction or new for a few bucks.

Paquebot · #**2685** 07/03/13, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by am1too

That is why I have a pick up and trailer. I'm thinking about a shredder to use on site. I can pick one up at auction or new for a few bucks.

If you were closer, I'd give you a Merry Mac chipper-shredder which no longer chips. Does a decent job of shredding but was designed to be used with a big nylon bag to catch the leaves. Without it, the stuff is sprayed over a wide area. Had to rely on that when I only had a car and most leaves were from walking and carrying distance. With a pickup for past 11 years, I can be more particular and let others accomplish the same thing with their riding and bagging mowers.

Martin

calfisher · #**2686** 07/03/13, 11:28 PM

Quote:

I think there should be strict and severe legislation passed that mandates a PHD in soil science and a Masters in bio-engineering before anyone is allowed to build a compost pile or plant a garden.

I passed that mandate following and reading this thread.

Seriously dudes, mix that crap in and plant something!

Pony · #**2687** 07/04/13, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

I think there should be strict and severe legislation passed that mandates a PHD in soil science and a Masters in bio-engineering before anyone is allowed to build a compost pile or plant a garden.

Seriously.

The world would be a better place.

And where would one earn this PhD - a state indoctrination center? <snrk> Yeah, then no one would be composting, not even the "experts" in the field.

am1too · #**2688** 07/04/13, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calfisher

I passed that mandate following and reading this thread.

Seriously dudes, mix that crap in and plant something!

Dat what I do.

Paquebot · #**2689** 07/04/13, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

And where would one earn this PhD - a state indoctrination center? <snrk> Yeah, then no one would be composting, not even the "experts" in the field.

Seriously, it is possible. I've a friend who first studied in his home country of Ethiopia. From there, he advanced his studies in Russia and furthered his degrees in Louisiana. He easily cited compost facts and data which I would have to refer to Rodale's book. His PhD was in Agronomy. The use of natural fertilizers in his home country is very critical since any synthetics must be imported. And what are natural fertilizers? They are compost!

Martin

Oswego · #**2690** 07/07/13, 10:31 PM

My pile has been cooking along nicely but in the last week I had 9 1/4 inches of rain. To be safe today I spread it all out with the tractor bucket and then piled it back up. I guess I was worried it had got too wet and maybe lowered the Oxygen level for the little workers in the pile. Either way it has fresh oxygen and mixed even better than before.

CesumPec · #**2691** 07/07/13, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

I think there should be strict and severe legislation passed that mandates a PHD in soil science and a Masters in bio-engineering before anyone is allowed to build a compost pile or plant a garden.

Seriously.

The world would be a better place.

You are aware that PHD stands for piled higher & deeper?

Forerunner · #**2692** 07/08/13, 08:44 AM

......and I suppose Masters is "mix and stack to encourage rotting, stupid" ?

I swear, the nonsensical dialogue that passes for conversation in here.

Where's a moderator when you need one ?

:

CesumPec · #**2693** 07/08/13, 10:43 AM

Masters, I like it! But it wasn't nice. See Yah

Forerunner · #**2694** 07/09/13, 08:29 AM

*kicks CP in the shin............ hard*

I have a new compost pile. *pops a top button off his pride-swelled shirt*

It's putting off the aroma and everything......steaming vigorously, even on a muggy hot morning.

*is nearly overcome with giddiness*

Studhauler · #**2695** 07/09/13, 06:23 PM

I regret that I can no longer share my composting online as the county I live in has rules about how much "fill" one can bring to the property without having a permit. I don't want proof in print or picture of what I am doing. I might even go back and edit out some of what I have posted so far.

CesumPec · #**2696** 07/09/13, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Studhauler

I regret that I can no longer share my composting online as the county I live in has rules about how much "fill" one can bring to the property without having a permit. I don't want proof in print or picture of what I am doing. I might even go back and edit out some of what I have posted so far.

Maybe you can tell us about your "friend" who lives in the next county over.

Studhauler · #**2697** 07/09/13, 08:40 PM

Maybe the next state over.

Silvercreek Farmer · #**2698** 07/09/13, 08:51 PM

Courtesy of U of Florida:

Fertilizer values typical of composted carcass material contain 25 lb of nitrogen/ton, 13 lb of phosphorous/ton, and 7 lb of potassium/ton.

Studhauler · #**2699** 07/09/13, 09:38 PM

That's a lot of road kill deer to get a pound of nitrogen.

Forerunner · #**2700** 07/09/13, 10:23 PM

SH....were I in your situation, I believe I'd continue on with confidence, as you are not changing the topography in any regard, only amending the soil with natural nutrients.

Is this just something you've recently stumbled upon, or are you being harassed ?