Composting
Composting is the transformation of organic material through decomposition into a soil-like material called compost. Insects, earthworms and microorganisms help in transforming the material into compost.
Composting is a natural form of recycling, which continually occurs in nature.Compost is used as the fundamental soil enhancer, essential for maintaining fertile and productive agricultural land. Organic wastes should be composted before being added to the soil. Compost added to gardens improves soil structure, texture, aeration, and water retention. When mixed with compost, clay soils are lightened, and sandy soils retain water better. Mixing compost with soil also contributes to erosion control, soil fertility, proper pH balance, and healthy root development in plants.
The standard means of disposal for most organic wastes include landfilling and incineration. These practices are not as environmentally or economically sound as composting. Organic wastes which are landfilled breaks down very slowly due to the lack of oxygen. As it decomposes, it produces methane gas and acidic leachate, which are both environmental problems
Landfilling organic wastes also takes up landfill space needed for other wastes. Incinerating moist organic waste is inefficient and results in poor combustion, which disrupts the energy generation of the facility and increases the pollutants that need to be removed by the pollution-control devices. Composting these wastes is a more effective and usually less expensive means of managing organic wastes. It can be done successfully on either a large or small scale, but the technique and equipment used differ.
Decomposition
Natural organic materials are decomposed by microorganisms and invertebrates in the soil to humus. This is how nutrients are recycled in an ecosystem. This natural decomposition can be encouraged by creating ideal conditions. The microorganisms and invertebrates fundamental to the composting process require oxygen and water to successfully decompose the material. The end products of the process are soil-enriching compost, carbon dioxide, water, and heat.
Composting is a dynamic process which will occur quickly or slowly, depending on the process used and the skill with which it is executed. A neglected pile of organic waste will inevitably decompose, but slowly. This has been referred to as "passive composting," because little maintenance is performed. Fast or "active" composting can be completed in two to six weeks. This method requires three key activities; 1) "aeration," by turning the compost pile, 2) moisture, and 3) the proper carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio. Attention to these elements will raise the temperature to around 130 -140 F, and ensure rapid decomposition.
The success with which the organic substances are composted depends on the organic material and the decomposer organisms involved. Some organic materials are broken down more easily than others. Different decomposers thrive on different materials as well as at different temperature ranges. Some microbes require oxygen, and others do not; those that require oxygen are preferable for composting.
A more diverse microbial community makes for a more efficient composting process. If the environment in the compost pile becomes inhospitable to a particular type of decomposer, it will die, become dormant, or move to a different part of the compost pile. The transforming conditions of the compost pile create a continually evolving ecosystem inside the pile.
Shiitake Mushroom Compost
After decomposted by shiitake mushroom, the mushroom logs are further composted in windrows which are from 5 to 8 feet high and as long as necessary. Turning for aeration is done about once a month using a front-end loader or other type of equipment made specifically for that purpose. The temperature and moisture are checked twice a week. The finished compost are given away if you haul by yourself, or used by our own nursery. Wasted mushroom log composting eliminates the environmental and economic costs of landfilling or incineration.
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