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What Should You Know About Compost Activators?Apr 20 '06 (Updated Jul 19 '11) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line A little bit of time and some extra nitrogen decompose a pile a bit faster.
A compost activator is a source of nitrogen for the bacteria to feed off of. These are sometimes called nitrates. Whenever plant material (or animals for that matter) fall on the ground, the chemical structure of that matter begins to decompose. Complex atomic bonds break apart into simpler ones. This is a very natural part of nature and happens all the time. For composting this is done by bacteria and some types of fungus. They consume the matter, break it apart for energy, and in the process release heat. If the pile gets hotter then bacteria gets more active and consume the matter more quickly. As the bacteria consumes matter they release heat which increases the heat of the pile. And the cycle continues to repeat itself. Bacteria consume the material more quickly when there is plenty of oxygen, when the pile is warm (140 Fahrenheit is a good goal), and when there are plenty of nitrates. If you do not address all three then it will not matter how much of the other two you put in. Once you balance all three then you will have a very healthy compost pile. Keep in mind that your pile will decompose naturally but it will be a much slower process (ex. 2 weeks verses 12 months) Examples of some activators Coffee grounds. Tea leaves. Manure (make sure it is sterilized in some manner.) Green yard waste. Some types of kitchen scraps (peels, cooked vegetables, spoiled fruite, etc.) Different types of bone meals. Finished compost. A typical routine If you want compost fast then this is what I recommend. Equal amounts of green matter (including kitchen scraps) and brown matter (dried plant material). Put the courser material on the bottom. Then start layering the brown and green material in alternating layers. You should also be watering each level as you go. It should be as wet as a rung out sponge. Wait a week then turn the pile with a compost turner. You can also use a shovel but that requires a little bit more work. In the second week I would add some more green material to the pile when I turn it a second time. If you have food scraps them make sure it is covered by compost ( just do not use dairy or meat scraps.) I should also let you know that this is an ideal situation during the summer months. In winter you will want to do this every two-three weeks instead, depending on where you live of course. Other articles you might be interested in. What should you know about compost bins -Coming next week Bio-Stacker compost bin Life time compost tumbler An awesome compost tumbleer for an awesome price, better than others I've looked at.  |
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