DECOMPOSITION and Aerobic Thermal Composting By: Molly Haviland - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

DECOMPOSITION

and Aerobic Thermal Composting

By: Molly Haviland for Living Soil MUM 2013

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

A BALANCED SYSTEM SUPPORTS

• 1. Soil Stabilization
• 2. Soil Aeration
• 3. Nutrient Retention
• 4. Nutrient Cycling
• 5. Water Retention
• 6. Plant Fertility
• 7. Carbon Sequestration

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

WHAT IS COMPOSTING?

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

WHAT IS COMPOSTING?

“Composting is oxidative decomposition of a mix of different kinds of organic matter.”

• Dr. Ingham

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

OXIDATIVE

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

OXIDATIVE

“taking place in the presence of oxygen”

AEROBIC

“living with air”

Anaerobic

“living without air”

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

TOXINS RELEASED

Under Anaerobic Conditions

• Hydrogen Sulfide: H2S
• Ammonia: NH3
• Phosphine: PH3
• Alcohol
• Phenols

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

MONITORING O2 LEVELS

• O2 Sensor
• What Do

You Smell?

• Vinegar = Acetic Acid
• Sour Milk = Butyric Acid
• Vomit = Valeric Acid
• Decaying Flesh = Putrescine

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

DECOMPOSITION ?

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

DECOMPOSITION ?

“breaking down component parts and rebuilding them”

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

DECOMPOSITION ?

“breaking down component parts and rebuilding them”

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

DIRT VS SOIL

Mineral Component Life Component

sand, silt, and clay + organisms and OM

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

WHAT IS ORGANIC MATTER?

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

WHAT IS ORGANIC MATTER?

• Anything that was once living

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

WHAT IS ORGANIC MATTER?

• Anything that was once living
• C-C linkages

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

AEROBIC THERMAL COMPOSTING

• Kills Pathogens and weed seeds
• Finished in 2-4 Months
• Stable Inoculum
• Labor Intensive

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

POINTS TO CONSIDER

• Location
• Size
• Temperature
• Moisture
• Ingredient Ratios

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

TEMPERATURE

• At or above 131 F for 10-15 days
• Turned 5 times within those days

Organic Standards Require

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

MOISTURE

• Soil Moisture Meters
• Hand Squeeze Method
• Water Quality

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

STARTING MATERIALS

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

STARTING MATERIALS

High Nitrogen 10:1

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

STARTING MATERIALS

High Nitrogen 10:1 Green - Young 30:1

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

STARTING MATERIALS

High Nitrogen 10:1 Green - Young 30:1 Woody - Mature 100:1

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

STARTING MATERIALS

High Nitrogen 10:1 Green - Young 30:1 Woody - Mature 100:1

*Bacterial Food *Fresh Manure *Legumes *Nitrogen Fixing Plants

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

STARTING MATERIALS

High Nitrogen 10:1 Green - Young 30:1 Woody - Mature 100:1

*Bacterial Food *Fresh Manure *Legumes *Nitrogen Fixing Plants *Bacterial Food *Anything Cut Green

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

STARTING MATERIALS

High Nitrogen 10:1 Green - Young 30:1 Woody - Mature 100:1

*Bacterial Food *Fresh Manure *Legumes *Nitrogen Fixing Plants *Bacterial Food *Anything Cut Green *Fungal Food *Lignin/Cellulose Dense

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

RECIPES

Bacterial Pile

• 25% High Nitrogen
• 45% Green
• 30% Woody

Fungal Pile

• 25% High Nitrogen
• 45% Woody
• 30% Green

Balanced Pile

• 25% High Nitrogen
• Equal Parts Woody

and Green Slow Fungal Pile

• 10% High Nitrogen
• 60% Woody
• 30% Green

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

HOMEWORK

Read

• Teaming with Microbes, by Lowenfels and Lewis (L&L): Preface

through chapter 1

• Soil Biology Primer, by NRCS (SBP): The Soil Food Web
• Syllabus : http://livingsoilsp2011.files.wordpress.com

Create Blog

• Post address as a comment on the Homepage of the Living

Soil Blog

• find one that will accept the microscope spread sheet in full

Char

Tuesday, April 2, 2013