Compost is made from waste products like animal and plant remains, left over food and so on. To change the waste in compost the process of composting is done under aerobic conditions. Other than aerobes, certain other insects like ants, nematodes and other type of worms are also used.
To fasten the process of decomposition, artificial conditions are created. Piles of decompose rich in carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and water is heaven for anaerobic microbes. Sometimes if these situations are not controlled then there can be certain disadvantages like bad odor from the decomposing material. Also, be prepared to spend a lot of time waiting for the final compost. It is therefore advisable to control the essential nutrients to hasten the process. Ideal ratio of decomposing for faster and better results lies in the ingredients. For example the best by far is where the ratio of carbon in the pile is 25-30 times greater than nitrogen in dry weight. Many ingredients that contain high carbon level are sawdust, paper, cardboard etc. and that of nitrogen includes, plant material, fruits, vegetables etc.

Techniques of composting

There are many ways of composting, which can be easily done at home. Usually in home settings, a compost bin is used or compost bins are dug in the garden. In other large setting, techniques like in-vessel composting, tunnel composting and windrow composting are preferred. Composting also depends a lot on where you are doing it. Certain forms of compost like meat and animal scraps, etc. require very advanced and sophisticated techniques for decomposing, which are not available in home settings.

Methods of composting

There are mainly two ways of decomposing, active or hot decomposing and passive or cold decomposing. While the former is in controlled conditions, the later prefers the natural course of things. Therefore, in large settings, the active way is much more preferred.

Pros and cons:

Compost is cheap and environment friendly. However it can also smell and attract unwanted pests.

Conclusion

Finally, as the material decomposes heat is generated, depending upon the bacteria. This natural heating kills pathogens leaving the way for fastest decomposing possible. This may not happen if the heap is too wet or too dry or if the ingredients are not appropriate. Adding more material can be one of the solutions.

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