COMPOSTING

Composting is the natural process of

rotting or decomposition of organic
matter by microorganisms under
controlled condition .Compost is cheap,
easy to make and is very effective
material that can be added to soil to
improve soil and crop quality.
Methods Of Composting
The Bangalore Method
This method of composting was developed in
Bangalore in India by Acharya. In this method
initially the decomposition is done aerobically
followed by anaerobic decomposition and this
method is also called as hot fermentation
method.
Construction Of Pit : About 1m deep pits
are dug and the breadth and length of the pit
depends n the availability of land and the type
of material to be composted. The pit should
preferably have sloping walls and a floor of
90cm slope to check water logging.
Filling The Pit : Organic residues and night
soil are put in alternating layers and the pit is
covered a 15–20 cm thick layer of refuse after
filling. The materials are allowed to stay in the
pit without turning and watering for 3 months
after the initial aerobic composting for about 8-
10 days the material undergoes anaerobic
decomposition at very slow rate and it takes
about 6-8 months to obtain the finished
product.
Modified Bangalore Method: It is a
combination of both aerobic and anaerobic
method. To make the compost at high
temperature after the heap is erected, hollow
bamboo pipes are inserted into it both vertically
and horizontally. In 2-3 days the temperature of
the heap rises to 60-70 degree Celsius. The poles
are then removed and the heap is plastered with
mud. The plaster is broken after 15 days and the
heap is turned thoroughly. The heap is replaced
and let for natural decomposition. The compost
get manure in about 2 months.
 Padegaon Method
This method is recommended for composting resistant
substrates like sugarcane trash and cotton stubbles.
These materials are chopped into 30cm size particles
and compressed to make a 30cm thick above ground
layer. This layer is soaked with slurry consisting of wood
ash, cow dung and soil. 4 or 5 such layers are added to
the pile . The complete heap is about 1.5m high, 2m
wide and of length as necessary. Since the material is
very resistant to decay the heap is turned each month
and sufficient water Is added to it to keep it moist. The
material is ready for use in about 5 months.
 Coimbatore Method
The composting is done in pits of different sizes
depending on the waste material available. A layer
of waste material is first laid in the pit. It is
moistened with a suspension of 5-10kg cow dung in
2.5-5.0 L of water and 0.5-1.0kg fine bone meals
sprinkled over it uniformly. Similarly layers are laid
one over the others till the material rises 0.75m
above the ground level. It is finally plastered with
mud and left undisturbed for 8-10 weeks. Plaster is
then removed, material moistened with water, given
a turning and made into a rectangular heap under a
shade. It is left undisturbed till it used.
 Trench Method
Construction Of Pit: The site selected for
this type of pit should be at high level so that no
rain water gets in during the monsoon season. It
should be near to the cattle shed and a water
source. A temporary shed may be constructed
over it to protect the compost from heavy
rainfall. The pit should be about 1m deep, 1.5-
2m wide and of suitable length.
Filling the pit: The material from the cattle
shed is spread evenly in the pit in layers of 10-
15cm. On each layer is spread slurry made with
4.5kg dung, 3.5kg urine earth and 4.5kg of
inoculum taken from 15 days old composting pit.
Sufficient quantity of water is sprinkled over the
material in the pit to wet it. The pit is filled in
this way layer by layer and it should not taken
longer than 1week .
Turning: The material is turned 3times
during the whole period of composting the
first time 15days after filling the pit, the
second after another 15 days and the
third after another month. At each turning
the material is mixed thoroughly,
moistened with water and replaced in the
pit.
 Heap method
Construction of site: The compost may be
prepared in heaps above ground and protected by
a shed during rainy seasons. The basic Indore pile
is about 2m wide at the base, 1.5m high and 2m
long. The sides are tapered so that the top is
about 0.5m narrower in width than the base. A
small bund is sometimes built around the pile to
protect it from wind, which tends to dry the heap.
Formation of the Heap: The heap is
usually started with a 20cm layer of
carbonaceous material such as leaves, straw,
sawdust, woodchips and chopped corn stalks.
This is then covered with 10cm of nitrogenous
material such fresh grass, weeds or garden plant
residues or dry manure. The pattern of 20cm
carbonaceous material and 10cm of nitrogenous
material is followed until the pile is 1.5m high
and the material is normally wetted so that it
may feel damp but not water logged. The pile is
sometime covered with soil and hay to retain
heat and is turned at 6 and 12 week intervals.
 The heap are covered with thin plastic sheets to
retain heat and to prevent insect breeding.
Shredding of the material speedup
decomposition significantly. Most material can
be shredded by running over them several times
a rotary mower. When sufficient nitrogenous
material is not available a green manure or
leguminous sun hemp is grown on the
fermenting heap by sowing seeds after the first
turning. The green matter is then turned in at
the time of the second mixing. The process takes
about 4 months to complete.