PDC LESSON 7.3 COMPOST – THE SCIENCE OF COMPOSTING

 

PERMACULTURE COURSE AGRO-ECONOMY

PDC LESSON 7.3 COMPOST – THE SCIENCE OF COMPOSTING

 

The Science of Composting

A compost heap contains a wide diversity of living things. Soil organisms are the main catalysts in the heap breaking down compounds into carbohydrates and proteins through enzymic digestion. The carbohydrates break down into simple sugars, organic acids, and carbon dioxide. Proteins are converted into peptides, amino acids, ammonium compounds, atmospheric nitrogen and finally nitrate, which is a form of nitrogen that is available to plants.  Bacteria need sufficient oxygen and moisture to survive and when conditions are favourable in the compost heap, they can multiply at an amazing rate by reproducing themselves every five minutes!

Bacteria need carbon for energy and nitrogen to grow and reproduce. They get the energy from oxidising the carbon (turning it into carbon dioxide) and the heat in the compost heap is the result of this oxidation, as they burn up the carbon. Getting the right balance of carbon and nitrogen is therefore crucial If the bacteria have too much or too little of either element they will die. Think brown and green when trying to identify the two elements for the compost heap.

 

Text from the roots, Elisabeth Ferkonia (Aus.) PDC studied with Bill Mollison, Chart Geoff Lawton




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