Good compost

Darryl Edwards

Compost Temperature Cycle.
The temperature cycle of the compost heap will follow a similar trend to that displayed in the graph below. The temperature will continue to rise until the pile is turned, when it temporarily drops. It then slowly begins to rise again. This will continue until all the nitrogen in the pile has been utilized. If your compost does not get hot it generally indicates that there is not enough nitrogen present. Be careful not to add too much Nitrogen, this will prevent the compost from maturing within the 7 to 8 week period as desired. The temperature can continue rising for many more weeks depending on how much nitrogen there is. In this situation it also means that after the 7-8 week period, when the compost should have matured, you would have to continue tending it. The temperature would need to be continually checked and the pile turned when the temperature reached close to 70C. If however the correct ratios are achieved at the start of the process and the compost begins to cool after 5-6 weeks then the conditions are ideal. After the compost has matured it can then be stored in situ for long periods without further turning. The mature compost will also not degrade nor will nutrients leach out of it. It will be in the form of a stable organic fertilizer and inoculum.

Indicators of good compost.

•Smell If it smells bad, it is bad! This is due to the presence of alcohols, Acetic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid and putrescine. All of which are produced in anaerobic conditions.
•Color NOT BLACK
Deep, rich brown indicates humics
Tan, honey color means fulvics
•Texture Crumbs, air passages, aggregates visible
•Fungal Strands Visible thick threads, in compost, not aerial, not fuzz

By Darryl and Hazel Edwards