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Sean Mullin

Professor Bill Errickson

ENVL 3440

11 October 2016

Compost Challenge

The focus of this project was to divide ourselves into small groups tasked with creating a

compost pile out of local organic materials. Each group was to fill one of the farms pallet bins

with this organic material to create a pile possessing the proper C:N ratio and moisture content.

There are many different biodegradable items that can be used to compost, but finding the right

organic matter in the correct quantities can prove to be tricky. Composting is a biological

process in which microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, break down organic matter into

simpler forms (Composting, 2016). An example of organic matter outside could be grass

clippings or leaves, and accordingly, an example of organic matter you can find inside is organic

waste such as fruit peels and vegetables scraps. The microorganisms facilitated with composting

require oxygen in order to metabolize organic matter into a state that can be eaten by

invertebrates. Once it is in proper form, the organic matter is eaten by invertebrates, resulting in

nutrients being returned back to the soil to support plant growth (Composting, 2016).

The process of composting has many benefits to the environment, but some of these

benefits are superior to others. A few primary pros of using compost are that it contains nutrients

that can be used by plants, it promotes soil aggregation and plant root growth, and it promotes

diversity in soil. When used properly, compost can gradually release essential nutrients to plants
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while neutralizing the soil, providing some nutrients that even synthetic fertilizers lack

(Compost, 2016). Although compost benefits plant life tremendously, it also plays a huge role in

soil composition, health, and diversity. When compost is added to soil, it increases aggregation

and promotes root growth, which are both key factors in soils battle against erosion and runoff.

Another important benefit of compost to soil health is that it promotes diversity of soil organisms

(Compost, 2016). Soil microorganisms are the main contributor to disease prevention and pest

control, and the more diverse a soil is, the more capable it is to combat harmful diseases. Even

though all the benefits of composting are positive, one specific effect stands out far more than

any of the others. The process of composting supports a sustainable way of life by recycling

waste to create a finished product that can be reused by the environment. Instead of throwing

organic waste in the trash to be sent to landfills with inorganic waste, it can be composted and

recycled into the environment in a useful manner. In 2009, the EPA stated that 34 million tons of

food waste ended up in U.S. landfills, rendering it useless to the environment (Earth Farm,

2016). To add insult to injury, organic material in landfills decomposes anaerobically, releasing

methane, a gas that is 21 times more harmful to the ozone than carbon dioxide (Earth Farm,

2016). Instead of harming the environment and becoming simple trash, a majority of food waste

could easily be added to a compost pile, starting a cycle of sustainable waste disposal.

In order to create a successful compost pile, certain requirements need to be met in order

to maximize the efficiency of the decomposition process. Some factors that need to be looked at

are the materials you use in your pile, the moisture level of the pile, aeration of the pile, and its

core temperature. All organic materials can technically be composted, but the optimal ratio

range of Carbon to Nitrogen in a pile is 25-40:1 (Errickson, 2016). The pile should have layers

of green/brown/green and materials such as pressure treated wood, coal ash, and pet manure
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should be avoided as they are more difficult to break down. Moisture levels also need to be

monitored, as too much moisture can lead to an anaerobic condition, and too little moisture can

inhibit microorganisms and lead to mold. The optimal range of moisture for a compost pile,

where the pile operates most efficiently is 40-60%. Similar to moisture, temperature ranges also

affect the rate of decomposition in compost piles. Temperatures below 110 F and above 160 F

slow down decomposition, with peak efficiency occurring between 110 and 130 degrees

(Errickson, 2016). In order to adjust moisture, temperature and the material in the center of the

pile, it must be aerated or turned. By turning the pile, oxygen is introduced, new material is

brought to the center, and temperature and moisture can be adjusted based on the weather on the

day the pile is turned. When all factors are operating in their optimal ranges, a finished compost

product can be seen within months.

In a compost pile, there are three stages of decomposition that take place. In the first, or

the Mesophilic stage, temperatures are under 110 degrees F and Mesophilic bacteria are most

active. This stage usually only lasts about 3 days and essentially serves as a kick start to

decomposition (Stages, 2016). Mesophiles get decomposition going when new material is added

to a pile, as they thrive in low temperature environments. As soon as enough matter is broken

down in the pile and the temperature starts to rise above 110 degrees, the next stage of

decomposition begins. The second stage of decomposition, or the Thermophilic stage, is when

the pile heats up to its max and settles to around 140 degrees due to the increase in Thermophile

activity. In this stage, disease and weed seeds are killed by the extreme heat on the inside of the

pile and when temperatures stabilize, the pile can be turned to introduce new material (Stages,

2016). Finally, during the curing stage, temperatures settle at about 105 degrees and slow

decomposition takes place. Also, beneficial microbe populations increase and the pH of the pile
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neutralizes. This stage can take months, and turning the pile is no longer necessary as less

oxygen is required. Organisms that join the pile in the curing stage include fungi, worms,

insects, mesophiles, and psychrophiles (Stages, 2016).

In a farm or garden application, compost has a number of benefits to the soil, crops, and

microorganism life in the environment. It can be used for vegetables, flowers, turf, as a potting

mux ingredient, and has many other practical uses. Compost can be applied by either mixing it

into the soil, or by spreading it over the surface of the soil, and both methods yield significant

benefits to the soil and crops. By incorporating compost into the soil, soil organic matter is

increased and the compost can slowly release many nutrients into the soil without runoff

(Errickson, 2016). Also, compost stabilizes nutrients, reduces weed seeds, reduces disease

organisms, and reduces flies in the field or garden. By applying compost as a layer above the

soil, weed seeds and diseases are smothered and not allowed to germinate, grow, or reproduce.

Looking past the benefits to soil and crops planted in the soil, the act of composting transforms

waste material that would normally be thrown in the trash into a useful, nutrient rich product that

can be used all over the farm. This also reduces bulk waste and the amount of waste that ends up

in landfills, creating a more sustainable farm and Earth (Errickson, 2016). Overall, composting

is one of the most beneficial practices a farm can use, and when used properly, it can make for a

sustainable, healthy farm or garden that produces quality crops.

A research experiment was done involving the economic effects of composting crab

processing waste (CPW) in Maine in 2002 where a team or researchers looked into composting

crab waste instead of the cost-effective practice of landfilling it. The goal of the experiment was

to see if recycling CPW by composting it was a more economically and environmentally friendly

way to dispose of it than landfilling the waste. Costs of using three different methods of
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composting the CPW were calculated after extensive research, and results were drawn from there

(Wentworth, 2002). Overall, the average annual costs of using the three methods did not result in

profit, but instead a net decrease of $-.066/kg to $-.117/kg. When a sensitivity analysis was

conducted to see how much additional throughput resulted in profit, the use of the Windrow

method of composting showed a net profit of $622 per 25 ton input of CPW when the CPW input

was over 1,003 tons per year (Wentworth, 2002). Although this method showed the least net loss

in small scale testing and a profit when used on a larger scale, it came with the most drawbacks,

one of which being the emission of offensive odors. It was also noted that even though the

Windrow method noted a profit when used on a large scale, profit would be impossible to

achieve under current market conditions. Overall, it was concluded that none of the three

methods tested were more economically favorable than landfilling, and that crab processors

would be better off landfilling their CPW than attempting a composting operation under the

conditions described in this research (Wentworth, 2002).

In our groups specific compost pile, we were able to gather a good variety of different

materials for use, but not in a very large quantity. The pile was rather small in size and did not

reach the top of its enclosure, but it still contained quality materials that provided it with close to

the correct C:N ratio. We ended up using 1-2 cups of tomatoes, a small handful of tomato vines,

4-5 pieces of squash, 2-3 large handfuls of salt hay, 6-10 apples, 2-4 cups of pumpkin seeds, 3-5

large handfuls of deciduous tree leaves, about 10 pine cones, and a 5-6 cups of bark shavings in

the pile, all in the proper pattern of green/brown/green as discussed earlier. Specifically, we

layered the pile in order from base to peak; Deciduous tree leaves, tomatoes and tomato vines,

salt hay, squash, pumpkin seeds and pine cones, apples and pumpkin seeds, and finally bark

shavings and more deciduous tree leaves. Our C:N ratio, although favoring carbon, was in the
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range of accepted values, containing layers that were 25:1 including hay and vegetable scraps,

and layers that were up to 400:1 with wood chips and pine cones. Another layer we included

was one with leaves (60:1) and fruit waste (35:1), so it is seen that our pile favored carbon

slightly and could have used some nitrogen rich materials such as cow manure to bring the C:N

ratio to a better range. Overall, I believe we achieved a C:N ratio of about 50:1 and a moisture

level of about 35-40% due to the amount of vegetable and fruit scraps contained in the pile.

Looking into the future, I believe our pile should be watered frequently and kept covered to add

and retain moisture, and it should only be turned on dry days when moisture levels are too high

in the pile. Moisture levels are going to need to be monitored closely because our pile contained

an excess of carbon materials that could release the moisture into the environment easily. Our

pile will most likely not be finished for at least 8 months if the current C:N ratio is kept. If we

were to add more nitrogen-based products into the equation, the pile may be done a few months

sooner than this estimate, at the 5 or 6 month mark instead. We will know our pile is finished

when temperatures drop to 105 degrees for a long amount of time and it is obvious that the pile

has an increase in soil organisms and life. The pile will also be fully degraded and the start

material will not be obvious when sifting through the end material.

Materials Table:
Moisture
Material Amount Used C:N ratio
Content
Tomato 1-2 cups 25 / 1 80%
Tomato Vine Small handful 35 / 1 30%
Squash 4-5 pieces 25 / 1 80%
Salt Hay 2-3 large handfuls 90 / 1 18%
Apples 6-10 units 25 / 1 80%
Pumpkin Seeds 2-4 cups 35 / 1 35%
Deciduous Tree
3-5 large handfuls 60 / 1 35%
Leaves
Pine Cones 10 400 / 1 30%
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Bark Shavings 5-6 cups 700 / 1 30%

Works Cited

Compost Benefits. Compost Fundamentals: Benefits & Uses benefits of compost.

Washington State University. Web. 9 Oct 2016.

Composting Process. What is Composting; Composting is natures way of recycling organic

waste Ecochem, 2014. Web. 7 Oct 2016.

Errickson, Bill. Animal Manures & Compost.

Protecting Our Environment. Earth Farms. Earth Farm Organics. Web. 8 Oct 2016.

The Stages of Composting. Stages of Composting. Web. 10 Oct 2016.

Wentworth, Danielle S., et al. Economic Analysis of Composting Crab Processing Waste.

Compost Science & Utilization, Vol. 10, no. 1, 2002, pp. 47-56.