methods of composting and preparation techniques

1. College of horticulture,MUDIGERE
Presentation on : Composting….
Types & method of preparation.
Submitted to :mr.Devaraju
Dept. of vegetable science
Submitted by :Praveen.B.Patil
MH02TAC020
Dept. of horticultural entomology

3. Composting….
.
Types & method of preparation.

4.  A mass of rotted organic matter made from waste is
called compost.
 The compost made from farm waste like sugarcane
trash, paddy straw, weeds and other plants and other
waste is called farm compost.
 The compost made from town refuses like night soil,
street sweepings and dustbin refuse is called town
compost.
 Composting is essentially a microbiological
decomposition of organic residues collected from
rural area (rural compost) or urban area (urban
compost).

5. Rural Urban
compost compost
• N 0.15 1.4
• P2o5 0.5 1
• K2o 0.5 1.4

6. In addition to, nitrogen, phosphorous,
and potassium, certain micronutrients
viz. manganese, copper, iron, and zinc
also found in compost which helps
them to control diseases and insects.
Compost improves the quality of soil,
and for this reason it is considered as
a soil conditioner.
Compost improves the structure and
texture of the soil enable them to
retain nutrients, moisture, and air for
the betterment of growth of plants.
It contains a variety of the basic
nutrients required for healthy
growth of plants.

7. Composting is a biochemical process in which
aerobic and anaerobic microorganism
decomposes organic matter into valuable manure
called as compost.
Organic matter
Release heat
(Thermophilic state, which
helps to destroy pathogens)
Temp 55-60o c
Organic matter compost
(Mesophilic state ,Temp. 25-
30o c, promote mesophilic
microbes for rapid
decomposition )

8. Anaerobes
Which decompose organic
matter in absence of oxygen
Two type of microbes which help in composting process are:
Aerobes
Which decompose organic
matter in presence of oxygen

9. Methods
Indore Method
This method was developed by
A. Howard andY. D.Wad at the
Institute of Plant industry,
Indore, India
Coimbatore method
Bangalore Method
This method was worked
out by L. N. Acharya at
Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore.
NADEP Method
Demonstration of this method
at large scale was initiated at J.
N. KrishiVidyalaya, Indore.

10.  In the Indore method of composting, organic wastes are
spread in the cattle shed to serve as bedding.
 Urine soaked material along with dung is removed every day
and formed into a layer of about 15 cm thick at suitable sites.
 Urine soaked earth, scraped from cattle sheds is mixed with
water and sprinkled over the layer of wastes twice or thrice a
day.
 Layering process continued for about a fortnight. A thin
layer of well decomposed compost is sprinkled over top and
the heap given a turning and reformed.
 Old compost acts as inoculum for decomposing the material.
 The heap is left undisturbed for about a month.Then it is
thoroughly moistened and given a turning.The compost is
ready for application in another month.

11. Breadth - 6-8 feet
Depth - 2-3 feet ( not more than 3 feet)
Length - 10 feet or more as per requirement

12. Mix plant residues, weeds,
sugarcane leaves, grass,
wood ashes, bran etc.
Animal dung
Urine soaked mud
Wood ashes
Water

13. One more layer of bedding material
with wood ash and urinated mud
should be added.
First of all, spread dry wastes
with cattle dung and soil in ratio
of 4:2:1 up to 2 inch layer in
Composting pit.
Afterwards, sprinkle the water
over the materials
Pit is filled with above materials
up to 1 foot above the ground
level

14. The material is turned three times for
proper aeration and moisture.
First turning :
10-15 days after filling
the pits.
Second turning :
15 days after first
turning.
Third turning :
After 2 month of second
turning

15.  In the Bangalore method of composting, dry waste
material of 25 cm thick is spread in a pit and a thick
suspension of cow dung in water is sprinkled over for
moistening.
 A thin layer of dry waste is laid over the moistened
layer.
 The pit is filled alternately with dry layers of material
and cow dung suspension till it rises 0.5 m above
ground level.
 It is left exposed without covering for 15 days. It is
given a turning, plastered with wet mud and left
undisturbed for about 5 months or till required.

16. This method saves labour
cost because there is no
need of turning and regular
sprinkling of water.
Composting is done in
trenches of 30’ × 6’ × 3’ or in
pits of 20’ × 6’ ×3.
Size of the pit

17. Finally the heap is covered with 1
inch thick mud.
After 8-9 months all material decomposes and
compost becomes ready for the application.
Spread the moist farm refuse at
the bottom of the pit up to one
inch.
Then, spread two inch of cattle dung
and urinated mud followed by 1 or 2
inch layer of soil
This heap is made up to 1.5-2.0
feet above the ground level
following above process.

18. This method facilitates a lot of
composting through minimum use of
cattle dung.
In this method, the decomposition process
takes place aerobically.

19. Selection of site and compost making
Material required
Method of filling tank
Second filling

20. Plastering of inner wall and
floor of the tank should be
done by mixture of dung and
mud.
The tank should be
located near cattle shed
or farm site.
The tank should be 10’ ×6’ ×3’in
size and are prepared with 9’
inch thick wall
Proper blocks and holes of 7
inches should be left on all
the four side of the tank wall
for the circulation of air.
Size of pit

21. S.
No.
Material Quantity (Kg)
1. Farm residues 1400-1500
2. Cattle dung 90-100
3. Dry sieved soil 1750
4. water 1500-2000

22. Slurry made of cow dung and water should be sprinkled on the floor
and the walls of tank. The filling of tank follows these steps:
First layer
Plant residues are
spread evenly in
layer up to 6
inches (10-100 Kg)
in tank.
Second layer:
4-5 Kg Cattle dung
of gobber gas-
slurry in 125 to
150 litres of water
should be apply on
the first layer.
Third layer:
50-60 Kg sieved
soil added on the
second layer of
tank .

23.  In this way, the tank is filled layer by layer up to
1.5 feet above the brick level of tank.
 Filled tank should be covered and sealed by 3
inch layer of soil (300-400Kg)
 It should also be pasted with a mixture of dung
and soil.
 Periodically the paste of cattle dung and water
should be sprinkle to maintain 15-20% moisture.

24. Periodically the paste of cattle
dung and water should be
sprinkle to maintain 15-20%
moisture.
At this stage, the process of
the first filling is repeated and
again sealed with paste of
mud & dung.
After 20 days, the plant residue
contracts and goes down in the
tank by 20-25 inches.

25.  In Coimbatore method, composting is done in pits of
different sizes depending on the waste material available.
 A layer of waste materials is first laid in the pit.
 It is moistened with a suspension of 5-10 kg cow dung in
2.5 to 5.0 I of water and 0.5 to 1.0 kg fine bone meal
sprinkled over it uniformly.
 Similar layers are laid one over the other till the material
rises 0.75 m above the ground level. It is finally plastered
with wet mud and left undisturbed for 8 to 10 weeks.
 Plaster is then removed, material moistened with water,
given a turning and made into a rectangular heap under
shade. It is left undisturbed till its use.

26.  Vermicomposting is a process that relies on
earthworms and microorganisms to help stabilize
active organic materials and convert them to a
valuable soil amendment and source of plant
nutrients.
 Earthworms will consume most organic materials,
including food preparation residuals and leftovers,
scrap paper, animal manure, agricultural crop
residues, organic byproducts from industries, and
yard trimmings.

27.  Instead of disposing of food scraps, yard wastes, and
other organics, the materials can be
vermicomposted.
 This method of recycling converts organic materials
that have traditionally been viewed as waste into a
valuable soil amendment for plants and crops.
 When vermicompost is added to soil, it boosts the
nutrients available to plants and enhances soil
structure and drainage.
 Vermicompost has also been shown to increase plant
growth and suppress plant disease and insect pest
attacks.

28.  Vermicompost is rich in all essential plant nutrients.
 Provides excellent effect on overall plant growth, encourages the growth of
new Shoots / leaves and improves the quality and shelf life of the produce.
 Vermicompost is free flowing, easy to apply, handle and store and does not
have bad odour.
 It improves soil structure, texture, aeration, and water holding capacity and
prevents soil erosion.
 Vermicompost is rich in beneficial micro flora such as , P- solubilizers,
cellulose decomposing micro-flora etc in addition to improve soil
environment.
 Vermicompost contains earthworm cocoons and increases the population
and activity of earthworm in the soil.
 Vermicompost minimizes the incidence of pest and diseases.
 It enhances the decomposition of organic matter in soil.

29. Organic carbon 9.5 – 17.98%
Nitrogen 0.5 – 1.50%
Phosphorous 0.1 – 0.30%
Potassium 0.15 – 0.56%
Sodium 0.06 – 0.30%
Calcium and Magnesium 22.67 to 47.60 meq/100g
Copper 2 – 9.50 mg kg-1
Iron 2 – 9.30 mg kg-1
Zinc 5.70 – 11.50 mg kg-1
Sulphur 128 – 548 mg kg-1

30.  Eisenia foetida
 Eudrilus euginae
 Perionyx excavatus
 Bimastos parvus

31.  Should be tolerant to disease
 Culturing technique should be simple enough to
adopt
 Should be efficient convertor of plant or animal
bio-mass
 Wider adaptability
 Growth rate-fast
 Compatibility with other worms
 Worms should produce large number of cocoons
that should not have long hatching time, so that
multiplication and organic matter conversion is
fast

32.  Container :- In a container of 2.23x 2.23 m, about 10 kg of
earthworms can convert approximately 1t per month
 Bedding material:-This is the lower most layer of
earthworm feed substrate that is required to be
composted-banana stem peels, coir pith, coconut leaves,
grasses etc..
 Moisture content:- 30-40%
 Temperature:- 20-300 is optimum