PSS 123 Lecture 10: Composts

• School: University of Vermont
• Department: Plant & Soil Science
• Course: PSS 123
• Professor: Leonard P.Perry

Document Summary

Organic matter is important for healthy and sustainable soil: thus it is best for plant growth. Principles behind compost: microorganisms breakdown plant debris, they need organic matter to decompose. This is way kitchen scraps are added: they need a source of nitrogen, they need water. This is why compost must be kept wet: they need air. This is why compost must be turned (1) causes aerobic decomposition: key to effective compost is heat. Microorganisms need it to work (1) if too cold, they may not be active (a) good temperature is 140 degrees fahrenheit (i) this which pasteurizes soil: kills bad organisms, doesn"t harm good ones. Sign of a proper growing temperature: steam rising on a cool morning, warmth when putting hand into the container. Many containers are sold for keeping compost in. It can be kept in a pile as well.