Aspect of the Finished Compost

The following guidelines can be used to determine whether a compost is ready for spawning. (See Color Photographs 5-8). 

The raw pungent odor is gone the odor is now light and pleasant, even slightly sweet. 

The ammonia odor is completely gone. The cresyl orange test shows no reaction. Detector tubes read 10 ppm or less. 

Straws appear dull and uniformly chocolate brown, speckled with whitish actinomycetes. 

When squeezed the compost holds its form. No water appears and the hand remains relatively clean. 

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Once finished, this compost is normally pasteurized at 1 35°F. for four hours. If pasteurization is impossible, discard the cool outer shell and utilize the areas showing strong actinomycete activity. Although these areas will not be free from all pests and competitors, they should provide a reasonably productive substrate. The aspect and characteristics of a properly prepared Long Compost should conform to the guidelines for compost after Phase II. (See Aspect of the Finished Compost on page 105 and Color Plate 8). 

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