Composts preparation

Wistinghausen, C.v., Scheibe, W., Wistinghausen, E.v. and Kbnig, U.J. 1998. The Biodynamic Spray and Compost Preparations - Production Methods. Booklet No. 1. Stroud, 1. Edition. Biodynamic Agricultural Association, Stoubridge. 

Diver, Steve. 1999. Biodynamic Farming and Compost Preparation. National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. ATTRA Publication IPi37. 

Beneficial effects of compost addition to soil include increased pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC), higher N and P availability and improved soil structure. Applications of 5-10 t ha 1 of compost prepared from household refuses, farmyard manure, crop residues and ashes increased pH and CEC in the topsoil and boosted sorghum yields by factors of 1.5 to 3 in Burkina Faso (Ouedraogo et al.,... 

Other lignin applications of NIR included research on flax fiber [148], compost prepared from wheat straw and chicken litter [149], hard red winter and spring wheat [150], and degradation of plant cell walls by white-rot fungi [151]. 

Four other methods of preservation include the immersion of slants into liquid nitrogen (an expensive procedure) the inoculation of washed sterilized horse manure/straw compost that is then kept at 36-38 ° F. (See Chapter V on compost preparation) the inoculation of sawdust/bran media for wood decomposers (see section in Chapter III on alternative spawn media) or saving spores aceptically under refrigerated conditions—perhaps the simplest method for home cultivators. 

Since commercial growers work with many Tons of compost, a bucket loader is essential. They also use a specially designed machine for turning the piles. This compost turner can travel through a 200 foot pile in a little over one hour, mixing in supplements and adding water. Small scale cultivators can make compost without these machines. The following is a list of tools and facilities that are basic to compost preparation. 

Method of Preparation See Chapter V on compost preparation. Pasteurization achieved through exposure to live steam for 2 hours at 140° F. throughout the substrate. Compost should be filled to a depth of 6-12 inches. 

Method of Preparation Chopped wheat straw pasteurized in a hot water bath at 160° for 20-30 minutes, cooled and spawned or horse manure/straw compost prepared according methods outlined in Chapter V. 

Compost Preparation raw materials, characteristics of composts at differents stages, Phase 1 and Phase II. 

Medium Through Which Contamination Is Spread Primarily air secondarily the straw used in compost preparation. 

Measures of Control Generally no controls are necessary during compost preparation. However, Actinomyces can cause spontaneous combustion in wet, compacted straw. Covering stored baled straw from excess water absorption should be adequate protection from Actinomyces and the thermogenic reactions they cause. 

Habitat Frequency of Occurence Saprophytic, a common mold in soils, and endemic to composts prepared in direct contact with the ground. Although Chlysosporium species naturally inhabit the dung of most pastured animals and of chickens, today they are rarely seen in finished mushroom composts with the development of modern composting methods. 

Comments Chrysosporium s an indioator mold whose presenoe oan be traced to compost prepared on soil. Yellow mat disease is caused by Chrysosporium luteum, a synonym of Myceliopthoralutea. Another species, Chrysosporiumsulphureum. is known as Confetti, and is at first whitish, then yellowish towards the center. These molds were fairly common in Agaricus culture previous to 1 940, when composts were prepared directly on soil. With the advent of concrete composting wharfs, they have all but disappeared. According to Atkins (1 974), this contaminant is more frequent in cave culture because of the use of ridge beds made directly on the floor of the cave. Chiysosporium s usually not detected until the first break and retards subsequent flushes. Moderate To severe outbreaks of either species can adversely affect yields. 

Refuse composting plants were originally devised with a view to converting municipal refuse into an inoffensive product which could be spread without attracting rats, or marketed as a fertiliser. Its principal credentials as a fertiliser were that it contained humus and that it had something in common with garden composts prepared from plant residues. The material produced by... 

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