Results for Final Week. [ Week 8 ]

RESULT FOR COMPOSTING WITH BIO-CHAR

RESULT FOR COMPOSTING WITHOUT BIO-CHAR

Macroorganisms

As mentioned earlier, larger organisms are involved in physically transforming organic material into compost. They are active during the later stages of composting – digging, chewing, sucking, digesting and mixing compostable materials. In addition to mixing materials, they break it into smaller pieces, and transform it into more digestible forms for microorganisms. Their excrement is also digested by bacteria, causing more nutrients to be released.

• Micro- and macroorganisms are part of a complex food chain. This food chain consists of organisms classified as either first-, second-, or third-level consumers. The categories are based on what they eat and who eats them. First level consumers become the food for second level consumers, which in turn, are eaten by third level consumers. Soil ecologist Dr. Daniel L. Dindal gives an example of how the food chain works in Ecology of Compost:

• “Mites and springtails eat fungi. Tiny feather-winged beetles feed on fungal spores. Nematodes ingest bacteria. Protozoa and rotifers present in water films feed on bacteria and plant particles. Predaceous mites and pseudoscorpions prey upon nematodes, fly larvae, other mites and collembolans. Free-living flatworms ingest gastropods, earthworms, nematodes and rotifers. Third-level consumers such as centipedes, rove beetles, ground beetles, and ants prey on second-level consumers.”

The following is an overview of some of the larger macroorganisms you are likely to find in a compost pile.

• Ants - Ants feed on a variety of materials including fungi, seeds, sweets and other insects. They help the composting process by bringing fungi and other organisms into their nests. Ants can make compost richer in phosphorus and potassium by moving minerals around as they work.

• Millipedes – Millipedes have wormlike segmented bodies, with each segment having two pairs of walking legs (except the front few segments). Millipedes help break down plant material by eating soft decaying vegetation. They will roll up in a ball when in danger.

• Centipedes – Centipedes are flat, segmented worms with one pair of legs in each segment. They are third-level consumers that feed on soil invertebrates, especially insects and spiders.

• Sow bugs – Sow bugs have a flat and oval body with distinct segments and ten pairs of legs. They are first-level consumers that feed on rotting woody materials and other decaying vegetation. Pill bugs look similar to sow bugs, but roll up in a ball when disturbed.

• Springtails – Springtails are small insects distinguished by their ability to jump 

• when disturbed. They rarely exceed one-quarter inch in length and vary in color from white to blue to black. Springtails are principally fungi feeders, although they also eat molds and chew on decomposing plants.

• Flies – Flies are two-wing insects that feed on almost any kind of organic material. They also act as airborne carriers of bacteria, depositing it wherever they land. Although flies are not often a problem associated with compost piles, you can control their numbers by keeping a layer of dry leaves or grass clippings on top of the pile. Also, bury food scraps at least eight to twelve inches deep into the pile. Thermophilic temperatures kill fly larvae. Mites help to keep fly larvae reduced in numbers.

• Beetles - Beetles are insects with two pairs of wings. Types commonly found in compost piles include the rove beetle, ground beetle, and feather-winged beetle.The feather-winged beetle feeds on fungal spores. Immature grubs feed on decaying vegetables. Adult rove and ground beetles prey on snails, slugs, and other small animals.

• Snails and slugs - Snails and slugs are mollusks that travel in a creeping movement. Snails have a spiral shell with a distinct head and retractable foot. Slugs do not have a shell and are somewhat bullet shaped with antennae on their front section. They feed primarily on living plant material, but they will also attack plant debris. Look for them in finished compost before using it, as they could do damage to your garden if they move in.

• Spiders - Spiders are eight-legged creatures and third-level consumers that feed on insects and small invertebrates. They can be very helpful for controlling garden pests.

•  Earthworms - Earthworms are the most important of the large physical decomposers in a compost pile. Earthworms ingest organic matter and digest it with the help of tiny stones in their gizzards. Their intestinal juices are rich in hormones, enzymes, and other

• Fermenting substances that continue the breakdown process. The worms leave dark, fertile castings behind. A worm can produce its weight in castings each day. These castings are rich in plant nutrients such as nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus that might otherwise be unavailable to plants. Earthworms thrive on compost and contribute greatly to its quality. The presence of earthworms in either compost or soil is evidence of good microbial activity.

Identify the Microb Especially on the Compost Soil through the Experiment 4

This video describing about the experiment test on identifying the growth of bacteria in soil, air and water. 

MICROORGANISM IN A COMPOST PILE

• Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes account for most of the decomposition that takes place in a pile. They are considered chemical decomposers, because they change the chemistry of organic wastes. 

• The larger decomposers, or macroorganisms, in a compost pile include mites, centipedes, sow bugs, snails, millipedes, springtails, spiders, slugs, beetles, ants, flies, nematodes, flatworms, rotifers, and earthworms. They are considered to be physical decomposers because they grind, bite, suck, tear, and chew materials into smaller pieces.

•  Of all these organisms, aerobic bacteria are the most important decomposers. They are very abundant; there may be millions in a gram of soil or decaying organic matter. You would need 25,000 of them laid end to end on a ruler to make an inch. They are the most nutritionally diverse of all organisms and can eat nearly anything.

• Bacteria utilize carbon as a source of energy (to keep on eating) and nitrogen to build protein in their bodies (so they can grow and reproduce). They obtain energy by oxidizing organic material, especially the carbon fraction. This oxidation process heats up the compost pile from ambient air temperature. If proper conditions are present, the pile will heat up fairly rapidly (within days) due to bacteria consuming readily decomposable materials.

•  While bacteria can eat a wide variety of organic compounds, they have difficulty escaping unfavorable environments due to their size and lack of complexity. Changes in oxygen, moisture, temperature, and acidity can make bacteria die or become inactive.

•  Aerobic bacteria need oxygen levels greater than five percent. They are the preferred organisms, because they provide the most rapid and effective composting. They also excrete plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium. When oxygen levels fall below five percent, the aerobes die and decomposition slows by as much as 90 percent.

•  Anaerobic microorganisms take over and, in the process, produce a lot of useless organic acids and amines (ammonia-like substances) which are smelly, contain unavailable nitrogen and, in some cases, are toxic to plants. In addition, anaerobes produce hydrogen sulfide (aroma-like rotten eggs), cadaverine, and putrescine (other sources of offensive odors).

• There are different types of aerobic bacteria that work in composting piles. Their populations will vary according to the pile temperature. Psychrophilic bacteria work in the lowest temperature range. They are most active at 55° F and will work in the pile if the initial pile temperature is less than 70º F. They give off a small amount of heat in comparison to other types of bacteria. The heat they produce is enough however, to help build the pile temperature to the point where another set of bacteria,mesophilic bacteria, start to take over.

•  Mesophilic bacteria rapidly decompose organic matter, producing acids, carbon dioxide and heat. Their working temperature range is generally between 70º to 100º F. When the pile temperature rises above 100º F, the mesophilic bacteria begin to die off or move to the outer part of the heap. They are replaced by heat-lovingthermophilic bacteria.

• Thermophilic bacteria thrive at temperatures ranging from 113º to 160º F. Thermophilic bacteria continue the decomposition process, raising the pile temperature 130º to 160º F, where it usually stabilizes. Unless a pile is constantly fed new materials and turned at strategic times, the high range temperatures typically last no more than three to five days.

• Thermophilic bacteria use up too much of the degradable materials to sustain their population for any length of time. As the thermophilic bacteria decline and the temperature of the pile gradually cools off, the mesophilic bacteria again become dominant. The mesophilic bacteria consume remaining organic material with the help of other organisms.

• The drop in compost pile temperature is not a sign that composting is complete, but rather an indication that the compost pile is entering another phase of the composting process. While high temperatures (above 140º F) have the advantage of killing pathogenic organisms and weed seeds, it is unnecessary to achieve those temperatures unless there is a specific concern about killing disease organisms and seeds. 

• Many decomposers are killed or become inactive when pile temperatures rise above 140º F. If the pile temperature exceeds 160º F, you may want to take action and cool the pile by turning it. A number of research projects have shown that soil amended with compost can help fight fungal infestations. If the compost pile temperature goes above 160º F, the composting material may become sterile and lose its disease fighting properties.

• While the various types of bacteria are at work, other microorganisms are also contributing to the degradation process. Actinomycetes, a higher-form bacteria similar to fungi and molds, are responsible for the pleasant earthy smell of compost. Grayish in appearance, actinomycetes work in the moderate heat zones of a compost pile.

•  They decompose some of the more resistant materials in the pile such as lignin, cellulose, starches, and proteins. As they reduce materials, they liberate carbon, nitrogen, and ammonia, making nutrients available for higher plants. Actinomycetes occur in large clusters and become most evident during the later stages of decomposition.

• Like bacteria and actinomycetes, fungi are also responsible for organic matter decay in a compost pile. Fungi are primitive plants that can be either single celled or many celled and filamentous. They lack a photosynthetic pigment. Their main contribution to a compost pile is to break down cellulose and lignin, after faster acting bacteria make inroads on them. They prefer cooler temperatures (70 to 75º F) and easily digested food sources. As a result, they also tend to take over during the final stage of composting.

Composting on You-Tube channel

This video can show 3 easy method to compost and help you to understand more :)

Some ComPOsting Facts

• The average US. Household generates 650 lbs. of compostable materials each year.
• Over 60% of what we put in our landfills is organic waste such as food scraps. Yard trimming , and paper, much of which could be recycled by composting.
• Composting save money. Families reduce their garbage collection bills and municipalities save money on transporting and disposing of waste when organic materials are eliminated from the collection system.
• Compost improves soil, adds important nutrients for plants, reduces the need for expensive commercial fertilizers.

Week 7 Results

WRITTEN BY  :  AZIMY