If you want to learn how organic fertilizer or compost is made, here we show you some Types of Compost and their characteristics. When making the compost, the recycling of organic waste is used, such as remains of lettuce leaves, beets, orange peels and bananas, among other food remains that are discarded and in this way we can obtain a natural product with which you can pay the floors. I invite you to know the main types of Compost, which are used.
the compost
In nature, plants absorb nutrients and minerals from the soil layer that accumulates nutrients from the decomposition of leaves, roots, stems, and animal remains. With the aim of providing nutrients to the plants that are grown without using chemical fertilizers, and following the teachings of nature, compost is made. Therefore, compost is an organic manure or fertilizer that has different methods or techniques to be elaborated, from the decomposition of vegetable remains, and when they are incorporated into the soil again, the plants absorb nutrients.
House-grown plants always require nutrients during their growth and when they are planted in pots, the nutrients in the soil are limited, due to this they have to be supplied by applying fertilizer or fertilizer, whether chemical or organic. In case you want to save money and have enough space, you have the option of making compost at home and thus provide nutrients to the plants you grow.
The decomposition of this raw material is achieved after going through a disintegration process at a certain temperature and humidity until it becomes compost or organic matter rich in nutrients. In order for the plants and animals involved in the process to disintegrate, in addition to the appropriate humidity and temperature conditions, microorganisms must also intervene: fungi, bacteria, insects, molluscs and others, after a certain period of time, the result is achieved end than compost.
When the material has completely disintegrated, a dark brown organic fertilizer or compost is obtained, its smell is similar to fresh earth and if you carry out a fertility analysis, the amount and type of nutrient that it is composed of will be indicated. This organic fertilizer is suggested to be applied to restore the soil of plants in pots, planters, planted directly in the soil of gardens and agricultural crops.
Compost is also used to prevent soils from degrading, by helping to provide nutrients that allow natural processes to be carried out that lead to conserving the soil and forming humus or organic matter, establishing the surface layer of the soil that protects the deeper layers of the soil. , where chemical and physical processes of formation of the soil structure, porosity, absorption of more nutrients, acidity or alkalinity of the soil are being carried out, which are part of the nature of the soil.
Types of Compost
According to the aforementioned, the compost or compost is obtained from material of vegetable and animal origin. To achieve compost, this raw material has to go through a decomposition and fermentation process that allows the nutrients to help restore the soil when it is incorporated back into the soil and the plants use what they need for fertilization.
Organic fertilizer or compost can be obtained using the remains of recently cut or pruned grass, dry leaves, herbs, the rest of small trunks and roots. You can also use manure, fishmeal, sawdust, for example. The remains generated from agricultural activity are very good to use in composting. Depending on the raw material used, the method used, different types of compost will be obtained. Here are some types.
basic compost
It is an easy way to make organic matter, it is made by placing several layers of organic matter one on top of the other and being aware that the temperature and humidity are adequate. This fertilizer is manufactured inside a closed or open tank or container. When making the compost in a closed container, it must have adequate dimensions and guarantee the temperature and humidity conditions required to achieve the disintegration of the raw material used to make the compost. Production time can be several months.
If the compost is made outdoors, a hole is opened in the ground and the raw material to be decomposed is applied in layers. In this case, the disintegration process of the material used to produce compost is faster, this occurs due to soil microorganisms that accelerate the disintegration process. The decomposing material has to be turned over frequently, in order for the entire mixture to decompose evenly.
hot compost
It is used as raw material to produce this type of compost, manure, earth and water, it is prepared placed on the ground. Aerobic bacteria participate in the disintegration of the material by exchanging oxygen from the air. This type of hot compost is traditionally manufactured in agricultural crops in rural areas. The place selected to prepare this compost must be in a place with a little shade, ventilated and in an open-air place, it is made on the ground.
To make this type of compost, a series of layers of tree branches and bark are placed on the surface of the soil, as well as smaller and thicker material such as freshly cut grass remains, dry leaves, rest of flowers, moistened in advance. . To increase the temperature, a layer of manure is placed, and the following days, soil is placed on top of this mixture and everything is sealed by adding a little water.
This preparation described above to make hot compost is repeated three or four times until a pile reaches a height of approximately 1,75 meters. To prevent it from spreading, sticks and branches are placed at the edges of the pile to support it and give stability to the entire pile.
This pile is covered with a tarpaulin or plastic and in this way protect it from environmental conditions, such as rain, solar irradiation, strong winds and others. As the manure and branch material decomposes, the decomposition process increases the temperature to about 60°C. The following days the temperature drops and, when this happens, water has to be added to the compost pile to end the process.
coffee compost
As its name says, coffee waste is used to make this type of compost or fertilizer, this type of waste is distinguished because it decomposes quickly. These coffee residues are placed in a hole in the ground. This hole has to be completely covered. This type of compost made from coffee is manufactured and ready for use in a couple of weeks. Coffee-based fertilizer is widely used in gardening because it has a high percentage of nitrogen. If this fertilizer is mixed with water, a good quality liquid nitrogen fertilizer can be obtained.
Compost or earthworm humus
The worm compost or earthworm humus, as its name indicates, is manufactured using worms, specifically the red earthworms, identified with the scientific name of Lumbricus rubbellus, for being a saprophagous animal that feeds on organic material such as manure. During the manure consumption process, gases are released and vitamin B12 is produced in the material decomposed by the worms, in addition to other nutritional compounds.
Making fertilizer through red worms has the objective of creating the right conditions so that these red worms can make a high-quality fertilizer and increase the nutritional levels of the cultivation soil. This fertilizer is very beneficial for plants and microorganisms that work in symbiosis with plant roots, protecting them from being contaminated by fungi and bacteria.
Red worms feed on different organic materials, including food residues, with the exception of citrus fruits and vegetables of the garlic and onion family. For this method of producing compost by vermiculture, also called vermicomposting, it must have a good level of environmental humidity, around 70%, and a temperature of 21°C on average, these conditions will ensure the reproduction of the roots and the production of seeds. fertilizer.
chicken manure compost
During composting, it comes into contact with birds to help the organic material to degrade faster. Chickens are often used to assist in the composting of this process. This occurs because the chickens feed on organic matter, this material is taken to the chicken feeder. Simultaneously, the hens incorporate their excrement, which is called chicken manure. Chicken manure speeds up the decomposition process of organic matter and therefore fertilizer or compost is produced faster.
japanese compost
This compost originating in Japan is also called "bokashi", it emerged from the rice farmers of that country, who with the aim of producing organic fertilizer or compost from the waste from rice fields in Japan. It has the advantage that its fertilizer production is faster compared to the production time of common or traditional fertilizer.
This is achieved because the Japanese fertilizer or bokashi, microorganisms are added to the raw material to produce this fertilizer, which is made with water, molasses and yeast, organic matter that accelerates the decomposition process and the fertilizer is produced faster. To the bokashi fertilizer they also add fertilizer produced with chicken manure and ashes, rice hulls and charcoal and other organic materials that can be exchanged providing different percentages of nutrients.
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