How to compost organic waste (such as manure from livestock, poultry and agricultural waste)

Firstly, you should prepare raw materials and adjust to favorable fermentation conditions. If you want to compost animal manure, you can add some sawdust and straw powder to adjust water content and C/N ratio. The most suitable moisture for composting is 50% to 60%, and the suitable C/N ratio is 25:1. Then, you can mix them evenly.

Secondly, you start to make compost piles. You can pile organic waste in long rows or windrows, or you can put them in a fermentation groove. The size of compost pile should be proper, because too larger or small size will influence the final quality of compost.

Finally, you need to regularly turn the compost pile. During composting, microorganisms will digest organic matter, consume oxygen and waster, and produce heat. Therefore, you should turn the compost pile, so as to provide enough air for organic matter decomposition.

Note: For the fermentation, it will cost about 20 days. In the first week, you need to turn compost pile 2-3 times or 3-4 times per day. Once the raw materials temperature reach on 50-60 degrees Celsius, you need to turn the raw materials to help them heat dissipation. After one week, you can turn the raw materials one time for 1-2 days. As long as the temperature does not increase anymore, and the raw materials can be powder by hand hold, then the fermentation is done.

Do you need to add extra materials during composting?

Yes, you need to add some fermentation strains, so as to increase microorganism content during composting.

Why should we compost organic waste before application?

Let us take animal manure as an example. On the one hand, fresh animal manure contains many pathogens, weed seed and worm eggs, which may pollute plants and soil. On the other hand, the fresh manure will ferment in the soil after direct application, which may burn plant roots. Therefore, composting is necessary for using animal manure as fertilizer.

 How much work area is needed for fermentation?

It depends on the specific conditions. We can provide you a formula for calculation. Work area= hourly output* work time* fermentation period/ density of fermentation material/ height of compost pile.

What’s moisture of materials before and after fermentation?

Before fermentation, the moisture is 50% to 60%. And after fermentation, the moisture is 25% to 30%.

How long does it take to compost organic waste?

With the help of compost turner, it will be finished in 20 to 30 days.

Will organic waste become powder after fermentation?

Yes. But compost caking may exist.