The annual use of the site for growing various crops severely depletes the soil. To restore its fertility, it is required to periodically apply fertilizers. Compost is one of the most accessible and nutrient-rich foods. Such fertilizer can be made in the country with your own hands.
What is compost
Compost is one of the types of organic fertilizers that can be harvested independently, using various household and plant waste. A high-quality composition containing minerals and valuable trace elements is equivalent to humus. The nutrient mixture is made ready by the decomposition of organic matter under the influence of heat and moisture. The compost heap is identified with a living biological reactor. The process of converting waste into a valuable nutritious product occurs thanks to intensively developing microorganisms.
Composting is not a laborious process, but the technology still has some features. Only the correct composition is able to restore the vitality of the soil, increase its fertility and improve its structure. There are a lot of recipes and methods for harvesting organic fertilizers. Each experienced gardener has his own exclusive secrets, which consist in the use of various additives, the combination of certain components, etc.
For those who did not take care of arranging a compost pit in advance, packaged humus is offered. But before buying, it is worth collecting information about the manufacturer, otherwise you can get a neutral or negative result after fertilizing the earth.
What is it made of
No matter how tempting offers to purchase ready-made compost are, you can only fully trust the product you have prepared yourself. To obtain organic fertilizer, you can use:
- waste and cleaning of vegetables / fruits;
- eggshells (only from eggs that have not undergone heat treatment);
- tea brew, coffee grounds;
- cut grass;
- dry leaves;
- peat;
- livestock manure, bird droppings;
- thin twigs, stems;
- paper, natural fabrics, feathers (raw materials in shredded form);
- straw, shavings, husks from seeds.
All or part of the ingredients are filled into a box or pit in a specific order. To start the fermentation process, it is necessary to create a favorable temperature regime and high humidity.
The following ingredients must not be placed in a composter or pit:
- vegetable waste and heat-treated fruit (there are practically no useful trace elements in them, the composition will turn out to be non-nutritious);
- weed (all types of weeds contain poisonous or toxic substances that pose a danger to soil and crops);
- plants affected by any disease or pest (compost with such a component will provoke the spread of the disease on soil and plants);
- synthetic material (it is not subject to the process of decomposition and decay);
- citrus waste (essential oils inhibit decomposition processes, a large amount of crusts can increase the acidity of the soil).
According to popular rumor, you can add faeces from dogs, cats, and used toilet filler to the compost. Experts do not recommend using this type of waste, since worms that are dangerous to human health can be found in animal waste products. Being in a warm and humid environment, they survive perfectly, and then successfully populate in raspberries, strawberries and other fruits.
Advantages and disadvantages
To appreciate the full benefits of using compost, you need to consider its effects on the soil and plants.
- The compost contains a large amount of valuable minerals and trace elements in the correct proportion. When it enters the soil, a rapid metabolic process occurs, as a result of which the deficiency of the missing substances is instantly compensated.
- Organic matter, when combined with soil, form a single structure. After heavy watering or rains, micronutrients remain on the surface, in contrast to mineral fertilizers, which settle into deeper layers of the soil.
- Compost is good for moisture and air, which allows him to improve the structure of the soil in the upper layers. This is important for the normal development of the root system.
- The fertilizer contains a large amount of humus, which increases the fertility of the earth.
- It is almost impossible to overfeed plants with organic matter. All components are of natural origin. They undergo natural decay processes without clogging the soil with various toxins.
- Compost made from organic fertilizers is the most affordable a way to enrich the soil with useful substances.
The compost has practically no drawbacks. However, it is worth noting that when arranging a compost heap or pit, you need to choose a place away from the recreation area and home, since the decay process is accompanied by the release of an unpleasant odor. In addition, this object attracts flies, ants and other insects. The arrangement of a special box, which is equipped with doors, will help to avoid problems with such a neighborhood. Isolating the compost heap in this way also has aesthetic value; the corner of the site will not look dull.
How to make a DIY compost bin
It is recommended to use a compost bin to organize a collection point for organic waste in order to obtain fertilizer. Making a storage is not difficult, following simple rules.
Site design requirements
In order for the manufactured container to meet all the requirements, when assembling it, it is worth considering important points:
- the side walls should have holes that allow air circulation (2 cm gaps can be left between the boards);
- there is no such element as the bottom in the box;
- the presence of a lid will restrict the flow of water during heavy rains (excess moisture will provoke the development of fungus);
- the lower part of the box should be openable to ensure the intake of fertilizer (from below, the composition matures faster).
Materials for the manufacture of organic fertilizer
Bars and boards are selected to make the compost bin. You can also use wooden shields. Instead of a wooden lid, a frame upholstered with plastic wrap or polycarbonate is often used. Fixation of individual elements of the container is carried out with hardware and hinges (unlocked fragments).
Optimal box dimensions: height - 1 m, width - 1.2 m.
Manufacturing instruction
- Clear the area under the compost bin from plant debris and remove the sod layer. Perform markup according to the drawing.
- Dig holes in the corners 35-50 cm deep to install the supports.
- Place the supports in the pits, level them vertically and cover them with gravel to half the depth. The part remaining to the surface of the soil is poured with cement.
- After 1-2 days after the cement has set, cover the cement fill with earth.
- Connect the supports along the top and bottom with bars (on 4 sides).
- Sheathe the frame with boards around the perimeter, leaving 2 cm gaps for air access. On one or both sides, you need to attach the board to the hinges on the bottom so that it can open for the intake of fertilizer.
- Equip the top with an unlocking lid knocked down from several boards without gaps.
Before assembling the box, it is recommended to treat all wooden elements with an antiseptic solution to protect the wood from mold and mildew.
How to make a compost pile
Alternatively, cook a compost heap in one of the secluded corners of the site. Heap does not mean a random dump of garbage, but the systematic collection of organic waste. It is better to choose a place in the shade, in the sun the components will dry out. The shady shelter provides the necessary moisture, which has a beneficial effect on the decay process. Worms, wood lice and other microorganisms also contribute to decomposition.
The right materials
The compost heap will need peat (as bedding) and organic backfill, including:
- shredded branches and stems of plants;
- kitchen and household waste;
- small paper and scraps of fabric;
- hay, straw;
- manure, etc.
To domesticate the heap around the perimeter, beans or ornamental shrubs are planted... You can also fence off the area with a low fence.
Cooking technology in the country
Arrangement of the compost heap can be done at any time of the year, except for winter. To do this, a soil layer of about 20 cm is removed in the selected area and the resulting excavation is covered with peat (a layer of at least 10 cm). A peat pillow will cope with insulation that prevents the leakage of nutrients just as well as roofing paper or polyethylene. Next, lay all the components in layers
It is impossible to randomly dump all organic waste, the fermentation process may not develop, or the ingredients will simply rot and become covered with fungus. Lay the layers in such a way that the wet components alternate with dry ones. The thickness of green plants should be within 20 cm, manure and bone meal - 5 cm, household waste - 15 cm.
A properly arranged pile contains in total up to 70% plant residues, up to 10% soil, up to 20% manure or other organic matter. Some gardeners recommend covering each layer with balls of fertile soil (5-7 cm thick). The top is covered with straw or hay, after watering the heap with a hot solution based on bird droppings or manure.
For the compost heap, a zone is allocated with dimensions: width - 1.2-1.5 m, height - 1-1.2 m.
Aging
Organic bookmarks mature on average 8 months. Any gardener admits that this is too long a time, therefore, a way out is found in the phased arrangement of several compost pits or the use of special preparations, which, thanks to bacteria, accelerate the decomposition process. Also, maturation of compost is possible in bags.
Such products are made on the basis of natural ingredients; they will not be able to harm the soil or plants. For example, the preparation Embiko Compost (Gringo) ensures the ripening of the fertilizer in just 6-8 weeks.
How to tell if the compost is ready
The finished compost can be identified by the characteristic dark color of the composition. It should be crumbly, moist, and not emitting a stench. Ripe fertilizer smells like forest soil.
Observing the rules for making compost, you can regularly replenish stocks of nutrient mixture for the garden and vegetable garden with your own hands, without spending additional funds on ready-made fertilizers.