Article Index
Composting and the carbon cycle
A brief introduction to Carbon
The Carbon Cycle
The Greenhouse Effect
How plants get carbon
What happens to plant Carbon?
Humus is the key to organic soil management
Stewardship of the soil
Composting and the return of soil carbon
A Sense of Humus
Composting inside?
How to make Bokashi
Compost as a soil conditioner
Benefits of Compost
Glossary
All Pages

Composting and the return of soil carbon

The basic compost recipe below is easy to follow and the compost process is fairly forgiving so the resulting compost will always be beneficial, although the value of the final product can be improved with practice.

• Carbon and Nitrogen Materials – food for microorganisms – there should be enough mass of material to produce high temperatures.  At least one cubic metre is best
• Microorganisms – in practise there are enough present in any soil, and compost made direct on the soil, or with ingredients that have been stored on the soil, should have enough to work.  If in doubt, add a compost activator, or few shovels of material from a compost heap that did work well.
• Moisture = material should be damp, but not saturated – it should not be possible to squeeze free moisture out of the heap. 
• Air – if moisture levels are correct, and you have not trodden on or otherwise compacted the heap, trapped air will be sufficient to start with.  Over time, as the heal collapses, air is excluded.  Making aerating holes or turning the heap replenishes air.

A good heap takes at least seven or eight weeks to finish, in ideal conditions during summer, especially if turned several times. The process may take much longer in winter, or if the heap is not turned, or carbon to nitrogen ratio is not right.