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Do
fabric covers offer a benefit to the process?
Fabric
covers, because they help control the process, offer
a spectrum of benefits to raise quality, consistency, and predictability
in the finished compost product. Those benefits include:
- Moisture
management — If the climate is wet, excess moisture
is kept out of the windrow; if the climate is dry, moisture is
retained within the row.
- While shedding
rain, gaseous exchange is still permitted.
- Nutrient
retention is higher in covered compost than uncovered.
- The compost
cycle will finish sooner.
- Ultra-violet
ray damage is minimized.
- Covered
compost retains temperature levels better than
uncovered. In freezing conditions, covered compost does not freeze
as deeply during winter and warms faster in spring.
- Leaching
is significantly reduced when compost is covered.
You
may want to visit the McGill University study regarding compost
covers which can be found on our University
Research page.
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What
is the significance of the shape and size of a windrow?
 To
generate the heat necessary for speeding the decomposition process
and degrading undesirable elements, the windrow must be several
feet (4-6) in depth. If the windrow is too flat or spread out, required
temperatures cannot be achieved. The inverted "V" of the
ACS process creates the desired chimney effect. If the row is too
high (above 6 feet), anaerobic conditions can easily set in.
Aeromaster
drum tines are engineered to gently lift and turn
the compost row's perimeter towards the center of the windrow while
moving middle materials to the perimeter. Proper turning aerates
(exchanges CO2 out for O2 in), blends
materials (providing for maximum interaction between carbon
and nitrogen atoms), and shapes the windrow without
the use of external shields or curtains (which limit humus formation
by the destruction of aggregate crumb structure).
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What
should I know about windrow temperature?
To
have a controlled process producing a high quality end product,
a predictable temperature curve is mandatory.
Temperatures are primarily controlled by the C:N (carbon to nitrogen)
ratio of the feedstocks. If the ratio is high, temperatures will
be low. If the ratio is too low, temperatures will go too high (which
limits humus formation and significantly lowers the soil and plant
benefit of the finished compost product).
A good temperature cycle will have windrows in the 131° to 150°
F. (55 -66° C.) range for at least 2 weeks and progressively
declining thereafter. If temperature stays in this thermophilic
range for longer than 2 weeks, that is preferable to their declining
prematurely. If temperatures are too low, pathogens, chemical and
pesticide residues, and weed seeds and other undesirable constituents
will not be destroyed. If this occurs, minimum EPA quality standards
will not be achieved. (Remember that EPA standards are much lower
than MBS' standards regarding compost quality.)
Temperatures are affected by the feedstocks used, their ratios in
the windrow, their individual decomposition rates, moisture levels,
and access to oxygen. Microbes added to the row and compost covers
can also be determinants.
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Can
I eliminate odors from the windrow?
Odor
control can be achieved in 2-3 days after beginning
the ACS composting process. Odors result from the nitrogen forms
of the feedstocks used. If the nitrogen is in the raw forms of ammonium
or ammonia, these highly volatile gases emit unpleasant odors. If
these raw forms are converted to the stable nitrate, odors dissipate.
MBS will teach you how to manage the nitrogen cycle. Anaerobic
metabolism is the prime contibutor to odors. Aerobic metabolism
produces odorless forms.
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I've
heard that inoculants don't really make much difference... is this
true?
Misconceptions
abound regarding the use of inoculant. They include:
"Inoculant
is applied to raise the heat in the compost." Incorrect.
Heat will rise to the desired levels primarily because of the interaction
of the carbon and nitrogen atoms apportioned in their desired ratios
in the feedstocks due to microbial decomposition activity. Inoculant,
rather, is applied to insure that appropriate "breakdown"
microbes are present for purposes of decomposition (e.g., cellulose
and lignin digestors).
"Inoculant (often misnamed 'compost starter') only
works in the beginning 'breakdown' phase." Incorrect.
ACS inoculant offers a wide range of proven beneficial microbes
(plus an enzyme booster) which each go to work during their respective
temperature phases of the composting cycle. There are both breakdown
(decomposition) microbes and build-up (recomposition) microbes present
for beneficial humus building.
"Inoculants
do not make a signicant difference." Depends. Composters
who do not see differences usually do not have the ability to get
equal microbial distribution throughout all parts of a windrow.
The microbes do not migrate well, so if they are only applied to
the perimeter of a row, much of the windrow will not benefit. Using
an Aeromaster turner avoids this problem as each particle is inoculated
while it passes above the turner drum.
As with all composting, a proper environment must be regularly maintained
(temperature, aeration, moisture) for the microbes to flourish and
provide their desired impact.
Not all inoculants are created equal. Some have better quality and
diversity of species than others. That's why we sell our own ACS
product.
"Inoculants
do not pay for themselves." Not true anymore.
When composters utilize the revolutionary AEROMAX system, the cost
of inoculant drops to less than 30 cents per cubic yard (better
than an 80% saving from previous inoculation methods). Proven beneficial
microbes pay for themselves several times over. They not only improve
breakdown, but build-up, humus crumb development, species quality
and diversity, increased nitrogen retention, provide consistency
for the composting process, and shortene the length of the composting
cycle.
"Inoculants
do not store well." Incorrect!
ACS "Compost Finisher" is freeze dried and can be stored
indefinitely.
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Can
I mix MBS composting inoculants directly with litter/manure?
This
will work fine for the N Converter, but not for the humifier and finisher.
You'll want to mix those only with water.
Why
should a compost process be aerobic?
There
are numerous reasons why an aerobic process will yield superior
results, both during the composting process itself, the quality
of the finished product, and its ultimate benefits to the soil.
- It has been
said that, by the composting process, you are "growing microbes."
Beneficial microlife are perhaps the most important factor in
having fertile soil. But those beneficial microbes need oxygen
to function efficiently in the compost windrow. If they have access
to oxygen, they can feed and grow through the pile. But if they
are cut off from oxygen, they die in their own excrement.
- Beneficial
Humus development is enhanced when there is a controlled exposure
to oxygen. Humus is the reservoir for soil nutrients.
- In volatile
compounds, aerobic metabolism is odorless while anaerobic metabolism
produces odors.
- Aerobic
bacteria feed on carbon and cause the soil to crack, making possible
the entry of air into the soil (breaking up compaction).
- Aerobic
bacteria take humus and convert it to energy for the plant.
- Microorganisms
that require high oxygen availability improve the energy level
in the soil. Microorganisms living in the absence of oxygen usually
decrease soil energy levels increasing hydrogen levels.
- The recommended
ratio of aerobic organisms to anaerobic organisms is 10:1. In
a balanced environment, anaerobic organisms begin necessary and
important functions where aerobic organisms then finish the job.
How should I interpret 7130 ppm as a sodium result in the Chicken
Manure on my feedstock report? Why is the sodium level tested anyway?
Sodium
is something that we monitor because we know it will impact whether
or not we can make Humus Compost.
Humus formation is Polymer formation. Polymer growth comes from
microbes that specifically manufacture polymers. They cannot do
it in a salt toxic environment. The reason there is no desired level
is that you usually do not have a lot of control over how much sodium
is in any particular feedstock. So the solution test is there to
evaluate how much is in it and then decide what percentage that
feedstock should be utilized in the overall recipe, in other words
to manage the overall salt levels.
If you are striving to manufacture Humus Compost, 7130 ppm is not
too much. Use it at less than 35 percent of the entire recipe. If
your goal is a little less lofty, and you are looking to make “very
good” compost as opposed to Humus Compost then you could go
up to potentially 70% in the recipe.
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