Compost is a very efficient and useful way of recycling for all those people who have enough space to have their own compost bin. There are numerous Advantages of the homemade compost bin that can give us the benefits of composting for our crops.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you about the advantages of the homemade compost bin, what its characteristics are and how we should make a good quality compost.
Characteristics of the compost bin
The containers of this material that are used to make organic fertilizers for our plants can be of different types. We found some compost bins with metal, wood and plastic materials. Best of all, it is prepared to have openings at the top and bottom and on the sides for constant ventilation.
In order to extract the compost after it has formed, it must have a lid. It is recommended that the bottom be in contact with the ground, but it is not required. If it does not touch the ground, we can make a lateral opening as a gate.
So that the compost is formed in a stable and continuous way, we need to deposit organic matter in layers. One layer should consist of dry matter, among which are branches, dry husks, sawdust, leaves, sawdust, etc. We have to alternate these dry layers with layers of other moist substances such as eggshells, apples, banana peels, lettuce leaves, coffee grounds, remains of infusions, some dirt, etc.
Crucially, you have to place some worms in the wet layer. These worms help a lot to break down organic matter and improve ventilation. In addition, we can obtain better quality compost. In the first layer we can put some large branches and two other pieces of wood, which can facilitate ventilation. If we add some worms or a little soil, we can generate a higher quality compost. This is because thousands of fungi and bacteria will be added to help break down the organic matter.
Must take into account the remains of cigarette butts, citrus fruit remains, bones, coal ash, meat, yard trimmings containing fertilizers, animal droppings and plastics that cannot be thrown away. All these residues prevent the formation of high-quality compost and slow down the action of bacteria that degrade organic matter.
How to effectively maintain a compost bin
Below, we will give you some necessary tips to keep your compost bin active during the composting process. As we mentioned before, compost bins are even more useful if we have an organic garden at home. In this way, we can obtain homemade organic materials and fertilizers for our plants and crops.
In order to maintain this composting bin effectively, the bin we will be throwing the organics into needs to be covered to maintain a certain level of humidity. Also, the temperature must be between 35 and 55 degrees for fermentation. The process of compost formation is quite slow. The container should be covered and kept at high temperature and humidity for about 3-4 months to produce good quality compost.
During this period, it is necessary to monitor approximately every 2 weeks so that the humidity does not rise too high and it does not stay dry. To know this, we can use the odor indicator. If it's too wet, it will smell rotten. To alleviate this, we have to add dry matter and let it air out a bit. On the other hand, if it smells of ammonia, there is too much wet mixture and dry leaves must be added.
The opposite may be the case. If the mixture takes a long time and is very dry, we have to moisten it with a little water or pour the wet material. We can squeeze it with a handful and if it oozes a lot it's wet, if it doesn't ooze anything else it's pretty dry. Ideally, at squeeze a small amount of this organic substance out a few drops.
To keep the compost in good condition, we have to remove it every two or three times, turning it little by little into fertilizer that will serve our plants. This fertilizer will accumulate in the lowest part of the compost bin. If we had a door at the bottom, we could remove this compost every 5 or 6 months. To know if it is completely ready, we can take a handful and observe its color, color and texture. Ideally, it should be a dark, moist color. You shouldn't recognize anything you've put on it, except for a few twigs, which should smell like natural soil when you pick them up.
If you continue to compost by throwing a new layer of organic matter into your compost bin, you will be able to get a steady stream of compost despite its long degradation time.
Advantages of the homemade compost bin
Helps improve air quality
Municipal waste is very harmful to the environment as it causes an increase in carbon dioxide emissions and its impact on climate change. Composting can be used as an alternative to improve the quality of the air we breathe, reducing the burning of waste, smoke, ash and toxic products it produces that can cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks and increase the toxicity of particulate matter in the environment.
reduce landfill
Using traditional garbage bags 50% of the organic matter can be obtained, which can be converted into humus, which is beneficial for the development of plants and crops. The numbers are clear: with 100 kg of organic waste, 30 kg of natural fertilizer can be obtained.
used as a pesticide
During the composting process, the degradation of organic matter occurs, forming an organic liquid that can be used with pesticides or fertilizers. The material produced by this transformation is called leachate.
Leachate is used as liquid organic fertilizer. But it can also be used as a pesticide to control pests and diseases. The leachate has been shown to be a good insecticide against potato or tomato blight, powdery mildew and Fusarium on apple trees. Leachate makes plants more resistant to infection by repelling pests such as fungal growth.
In agriculture, it is common to use compost tea, a mixture of water and compost that prevents spores from germinating.
Contributes to the continuity of the life cycle
Composting is a way of imitating nature in its own life cycle. In forests, for example, in autumn the leaves of the trees fall to the ground together with fragments of branches and remains of organic matter, transforming into humus, creating a dark earth with a peculiar smell.
Promotes biodiversity
The process of turning organic waste into humus or organic fertilizer involves microbes, bacteria, and insects such as worms. In this decomposition process, living things become the raw material of the earth after death.
Reduce the use of fossil fuels
Technically, when factories produce compost, they use machinery that relies on oil in the production, packaging, and shipping process. Instead, with natural composting, organic waste is converted into humus or organic fertilizer through a natural decomposition process, reducing your carbon footprint.
The fertilizers obtained from the composting process can reduce the use of chemical fertilizers that contaminate aquifers due to excess nitrates.
nutrient rich soil
Through composting we can improve the quality of the soil in our fields and gardens. Its neutral pH makes it very reliable for use on all types of plants. It also contributes to the maintenance and development of soil microbial communities and microfauna. Compost helps plants absorb nutrients and can increase the yield of edible and ornamental plants.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the advantages of the compost bin and its characteristics.