Home composting A step toward organic kitchen gardening
Compost is a bio-fertilizer that feeds the soil first, by replenishing and invigorating the soil food
web. Actually composting is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as
a fertilizer and soil amendment.
It is a key ingredient for plant growth especially in organic farming. Well-made compost is nutrient rich naturally balanced source of nitrogen, phosphorous
and potassium (N-P- K) and a host of beneficial microorganisms. Its incorporation means you are
“growing the soil” without artificial inputs such as synthetic fertilizers. The unavailability, high
cost and environmental concerns of inorganic fertilizers have limited their use for crop
production among the peasant farmers. Therefore the use of organic waste is increasing day by
day. Chemical changes attained by using organic amendments are slow but sustainable as it takes
about 6 years to reclaim the soil according to existing investigations. It reduces plant pathogen
and a best means for the restoration of fertility status and makes the farmers able to avoid debt
which they have to pay for mineral fertilizer.
Poor farmers cannot afford mineral fertilizers due to high rate so; higher benefit cost ratio was
also observed. Compost is considered a soil conditioner rather than a fertilizer. However, it plays
an important role in soil structure by improving microbial activity. It attracts beneficial insects
such as earthworms, which can suppress several soil borne diseases and holds its nutrients in
organic or slow release form, allowing for availability throughout the growing season. Organic
gardens use compost, instead of man-made chemical fertilizers, to get more vegetables from their
plants.
Home grown organic vegetables are consider very important for health and to reduce the cost for
vegetables. Recently efforts have been made to motivate the kitchen gardening in many counties
of world including Pakistan. Thus to grow organic vegetables, a compost pile will be one of the
most important tools in your kitchen garden. To prepare the compost, start composting on bare
earth. First lay twigs and straw a few inches deep that will help to aerate the pile. Add compost
material in layers alternating moist and dry. Moist ingredients are food scraps (kitchen waste) tea
bags etc. (Banana peels, peach peels and orange rinds may contain pesticide residue, and should
be kept out of the compost). Dry materials are straw, leaves etc. Add green manure (clover,
buckwheat, wheatgrass, grass clippings) or any nitrogen source. This activates the compost pile
and speeds the process along. Must keep the compost moist by watering occasionally, or let rain
do the job. Cover with anything you have – wood, plastic sheeting, carpet scraps. Covering helps
retain moisture and heat, two essentials for compost. Covering also prevents the compost from
being over-watered by rain. The compost should be moist, but not soaked and sodden.
After every few weeks, give the pile a quick turn with a pitch fork or shovel. This aerates the
pile. Oxygen is required for the process to work, and turning andquot;addsandquot; oxygen. You can skip this
step if you have a ready supply of coarse material, like straw. Once your compost pile is
established, add new materials by mixing them in, rather than by adding them in layers. Mixing,
or turning, the compost pile is key to aerating the composting materials and speeding the process
to completion. After the successful preparation of compost apply it to your lawn. The best ways
to use compost is to spread it around plants that are already growing or work the compost into
the ground before you plant.
In addition to nutrient importance of compost, composting of kitchen (vegetable and fruit) and
lawn, waste the waste stream out of your home can lessen by as much as 35% just Thatand#39;s a good
deal if youand#39;re paying for that extra refuse bin to throw compostable organic material away at the
street. Now this is a BIG issue these days. Numerous municipalities are trying hard to educate
the public about how to compost and recycle effectively so that landfills do not become mere
dumping grounds for laziness, ignorance, or over-consumption. A healthy organic soil makes for
more nutritional vegetables. So, stop buying those expensive synthetic fertilizers that destroy
your soil and wind-up in the waste stream through run-off. Seasonal additions of compost (for
example, Spring and Fall) protects exposed soils from drying out. The soil retains moisture
beneath top-dressings of compost and this means less watering. The soil retains moisture beneath
top-dressings of compost and this means less watering. With a small investment in time, you can
contribute to the solution to a community problem, while at the same time enriching the soil and
improving the health of the plants on your property.
