Principles Of Organic Agriculture PDF

Principles of Organic Agriculture Hamsa Khaled Sec.2  Composting History The word composting comes from the latin word compositus which means “to put”, “to put together several things”. Justus von Liebig (1803-1873) was a chemist of German origin, cons...

Principles of Organic Agriculture Hamsa Khaled Sec.2  Composting History The word composting comes from the latin word compositus which means “to put”, “to put together several things”. Justus von Liebig (1803-1873) was a chemist of German origin, considered one of the first people to study in detail the phenomenon of how organic remains were transformed into compost for plants. His knowledge of organic chemistry allowed him to describe biochemical changes that the residues undergo when they were put together, and then he applied this knowledge in agriculture.  Compost A mixture of ingredients used as plant fertilizer and improve soil physical, chemical and biological properties. It is commonly prepared by decomposing plant, food waste, recycling organic materials and manure. The resulting mixture is rich in plant nutrients and beneficial organisms  Compost Preparation 1. Making a heap 70% plant waste – 30% animal waste Add plant waste to Manure then, mixing together Add water 50% then, mixing again C:N ratio (30:1) Humidity 50% to make compost saturated then, 30% for aerobic fermentation 2. Turning the compost Turn the heap using a fork after one month. Move material from the top and sides of heap to the middle of a new heap. If dry, sprinkle with water to ensure heap is damp. Turn the heap every two weeks until the compost becomes darker. 3. Monitoring progress The compost is ready to use when it becomes dark in color. This usually takes around three to four months.  Compost Temperature In the beginning of making compost, it’s atmosphere temperature then, it Increases gradually when decomposition process begins.  Phase I – Mesophilic Phase 1: It occurs at the beginning of composting when the temperature begins to rise above ambient temperature until reaching 40°C. This phase is also known as the initiation phase. Phase II – Thermophilic Phase: It is the second phase of the process and begins when the temperature increase s to 60°C or 70°C, after reaching a peak it begins to decline. Phase III – Mesophilic Phase 2: Known as the cooling phase. Starts when the temperature is dropping below 40°C until it reaches room temperature again. Phase IV – Maturation phase: This phase is very important for the stabilization of the newly formed compounds during composting. The maturation phase begins once the process has reached room temperature and remains the same for at least three consecutive days. This phase can last a long time, but it is recommended that it be at least 30 to 60 days. EM( effective microorganisms) Compost Enhancer 1. Water in compost is necessary for action of microorganisms. 2. If the amount of water increase in compost , the amount of air will decrease So that will encourage the growth of anaerobic microbes. (anaerobic fermentation) 3. We should clean compost from toxic materials such as; plastic, metals. 4. During process, we should not covering the compost. 5. Increasing temperature is one of the important phases for compost life cycle. Notes  Signs of Compost Maturity 1. Color change to dark brown / earthy smell 2. Humidity 30% 3. Compost temperature is the same of air temperature or higher 4. Organic matter not less than 30%  How to measure humidity in compost?  Vermi-Compost Is the product of the decomposition process using various species of worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and other earthworms, to create a mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and vermicast. Thank You