What Are Things You Should Know While Creating Compost?
Creating compost is a simple enough technique to get a satisfactory result as long as you use the proper organic materials and allow them to decay. However, there are a few things you should be aware of before starting to creating compost by yourself. Here are a few things that can be helpful!
pH Level
If there’s one thing you should know while you creating compost, it’s the pH level. This provides you an idea of how acidic or alkaline the compost is. Compost that is overly acidic or alkaline acts as a toxin, killing microbes and plants in the soil. The measurements will be affected if you take the measurement right after you start a compost pile. Take your measurement after the compost has been applied to the soil, and then adjust the pH if it is too acidic or alkaline.
NPK
The quantities of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil are referred to as NPK. These are the most important nutrients for optimal plant growth in your soil. On the fertilizer package, the NPK numbers are written as N-P-K. It could be 10-6-4, for example, which means 10% nitrogen, 6% phosphorus, and 4% potassium. Because the objective of compost isn’t to make the best compost with the exact level of NPK, you don’t have to worry about it. Compost should be high in organic matter, as well as micro and macro organisms that will help to enrich the soil. After you’ve placed your compost in the soil, assess it for nutrient deficiency and add fertilizer with the proper NPK quantities as needed.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen gives plants the nourishment they need to create green and healthy leaves and stems. The color of a nitrogen-deficient plant will be pale yellow. Nitrogen is easily ejected from the soil, either as a gas or by leaching. As a result, you must continue to add it to the soil. The primary goal of compost is to provide vital microorganisms in the soil that help to build and retain nitrogen.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is required for the proper growth of plants’ fruits, blooms, and roots. A phosphorus-deficient plant will droop and have a weak root system. Phosphorus does not escape from the soil as a gas, nor does it readily leach out of the soil. By adding rock phosphate or bone meal to the soil, you can raise the phosphorus concentration.
Potassium
Potassium is required for plants to create chlorophyll, boost their health, and defend themselves from disease.
Heat
The temperature when you are creating compost is a good indicator that thermophilic bacteria are at work. If you’ve added seeded plant material or diseased plants, the high temps may be beneficial. Aside from that, there should be no reason to be concerned about high temperatures. A composting thermometer or a simple metal pipe inserted into the compost pile can be used to check the temperature. Remove it from the compost pile and check the temperature to see how it’s going.
Disease Causing Pathogens
When you creating compost and add plant and vegetable matter to your compost pile, pathogens that cause disease may enter. If you’re not careful, this can have an adverse effect on the soil you’re adding the compost too, as well as the plants you’re growing in it. If you have an active compost pile with a lot of helpful bacteria working for you, these pathogens will not be able to get nutrients. Organic chemicals are also released, which destroy microorganisms.
Weeds
The last alarming thing when you are creating compost is the growth of weeds. Weeds can be an irritant in your compost pile, so keep them at bay. The issue is that the roots of such weeds absorb moisture from the top of the compost and prevent it from reaching the center. As a result, you’ll have dry stuff that won’t decompose. So, as soon as you notice weeds growing in your compost, pull them out and let them die to enrich your compost with more organic matter.