By: Paul Hata

There’s a lot of materials out there about composting and compost and the last thing you need is another one that explains the technical aspect of the process and the scientific basis behind the importance of using composts.

Although, I’m not denying the fact that technical explanations such as those are necessary as well, but it would be nice to hear or read something more of layman’s approach on the subject. Well that’s something that this article would like to do, anyhow.

Compost is an organic substance that is added to the soil which functions more than just being a fertilizer. It is a mulch, a soil conditioner, and something that will help the soil give the best nutrients and minerals your plants need. With compost, the soil also is able to hold more water, which is also beneficial to your plants.

There are several composting methods which you can employ or use. The so called no-turn composting method seems to be the easiest. Like what the title of the method indicates, you don’t need to turn the pile of compost at least once every week to quicken the process of decomposition. In this no-turn technique, all you need to do is add a lot of coarse materials to your compost.

Adding a lot of straw would do just fine. What the straw does is to create air pockets and allow the pile to be aerated. You can expect your compost to be developed at the same rate as when you employ the traditional turn-over composting technique. When you use this composting technique, be sure to get your compost from the bottom of the pile. Just add new organic materials on the top keeping in mind adding coarse materials as well.

If the only available composting materials in your yard are piles and piles of leaves, then don’t worry. Creating composts from leaves alone can be done. You just need a couple of things, and some very simple techniques. Select a place where you will make your compost pile. For the leaves, the place ideal would be a well shaded area which will help keep the pile damp or moist. Also keep in mind that the pile should not be packed tightly. Keep it loose to allow the air to circulate.

In four or six months, the compost from leaves should be finished and ready to be applied to the soil. Take a mental note, however, that the compost created from the leaves does not contain enough nutrients and microorganism to function as a fertilizer. The finished compost, however, is great as soil conditioner.

When composting, you will need materials rich in carbon and nitrogen namely fruits and vegetable scraps and other table scraps except left over bones because they attract a number of pests and animals. Other products include eggshells, grass or shrub clippings, pine needles, seaweed and kelp, coffee grounds, wood ash, tea leaves, cardboard and shredded paper, corn stalks, wood chips, and sawdust.

To discourage fruit flies and other pests from grouping together on your pile, it would be best to cover the pile or add lime or calcium over the top or whenever you add new materials to your compost. The lime and calcium also help neutralize the odors from your pile.

I hope you were able to have a simplified view of the composting and got some useful and simple tips from the article. Just remember that composting is difficult only if you want it to be.

By: Paul Hata

Is this going to be your first time to try your hand and luck in composting? This should not be that hard. But it isn’t that easy either. The sure thing about this is that it is going to take a lot of your time. But the end result will all be wroth it, especially if the next thing that you want to try your hand on is organic gardening.

The two actually go together. You will be able to utilize to its full potential your compost on your organic garden. If you think that you have a knack and you have the talent for it, you should really try gardening. It is not all work but no play. This can actually be just a hobby that you can use to relax while flexing those muscles out for a much needed exercise.

The main reason for gardening may be for beautification. But when you go the organic route, the reason behind this will be much bigger and much in tuned with nature. By making compost, you are also being one with nature. You are doing your part in preserving its beauty by gathering the waste elements that can be recycled to act as fertilizers to your garden.

For starters, it is only natural to worry if your project will be a success or not. But why worry if you can take the necessary actions for it to actually succeed. Here are some tips that you can follow.

1. Manage the stink. You don’t want to get into trouble with your neighbors for the sake of nature. To achieve this, you must keep the pile oxygenated. You can turn the materials periodically to gain such effect. This way, the materials on your pile will decompose regularly.

2. Decide if you are going to do it hot or cold. If you’ve decided on cold, you just have to pile all the organic materials and let nature takes its course over them. But this will take months to even years for all the materials to be good enough for compost.

If you will choose hot, this is a more detailed process and more effort is required on your part. You have to place your materials on a compost bag. Place the leaves first then put soil into it. Add other kitchen wastes like scraps from vegetables and fruits. You must remember to moist this pile periodically for the bacteria to grow so they can aid in decomposing the materials faster.

3. Watch out for the unnecessary visitors. You must be vigilant in a sense that if you are seeing flies and other pests inhabiting on your pile, take the proper actions to get rid of them. You want the pile to rot but not in a way that it won’t be useful in the end.

4. Place the compost, whether it is being done through hot or cold way, a good distance from the household and nearby neighbors. This way, you can proceed with the steps without the probable intrusion and questioning by the people nearby who don’t get what is that all about.

Composting can really eat up a lot of your time. So do it methodically. Make sure that you’ll devote ample amount of time into the process if you really are serious about gaining positive results from this.

By: Abhishek Agarwal

Organically grown plants have gotten quite popular in the last few years. Almost every gardening enthusiast is shifting onto the organic method due to the wide spreading awareness about the quality of flowers and vegetables that it results in. Go organic and your flowers will bloom with a new found hue and the vegetables will taste like never before!

With its rising popularity, the organic gardening tips are finding a huge market and almost every other big publishing house is banking upon to opportunity by coming up with guides to help the ever-eager gardeners. Organic gardening is a very relaxing as well as involving hobby. Just with little help, anyone can produce tasty fruits, vegetables and herbs. People can relish them with 100% assurance they are the best that nature can produce in a pesticide, chemical and herbicide free manner.

Garden pests are an inevitable reality. Organic gardening doesn’t mean that they will no longer fancy your gardens. Instead, what will happen is that you will be countering them in the same natural manner like old time farmers used to, before the invention of herbicides and pesticides.

We are outlining here a few organic gardening tips that will be priceless in your endeavor of cultivating vegetables, herbs and fruits that are full of taste, health and economic value. Moreover, you will sleep well with assurance that your children are no longer consuming chemically infected food.

Aphids, as every gardener would know, can cause a lot of damage to the garden. A very good preventive measure one can take is to plant marigolds close to the vegetable garden. This will keep aphids at bay. In case your garden is already doomed with an aphid attack, you can spray diluted soap water followed by clear water on your plants to get rid of them, organically.

Another organic gardening tip you can use is to produce your own compost naturally at home. We all are aware that the market compost contains many harmful chemicals. As an alternative, you can utilize your kitchen and garden waste to produce organic compost at home. It will normally consist of vegetables, coffee grounds, potatoes, dead weeds, rose or other plants pruning, egg shells, carrots etc. that have landed up in the trash bin. Compost enriches the soil by providing good texture, ventilation and structure. Various ingredients in organic compost help to break it down quickly. Overall, it is an excellent way to catalyze the root development process.

Before starting on with organic gardening, you must do good research and analysis to find out the best plants suited for your garden. Following is another organic gardening tip that will help you get rid of weeds quickly and make your soil dryness-free. Pine needles, old newspapers and grass clippings when mixed together, make effective mulch that is potent enough to keep the soil moist and your garden weed-free. Organic Gardening is the new age mantra to attain most optimum levels of chemical free and environment friendly gardening produce, and these organic gardening tips will make that goal much easier to achieve!

By: Paul Hata

Composting is not entirely limited to a small scale. Industrial techniques abound in as much as residential modes of composting are often appraised and praised for its convenience and simplicity.

There are industrial techniques that are larger counterparts of the simple residential techniques, while others employ technology and other methods unknown the the novices of composting. Whichever the method chosen, industrial composting is definitely operating on a large scale and may help a lot of production involving healthy soil.

1.ASP Method

ASP or Aerated Static Pile method of composting has both active and passive elements to it. The heap is placed on holed pipings that allow circulation without having to manipulate or turn the entire compost heap, as in other industrial composting techniques.It completely relies on air for the bulk of the operation, and is extremely helpful for making sure that the passive and active elements are both in play.

2.High Fiber Method

Wales invented this high fiber method of industrial composting and with great success so far. It involves rigorous stirring and even distribution of materials all throughout the pile. And then the aeration and surface area of the entire compost pile will improve with this symmetry. The compost pile consists of cardboard, newspapers and other forms of used paper.

It is also well-suited for household composting but then it is currently being performed on a laboratory in Wales for further monitoring. This solution was offered as a way of helping reduce pressure in waste landfills. If paper products are used as a material for composting, excluding the poisonous risk of colored ink, it really has a high potential of success.

3.In-Vessel Method

The in-vessel method, as suggested by its name, involves closed reactors. This is synonymous to closed bin composting method in residential scale, but instead of small bins, we are talking of metal tanks or concrete containers that are herculean in size. As a result, factors such as flow of air and temperature are controlled more effectively.

Some companies also put additional cover layers atop the metal tank or enclosed composting container to ensure complete isolation from external elements. Ventilation and insect infestation are often controlled by layering, constant cleaning and additional aeration processes on the affected layers.

4.MBS Method

MBS is the acronym for mechanical biological treatment system. It is a facility that helps sort materials using the composting technique. The scientific term for composting, in this case, is anaerobic digestion. This has instant practical applications in helping sort waste from residential abodes as opposed to industrial wastes which may be more hazardous and larger in number. This waste management technique is praised for its ability to help ensure biological safety of the environment.

5.Sheet Composting Method

The heap is often the method used for composting, but in the case of sheet composting, it the organix materials are placed directly on the soil you are intending to fertilize. Then it functions as a mulch when it decays there. The common materials used here are alfalfa and mustard. But the only downside is that it can rob off the nitrogen in the soil.

But adding green manure crops like clover can help sustain the lagging nitrogen supply in the roots. Most of the supporters of sheet composting claim that in the long run, this is more effective and able to retain more minerals in the soil than other techniques.

By: P.P.Shelke

IMPACT OF DEMONSTRATION OF VERMY COMPOSTING FOR THE BENEFIT OF SC ST POPULATION IN THE WASHIM DISTRICT OF MAHARASHTRA

                                                                                P.P.Shelke, Principal Investigator 

Background:-

     Washim District is situated in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.  Earlier it was in Akola District of Maharasshtra.  The District was earmarked with remote distance from Distarict Place of Akola.  The population of the district was mostly tribal and SC and ST communities.  The education level was not so high and the major source of Income was the Agriculture Land.  This is the case when the KVK was established in 1994 at Risod. 

     KVK scientist have studied the basic needs of the farmers and it was observed that the majority of farmers were not using balanced fertilizers and also the balanced use of organic inputs was not there.  Therfore, it was decided to start the work from the poorest of the poor in the adjacent area of KVK Headquarters.  The scientists together collectively chaklked out a programme and it was submitted to Department of Biotechnology New Delhi.  The working of the project was during 2002-03 to 2004-05.

    

Interventions:-

 

     The prggramme was chalked out to cover 150 beneficiery phasewise in a period of three years to know the benefits of organic farming.  The starting was to be made from Vermy composting and later on the process of Organic certification was aimed at.

 

Objectives of the Demonstration:-

 

a) To Educate 300 SC and ST beneficiaries about the advantage of bio-farming and organic farming, b) To take utmost economic advantage of all waste, agriculture residue and cow dung in best productive manner. c) To set up suitably scaled Vermy compost unit on the land of 50 beneficiaries and provide hands on training and use. d) To provide technical and managerial backup to the units, thus set up including marketing assistance. e) To conduct Vermy compost application trials on total 5 ha area in main agronomical and horticultural crop. f) To organize Vermy mela to popularize the Vermy technology and use of Vermy compost among the farmers.

 

       Achievements:-

  

A) To Educate 300 SC and ST beneficiaries about the advantage of

    bio-farming and organic farming.

 

The training for 300 beneficiaries is completed. Training in other villages is still continuing. We are also incorporating the need of vermy composting in almost all training events. Farmers are being taken to the working demonstration units for getting better understanding of the concept. 

 

b)To take utmost economic advantage of all waste, agriculture residue and cow dung in best productive manner.

 

Initially the concentration was on mass multiplication of the earthworms. The mass multiplication is the only way for expansion of the project. People are using best quality feed for the earthworms. Upon getting the sufficient quantity of the earthworms, the people will concentrate on large scale production of the vermy compost. Initially the material being used is cow dung. People have been convinced of using other waste material for production of the vermy compost.

 

c)To set up suitably scaled Vermy compost unit on the land of 50 beneficiaries and provide hands on training and use.

 

Total 150-vermicompost unit are constructed on the land of 150 SC/ST beneficiaries during the total three year period.  In addition other farmers from General categories are also motivated to have small units from their own resources. However, the assistance provided is extremely useful and people will definitely get the advantage of higher economic returns for their future. On the spot regular skill development training are being conducted. One such skilled worker is also temporarily employed for the work.

 

             d) To provide technical and managerial backup to the units, thus set

                 up including marketing assistance.

 

The produce is being sold collectively. Marketing linkage is given through KVK, Many farmers are regularly visiting the KVK. We are continuously offering them the produce of farmers. The demand is tremendous and we are presently unable to fulfill the demand.

 

e) To conduct Vermy compost application trials on total 10 ha area in main agronomical and horticultural crop.

 

The trials of the vermy compost are laid down in soybean (Kharif 2004 ) and Bengal gram (2004-05).  However, as the quantity of the produce was less and many beneficiaries are using the  material in their own field, we have selected total Five beneficiaries for conducting the trial on five ha. area in each of the above crop as per the target of the current year i.e. during 2004-05.

 

Economic Benefits:-

     The farmers started production of vermy compost and saved lot of expenditure on fertilizers.  Some have reported better soil health and some have shown that the soil became live with existence of earthworms alround the year including summer.

 

     Following data shows the exact picture of the reaults obtained with use of Vermy compost alone and also with addition of fertlize.

 

     Some farmers have reported that they have got economic adavbantage as high as Rs. 50000 per annum due to sell of earthworm culture.  This is one of the major economic gains out of this work.  By adopting the technology of this project one such big production unit in Adjacent district of Buldhana is producting about 2 tonnes per day of the vermy compost, about 1 quintles of verms per week and about  1 tonne of vermy wash per month.



  

Table :- Vermicompost Trial economic benefits

 

S.N.

Name of farmers

Village

Crop

Area of crop (ha)

Quantity of vermicompost (Qt.) used

Yield (Q/ha) with  Vermy

compost application

Yield (Q/ha) without used of vermy compost.

1

Chandrabhaga Shankar Karade

Ghonsar

Soybean

(TAMS-38 variety)

1

5 tonne

19.20

16.10

 

Chandrabhaga Shankar Karade

Ghonsar

Gram

(JAKI-9218)

1

5 tonne

16.90

15.30

2

Subhash Bramhaji Jadhav

 

Ghonsar

Soybean (TAMS-38)

1

5 tonne

18.40

15.90

 

Subhash Bramhaji Jadhav

 

Ghonsar

Gram (JAKI-9218

1

5 tonne

17.20

15.20

3

Laxman Ramji Gaikwad

Ghonsar

Soybean (TAMS-38)

1

5 tonne

18.90

15.75

 

Laxman Ramji Gaikwad

Ghonsar

Gram (JAKI-9218

1

5 tonne

16.75

15.40

4

Shayamrao Sampat Pande

Ghonsar

Soybean (TAMS-38)

1

5 tonne

18.70

16.60

 

Shayamrao Sampat Pande

Ghonsar

Gram (JAKI-9218

1

5 tonne

16.70

14.90

5

Maloji Rajaram Surkute

Ghonsar

Soybean (TAMS-38)

1

5 tonne

17.30

15.90

 

Maloji Rajaram Surkute

Ghonsar

Gram (JAKI-9218

1

5 tonne

16.80

15.10

 

 

f)To organize Vermy mela to popularize the Vermy technology and use of Vermy compost among the farmers.

 

Vermy Mela’s were organized at KVK, Karda Campus. About 600 farmers participated in mela. KVK Scientist has explained the benefits of Vermy compost and organic farming to all the participant. Participant has also visited to KVK Vermy culture unit where the Vermy compost technology has been practically demonstrated to them.

 

9)Details of field demonstrations laid under the project:-

 

Table :- Vermicompost Trial Production Data (Kharif 2004 & Rabi

              2004-05).

 

S.N.

Name of farmers

Village

Crop

Area of crop (ha)

Quantity of vermicompost (Qt.) used

Yield (Q/ha) with fertilizer doze

( farmers practice)

Yield (Q/ha) with application of vermy compost.

1

Ramji Dagduji Kokate

 

Ghonsar

Soyabean

(TAMS-38 variety)

1

10 q/ha

19.20

19.40

 

 

Ramji Dagduji Kokate

Ghonsar

Gram

(JAKI-9218)

1

10 q/ha

16.90

17.10

2

Chandrabhaga Shankar Karale

Ghonsar

Soyabean (TAMS-38)

1

10 q/ha

18.40

18.60

 

Chandrabhaga Shankar Karale

Ghonsar

Gram (JAKI-9218

1

10 q/ha

17.20

17.10

3

Haribhau Shivram Fufate

Ghonsar

Soyabean (TAMS-38)

1

10 q/ha

18.90

18.77

 

Haribhau Shivram Fufate

Ghonsar

Gram (JAKI-9218

1

10 q/ha

16.75

16.87

4

Shamrao Sampat Pande

Ghonsar

Soyabean (TAMS-38)

1

10 q/ha

18.70

18.65

 

Shamrao Sampat Pande

Ghonsar

Gram (JAKI-9218

1

10 q/ha

16.70

16.87

5

Ginaji Niloba Ghukase

Ghonsar

Soyabean (TAMS-38)

1

10 q/ha

17.30

17.25

 

 

Ginaji Niloba Ghukase

Ghonsar

Gram (JAKI-9218

1

10 q/ha

16.80

16.88

Conclusion of the trials of Vermy compost application:-

 

1) The yield data of the trial revealed that their will be a 0.16% increase in the yield in the soyabean crop due to the application of alone Vermicompost @ 10 qt/ per hactre as compared to farmers practice/ local check (with chemical fertilizer). 2) In the soyabean crop the following major observation was noted in Vermicompost applied trial. a) Crop found to be tollerent to girdle beetle as compared to local check. b) Soyabean Crop in the trial found to be comparatively tollerent to water stress in the dry spell as water holding capacity of the soil has found to be improved. c) Drainage property of the soil in the trial has found to be improved. 3) The yield data of the trial revealed that their will be a 0.53% increased in the yield in the gram crop due to the application of alone Vermicompost @ 10 qt. per hactre as compared to local check i.e. farmers practice with fertilizer application.

 

4)In the gram  crop the following major observation noted in

    Vermicompost applied trial.

a) Crop found to be tollerent to Heliothis as compared to local check. b) Gram Crop in the trial found to be comparatively tollerent to water stress in the dry spell as water holding capacity of the soil has found to be improved. c) Drainage property of the soil in the trial has found to be improved.

Employment Generation:-

 

Total 5 beneficiaries were not having any agriculture land and they had taken up the activity as enterprise.  They have reported that they have earned about Rs. 1000 per month to Rs. 2000 per month.

  

Major Impression :

 

Trial in both crop revealed that there is no significant difference  in the yield with application of chemical fertilizer and Vermicompost on the other hand Vermicompost application will result in reducing the cost of production with increase in net profit in addition to helping in maintaining the natural balance and with out disturbing eco system which is the major objectives of the project.

                 

 

12. Summary

 

a) Earth worm hatchery has been established at KVK, Farm, which provides the basic earthworm culture to all needy farmers in addition to 150 project beneficiaries. Said unit is working as a practical demonstration unit for needy farmers. b) Total 1275kg of earthworm culture has been made available to different farmers through this hatchery. c) Total 150 vermicompost unit has been established on the land of 150 d) Beneficiaries having the average annual capacity of 6 to 8 tonne which approximately saves their an amount of Rs. 5000/- annually which can be other wise invested in chemical fertilizer. e) During the project period a booklet on vermicompost technology has been published which acts as a extension material for the disimination of the technology.

  

The conclusion  is summarized below.

 

a) The project has created a small side business for the rural SC and ST people. b) Farmers are convinced about the benefit of the vermy compost and the demand for vermy compost has increased. c) Technology transfer in this area is still needed and at least two villages in every Tahsil will make the awareness creation and demonstration of the activity. d) Organic waste can be properly utilized and some income generation is also possible with little efforts. e) More such units are required and follow up is still needed for demonstrating the success of the bio technology. Agricultural labors can have a small business and can get additional income with little efforts.