 Nutrient content of compost widely differs according to the kind of materials Technology Series # 17

used in composting. A ripe compost made from rice straw and chicken
manure with a 2 – 4 t/ha rate of application can contribute about 3 – 5 kg N/
ha, 2 – 4 kg P2O5/ha and 7 – 14 kg K2O/ha. Thus, compost application would
reduce amount of inorganic fertilizer to be applied.
MAKING AND USING
Example of nutrient content in manure and compost
COMPOST
Content on sample, % - Theory and Practices -
Materials Moisture C/N (kg/lt)
Ratio
P2O5 K2O CaO MgO
Chicken 20% 8:1 2.8% 5.1% 3.1% 12.7% 1.8%
manure (1.3) (35.7) (27.9) (127) (18)
Rice straw 70% 20:1 0.4% 0.2% 0.4% 0.1% 0.1%
(1.2) (1.0) (3.6) (1.0) (1.0)

Source: S. Fujiwara, “How to make and use the compost” (2003)

To fertilize soil and improve soil structure, we need to

continuously apply organic materials such as compost for
several years.

Environmental and Productivity Management

of Marginal Soils in the Philippines
(EPMMA)

Bureau of Soils and Water Management A Technical Cooperation Project

Soil and Water Resources Research Division between the Bureau of Soils and Water
Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City Management and the Japan
Tel. No. 920-4378; 920-4382; 923-0454 International Cooperation Agency
Fax No. 920-4318
E-mail: [email protected]
WHAT IS COMPOST?

C ompost is a rich, friable and soil-like material made from farm wastes, crop
residues, grass clippings, green manure crops, fallen leaves, vegetables, kitchen dung
refuse, animal manures and other decomposable materials.
Composting is the process of breaking down these organic materials by means of
soil organisms to produce biologically stable products that can act as slow-release
sources of plant- available nutrients, thereby improving the nutrient status and the 3. Spread about 20 cm of rice straw at the bottom of a 2m x 2m pile. Add on
biochemical and physical properties of the soil. top about 2-3 cm of chicken manure. Then, add another layer of about 1
cm soil. Water the layers until the materials are evenly moist.
Thus, compost improves soil quality by acting as soil conditioner and provides 4. Repeat step 3 until 5-6 layers have been prepared.
lasting benefits because it is environment-friendly. 5. Cover the top of pile with plastic sheet to keep moisture and to prevent pile
Composting materials are readily available right in the farm. Thus, farmers can from washing out nutrients by rainfall.
easily prepare the compost, providing a cheaper, healthier alternative to 6. After 1 week, check if the pile is still moist. If drying of the pile occurs,
expensive commercial fertilizers. apply water by means of a sprinkler.
7. After 2-3 weeks, turn the compost pile, mixing the layers. Repeat this
WHY IS THE COMPOST PROCESS NEEDED? procedure after 5-8 weeks, or until temperature of pile is less than 35oC.
8. Observe if the materials have turned dark brown to black. If the whole pile
Generally some organic materials emit organic-acids or phenols, some of which is totally decomposed, harvest the ripe compost. If decomposition is
are harmful to crops. And when too much raw organic materials are added to the uneven, remove only the decomposed portion and leave the others behind
soil, organisms compete with the crop for nitrogen, since rapid decomposition of until fully decomposed.
organic material by organisms in the soil needs more nitrogen.
Many harmful substances to crops on easy to decompose organic materials are
broken down by the composting process. USING COMPOST

The use of a good and healthy compost is fundamental to upland farming

BENEFITS OF USING COMPOST
practices. Generally, vegetable crops need compost for good growth.
Generally, compost or humus is widely used as a soil amendment to improve soil
structure, to provide plant nutrients, and to support living organisms. Specifically, By producing compost from available waste materials, farmers can reduce cost of
compost provides the following benefits: farm production.
1. Improves the soil fertility, soil tilth and soil structure
Compost improves the fertility of the soil. Drainage of the field is also
improved because it promotes better aeration, thus the soil becomes easier  Recommended rate of compost application ranges from 2 t/ha – 4 t/ha every
to plow. It increases the soil’s ability to hold water and nutrient retention of year for upland field.
light and sandy soils, and improves soil texture by increasing the drainage of
heavy clay soils. It makes the soil a more favorable medium for the
development of root systems of growing plants.
 Table 2. Examples of Nitrogen sources materials and Carbon Change of soil structure
sources materials and their estimated C/N
Nitrogen (N) C/N Carbon (C)
C/N
sources Ratio sources 2. Supplies nutrients for crops
Grass clippings 12-25:1 Rice straw 60:1 Compost contains macro and micronutrients. Compost can supplement
Pig manure 17:1 Dried leaves 50-90:1 inorganic fertilizer as source of nutrients for crops. The nutrients are released
Chicken manure 20:1 Chipped branches 400:1 to plants when they are needed, thus it acts as a slow-release fertilizer.
Cattle manure 20:1 Rice hull 80-100:1 Farmers can save on fertilizer cost by using compost.
Peanut straw 20:1 Sawdust 200-600:1
Kitchen scraps 10-15:1 Sugarcane trash 120:1 3. Supports living soil organisms
Legumes 13:1 Corn stubbles 55:1 Applying compost can increase population of soil organisms such as
nematodes, fungi, bacteria and earthworms which are responsible in breaking
down complex organic materials in the soil into forms which could be taken up
by the plants.

HOW TO MAKE A COMPOST 4. Improves the buffer capacity of the soil

Compost Increases the buffer action of soil against acidity or alkalinity by
Composting is easy and very simple. Any mixture of material can be put into a having higher amounts of organic matter. The soil with a higher amount of
compost pile. Table 2 provides a list of materials which are good sources of C and organic matter has a higher soil buffer action.
N.
5. May provide biological control to certain soil pests and
1. Select a well-drained, elevated area for composting. The size of the area will
diseases
depend on the volume of materials to be used.
Proper application of compost may control pests and diseases in plants.
However, precautionary measures should be exercised in preparing compost.
2. Gather needed materials:
Healthy, disease-free plant materials should be used. Proper heating up of the
compost pile must be observed to ensure that the produced compost is free of
 Rice straw (or Carbon sources such as corn stubbles, etc.) - 100 kg
pathogens.
 Chicken manure (or Nitrogen sources such as Rice bran, etc.) – 50 kg
 Soil
ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF COMPOST
 Water
 Plastic sheet
There are several advantages and limitations of using compost as shown in Table
1. It should be remembered that there are no perfect fertilizers for farmers. That
is why we must know the different characteristics of chemical fertilizers,
commercial organic fertilizers and compost.
 PROCESS OF COMPOSTING
Table 1: Advantages and Limitations of Using Chemical Fertilizer, Commercial Organic  Composting is primarily a biological process. It is important to keep the
Fertilizer and Compost microorganisms happy.
 The microorganisms need optimum moisture, air and a good proportion of
Fertilizer Advantages Limitations Carbon and Nitrogen sources to decompose organic materials into forms that
could be made available to the plant.
Chemical Fertilizer  Specified nutrient composition  Expensive, thus increases the
 Many organic materials abound in the farm for use in composting.
 High content of nutrients cost of production
 Composting can be conducted by either aerobic (with oxygen) or anaerobic
 Contains guaranteed nutrient  “Fertilizer burn” of crops occur
content analysis when fertilizer placement is not (without oxygen) methods. Aerobic composting is generally preferred because it
 Nutrients are readily available for suitable is faster and easier to manage. It also provides greater pathogen reduction
crop because higher temperatures are attained (It must be over 60-650C in 3 days).
 A variety of formulation can be Anaerobic composting is slower, because under this condition, activities of
obtained and is readily available decomposers are depressed as the supply of oxygen diminishes.
 Easy to handle

Commercial  

temperature
Slow release of nutrients Nutrient composition varies and
organic fertilizer difficult to control nutrients for Decomposition stage and change of
 Commercially available and
convenient to transport crops temperature in compost making
 Provides humus or organic matter  Lower content of nutrients
which are not supplied by compared to chemical fertilizers
chemical fertilizers  Bulky; large amounts of
 No danger of “fertilizer burn” material are needed
days
 Expensive

 Nitrogen (N) sources such as legumes, green leaves, vegetables, kitchen

Compost  Improves soil physical structure  Contains low percentage of - refuse and animal manures could be easily decomposed because of their high
 Contains various micro-nutrients nutrients (N, P and K) moisture and nitrogen content.
 Slow release of nutrients  Tends to induce nutritional
 Carbon (C) sources such as rice hull, rice straw, sawdust, dried grasses and
 Provides humus or organic matter deficiency in the plants
 Variable nutrient content
coir dust are generally dry and slow to decompose. Ideal proportions of both
which are not supplied by
chemical fertilizers  Usually bulky and inconvenient
nitrogen-rich and carbon-rich materials should be mixed together for faster
 Organic materials to be used are for transport decomposition.
readily available in the farm or  Laborious to make  The optimum C:N ratio for rapid composting is 20-30:1.
backyard, which can be blended  Sufficient moisture is 50-60% to speed up the decomposition process.
or mixed to increase the nutrient
content
Clenching Clenching
 Inexpensive
compost with compost with less
over 70% than 50%
moisture, there moisture, there
would be drips. would be no drips.