Use Of Compost And Soil Fertility Flashcards
Add soil to compost pile because
It contains good starter supply of microorganisms
Soil in compost important because it enables pile to
Hold moisture better
Microbes in soil added to compost
Enables pile to decompose more easily
Soil added to compost prevents
Loss of nutrients
Immature biomass consists of
Metabolic, easily decomposed organic compounds
Easily decomposed organic compounds include (4)
Sugar
Starches
Simple protein
Crude protein
Dry immature biomass is not
Mature biomass
Dry immature biomass has _ than mature biomass
Higher carbon
Lower nitrogen
Why dry immature biomass is thought of as green
Carbon/nitrogen more readily available for decomposition
Mature biomass consists of
Structural less easily decomposed organic compounds
Less easily decomposed organic compounds include (2) (mature biomass)
Fats
Waxes
Etc.
Mature biomass on dry weight basis has _ than immature biomass (2)
Lower carbon
Higher nitrogen
After immature material and kitchen waste added to pile, always add
Soil
Cabbage family will _ to compost
Add unpleasant odor
Time it takes for compost to be ready
2 months
Compost should be turned after
3 weeks
Favabeans are good _ if you _
Green manure
Plan to plant tomatoes
Favabeans decomposed bodies help
Eradicate tomato wilt organisms from soil
Poisonous plants that will harm soil life (3)
Oleander
Hemlock
Castor beans
Also don’t add plants that _ to compost
Take too long to break down
Plants that have _ should not be added to compost
Acids toxic to other plants and microbial life
Plants with acids toxic to other plants and microbial life (3)
Eucalyptus
California bay laurel
Walnut
Cypress and juniper have
Acids toxic to other plants and microbial life
Plants that are too _ should not be added to pile
Acidic
There are special compost piles for
Acidic plants
Plants that may not be killed by head of pile (2) and can regrow when compost is added to bed
Ive
Succulents
Won’t be killed in decomposition and will grow back to choke plants growing in bed (2)
Morning glory
Bermuda
Contain pathogens harmful to infants (don’t add to compost) (2)
Cat manure
Dog manure
3 things that shouldn’t be added to pile
Disease infected plants
Insect infested plants
Pernicious plants
Pernicious plants are
Plants destructive to other plants
Ashes of (3) can be used to ward off carrot worms and other insects due to alkaline
Pernicious plants
Diseased plants
Insect infested plants