Composting is simply the breaking down of organic material which is used for making fertilizer for gardens, farms, as well as lawns. There are different types of composting which are explained in this article.
1) Aerobic Composting
Just as the name implies, aerobic composting involves the use of air to help break down the materials quickly. Add the scraps, and afterwards, turn the handle or spin the composted to help in keeping it aerated.
Ensure you turn the compost every few days. You could also add a lot of green matter which contain a high amount of nitrogen, such as grass clippings. The breakdown of the high-nitrogen content scraps leads to a higher temperature of the compost which helps in speeding up the Composting process. Ensure to keep the compost moist and turn the compost regularly.
Tip: Learn more about open-air composting here
2) Anaerobic Composting
This is the opposite of aerobic composting. It is not as labour-intensive as aerobic composting. In anaerobic composting, all you need to do is just chuck the scraps into a composter or compost pile and leave it for a year or more.
One disadvantage of anaerobic composting is the offensive odour it gives. Also, it produces methane which is a greenhouse gas and which is hazardous to the environment.
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3) Backyard/ Onsite Composting
This type of composting is ideal for converting good scraps and yard trimmings into compost which can be applied on site. However, this type of composting is not ideal for composting animal products or large quantities of food scraps.
Backyard composting is a type of composting that requires very little time and little equipment. It can take up to two years to convert the organic material to compost, however, manual turning can help quicken the process.
Note that if the food scraps are not properly managed, it could result in offensive odours and might also attract unwanted animals and insects.
4) Aerated Windrow Composting
This type of composting involves the aeration of windrows which are organic wastes formed into rows of long piles. To aerate the pile, you need to turn the pile either manually or mechanically.
The ideal pile height is 4ft – 8ft and the width is between 14 and 16 feet. Aerated windrow composting accommodates large volumes of diverse wastes, however, with regular turning and close monitoring.
This type of composting often requires large tracts of land, sturdy equipment, a continual supply of labour for maintaining and operating the facility, and lastly, patience.
5) Vermicomposting
This type of composting requires the use of worms. Not only that, but it also requires oxygen, as well as moisture to break down the organic material. Vermicomposting has minimal odour.
The worms in the Vermicomposting do most of the heavy lifting and red worms happen to be the best for this type of composting. Vermicomposting is quite easy, safe and less stressful.
This is because it does not only have a minimal odour but also has very little anaerobic bacteria and methane doesn’t require frequent turning and can be done either indoors or outdoors.
Conclusion
Other types of composting include aerated static pile composting, in-vessel composting, tumbler composting. Composting can also be grouped into hot and cold composting.
You can choose any type of composting depending on the type you find suitable for your garden or farmyard. Each composting type has its advantages and disadvantages.
You just need to find that which works best for you and which you are comfortable with. With compost, your soil is enriched, the soil moisture retained. Also, it reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, helps to suppress plants’ pests and diseases amongst other benefits.
