Re: [compost_tea] Thermophilic stage of composting

From: Frank L Teuton <fteuton_at_sympatico.ca>
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2004 06:54:22 -0400
Hi David,

Thermophilic composting does indeed only accomplish the big kill of weed
seeds and pathogens, after which the pile should indeed either be broken
down into mesophilic sized piles or windrows, reduced in heat by increased
aeration and moisture addition, or added to a worm system for further
breakdown, in my opinion and experience.

For some greater details see The Science and Engineering of Composting,
Hoitink and Keener eds, published by Renaissance Press, which contains many
articles on the virtues of mesophilic decomposition, and on maintaining a
temperature ceiling during the mesophilic-low thermophilic phase.

According to the literature cited here, the best decomposition rates as well
as the most thorough bioremediation of xenochemicals occurs in the 104 to
122 F temperature range, which is clearly mesophilic.

Worm bin temps are obviously even lower.

Good composting,

Frank Teuton
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Anderson" <danderson_at_backpackgeartest.org>
To: <compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 5:26 PM
Subject: [compost_tea] Thermophilic stage of composting


> Hi y'all,
>
> Here I am sitting outside, eating my first batch of salsa from my
> homegrown chiles, tomatoes, onions and cilantro. And in my endorphine
> induced bliss, I started thinking about the ways to produce the best
> compost to use for tea.
>
> I'm sure that some of you have already gone through all of this, so I am
> looking forward to your feedback.
>
> Are there any advantages to the thermophilic stage of composting other
than:
>
> 1. pathogen reduction
> 2. killing weed seeds
> 3. faster composting
>
> For example, is there any bioremediation of heavy metals that
> thermophilic bacteria are better at? Or does the heat help break down
> some agricultural chemicals to safer forms? Does the thermophilic
> bacteria provide any special food to help select certain mesophilic
> critters? Are any of the thermophilic bacteria still active at normal
> soil temperatures?
>
> If there is no additional value to keeping it in the thermophilic state
> beyond the required number of day to kill the pathogens and weed seeds,
> would it not make sense to then break up the pile into smaller
> mesophilic masses that will allow the fungi the maximum amount of time
> to grow without being disturbed?
>
> It also seems to me that taking it out of the thermophilic stage as soon
> as possible will leave more of the food value for the critters that you
> want active when you make your tea.
>
> Or would this all be just a waste of effort, because regular compost is
> more than good enough to make great tea?
>
> I realize that this is probably overkill when making compost to dig in
> to the garden (or maybe not).
>
> Then for bacterial CT, wouldn't that be the ideal place for using one of
> those compost tumblers? Crank that thing daily to keep breaking up the
> fungi and keep the bacteria in control.
>
> Dave
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>



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Received on Wed Jul 28 2004 - 09:08:19 EDT

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