Composting and Soil Biota

[ducks4you]

Did a search--no posts on this, so I'm starting one. Just read that composting creates a healthy environment for growing plants in the soil. One definition, "Soil Biota-(def) "The soil is a complex environment colonized by an immense diversity of microorganisms."
http://www.answers.com/topic/soil-microbiology
"These organisms, collectively referred to as the soil biota, function in a belowground ecosystem based on plant roots and litter (decaying organic matter) as food sources. "
"Compost is not only a soil amendment, it is the soil amendment. Soil with a serious pH imbalance should be treated with lime or sulfur or some other pH-specific amendment, but for most garden soil problems the amendment of choice is always compost."
http://www.composterconnection.com/site/garden-soil.html
"While it takes thousands of years for the earths forces to build good soil, we can help do this in 5 10 years by adding compostwhich adds microorganisms, arthropods, worms, and humus to the soil. The word compost comes from Latin where it meant to put together. This is what we do when we compostwe put together the correct amounts of compostable materials to make a great soil amendment."
http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/fundamentals/index.htm

Man, I'm putting more and more "trash" INTO my yard and garden now!

 

[wifezilla]

Good find

 

[Greenthumb18]

Great Find!!

Here's my compost pile, i just keep adding "trash" into as well. Whatever i could get my hands on, everyone here thinks i'm crazy adding egg shells and other things to the pile.
But if only they knew about composting and feeding the soil.

 

[Lavender2]

Really makes me wish that I had more trash!
... and I just discovered the wild turkeys have been raiding my compost pile ... But I guess they have to eat too.

Great links, thanks!

 

[boggybranch]

Garden soil rich in compost and humus is less subseptible to pests and diseases, also.
I love making compost just about as much as I do gardening. Nothing like taking "stuff" and making "dirt"....remarkable transformation.
And, compost releases nutrients all year round....not just a 'short' term "blast" like commercial fertilizers.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Now, I have always believed in the making of good conventional compost. I have done it & used it in copious amounts in all the years I have gardened.
Then last Autumn I read about Rockdust:

http://www.seercentre.org.uk/

http://www.remineralize.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=251&Itemid=202

The results looked pretty amazing so I bought some to use this growing season & will monitor the results & let you know what happens.



Then this site is recommended & I see information that compost is not the answer.............................................. .......after all these years of hard grafting....!!!!! Mmmm!....but I can see he is trying to sell me something......I would like to know but........ but I'm too mean to shell out good money without a bit more info! Does anyone have a clue? Or read his book?

http://www.worldsbestcompost.com/?hop=kennyp

ducks4you:- I'm sorry if this side-steps your thread a wee bit but I'm confused as it all might be covering part of the same area..??????
Help an old lady, please.

Hattie

 

[boggybranch]

Hi Hattie,

You know, "they" are all the time coming out with different "stuff" for the garden, that suppossed to be "better" or to replace "this or that".......but one thing is certain, to me........nature has used natural composting since the beggining of time, with astounding success, to feed and sustain the earth......so making and using compost is a "no brainer" to me..........If it ain't "broke", why "fix" it.

 

[wifezilla]

If it ain't "broke", why "fix" it.

 

[Lavender2]

Rockdust seems like a good compost fertilizer, adding a multitude of minerals... but I'm not convinced that it will do as much for soil tilth and structure as compost does. Minerals in rock vary greatly depending on where they are mined.

More on that topic ...

http://foodforeveryone.org/faq//index.php?page=index_v2&id=277&c=5


From what I can find about 'Mr. Worlds Best Compost' is that he has taken research about colloidal humus and biodynamics and wants to sell you a book about how to make good compost (stable humus).


http://compost.your-info-station.com/colloidal-humus-compost.php

http://compost.your-info-station.com/biodynamic-compost.php

'No turn' composting with optimum temperature, air, moisture and ingredients, AND careful timing - composting is stopped at colloidal humus - clay like - not the black and crumbly sift-able stuff you get when you mix your compost. 'No turn' composting and stopping at 'stable humus' are the basics for finding your lump of 'colloidal humus'.
Any 'good' finished compost that is re-moistened will be sticky, clay like, and has colloidal humus in it.
Ingredients for the correct nutrients and minerals are more of a concern for me... hence I shall research rockdust a bit more ...
Although I am very happy with the results of my own compost ...

All great information you can find from many sources. I use 'no turn' composting myself... because I am lazy... ... and I have plenty of space and ample supply of organic materials to do it.

 

[boggybranch]

You know the old saying..."you can make composting as simple or as complicated as you want it to be".....me, I "shoot" for somewhere in between....little bit on the "lazy" side and a little bit on the "lets see if this'll work" side.