Thu 20 Nov 2008
Rotting in the Desert – Part I
Posted by jbross under Desert Gardening
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Written by Jeff
A rose by any other…no, that’s not it. Composting is composting is composting! Whether you live in the northeast or southwest, the science (and art) of composting is very similar. It isn’t always the same, but very similar. This article is based on and inspired by a workshop conducted by Tyler Storey who presented this information to a group of Scottsdale, AZ gardeners on October 2, 2008. Tyler is a garden coach in the area and you can view his website here:
The presentation included a good slide show that unfortunately cannot be reproduced here. I’m afraid you will have to use your imagination here although I have found some pictures on Flickr which I will include and appropriately credit if you mouse over the photos.
The Main Idea
Composting is simply taking actions to provide the raw materials and conditions for the process of breaking down vegetative materials. Hard at work in this process are fungi, bacteria and microorganisms which assist in this process of changing the raw materials into compost.
As Mr. Storey pointed out, there are four basic ingredients needed for successful composting: Carbon, Nitrogen, Air and Water. Ah, water! Yes, that is the rub for those living in the Sonoran Desert. It is very important to make sure there is enough water for the composting process to occur. Without water, things will just mummify and will not rot appropriately. More about this later.
The composting recipe: carbon, nitrogen, air and water. Add all ingredients and mix well until compost is done. Let’s examine the individual ingredients and the roles they play in the composting mix.
Carbon
This is the ingredient that adds energy to the compost pile. Items containing carbon are usually called Browns. Sawdust, for example, has a ratio of carbon to nitrogen of 500:1 while dry leaves have a ratio of 60:1.
Examples of Browns:
- Sawdust
- Woody prunings (chopped or shredded)
- Newspaper or cardboard (cut up)
- Straw
- Dry leaves
- Corn Stalks
Nitrogen
Compost ingredients containing ample supplies of nitrogen are referred to as Greens. These are things like plant-based kitchen scraps which usually have a carbon to nitrogen ration of 20:1. Nitrogen is important because it allows the microorganisms to develop and reproduce. Without enough nitrogen, they may die and composting will not be successful. A suggested ratio of carbon to nitrogen for a healthy compost heap is 25 or 30: 1.
Leaves, for example with a C/N ratio of 60:1 do not provide enough nitrogen. Adding cow manure or coffee grounds which each have a ratio of 20:1 supplies the needed nitrogen.
Examples of Greens:
- Garden waste
- Leafy trimmings (from actively growing plants)
- Manures – Poultry or cow
Things to Avoid:
- Diseased plant material
- Animal byproducts
- Fats or cooking oils
- Weeds with seeds
- Dog or cat waste
To be continued in Part II
Article References:
Tyler Storey – Phoenix Area Gardening Coach – www.tylerstorey.com
Tyler Storey’s Desert Garden web site – http://thedesertgarden.com/ – Where questions about composting are answered. Other gardening information is also posted.
Read Part II of Rotting in the Desert
Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post
