Complete Guide on How to Keep a Compost Pile Hot and it's Benefits

The quality of the compost depends on the components initially used. It is recommended that there be a balance between those rich in carbon and those rich in nitrogen. Experimentally, it is known that for microbial growth to occur it is considered that the ideal mixture for composting should have 25 to 30 times more carbon-rich material than nitrogen. Or, in other words, this ratio needs to be between 20 and 30, that is, 20-30 carbon atoms for each nitrogen atom. But what is the reason for this?

This ratio indicates the fraction of organic carbon versus nitrogen. Practically all of the organic nitrogen present in an organic waste is biodegradable and therefore available. The opposite is true for organic carbon, since a large part of it is contained in non-biodegradable compounds that prevent its availability in agriculture.

Molecules.

The optimum range in organic wastes for a correct composting is between 20 and 50 to 1. If the starting waste is rich in carbon and poor in nitrogen, fermentation will be slow, temperatures will not be high and carbon will be lost in the form of carbon dioxide. In the opposite case, at high relative nitrogen concentrations, nitrogen will be transformed into ammonia, preventing proper biological activity.

Depending on the type of organic waste, the calculation of the C/N ratio is not very reliable because, even if all the nitrogen is available, or biodegradable, only a fraction of carbon can be biodegradable. Thus, the C/N ratio can vary (even double) depending on whether Total Organic Carbon or Available Organic Carbon is considered.

Hot compost pile graph.

As we already said, a properly conducted fermentation process of organic matter from solid waste, for example from a whole city, has a C/N ratio in the fermentable mass between 25 and 35. For lower values, carbon-rich materials should be added (straw, wood chips, etc), and in the opposite case, nitrogen-rich materials (manure, sewage sludge, etc).

During the fermentation process, the C/N ratio decreases to values between 12 and 18 due to carbon losses as carbon dioxide.

If the final material obtained after fermentation has a high C/N value, it indicates that it has not undergone complete decomposition, and if the ratio is very low, it may be due to excessive mineralization, although this all depends on the characteristics of the starting material.

Of the carbon needed for the microorganisms in a compost pile to grow, part is used to obtain metabolic energy, resulting in the emission of CO2. The remaining part is incorporated into their own cellular structure together with nitrogen (10/1). Thus, both the amount of carbon and its relationship with nitrogen and its chemical nature are very important, since depending on this there will be more or less growth and metabolic activity (heat).

To start composting we must correctly adjust the carbon-nitrogen ratio with the organic waste we want to use. But what happens when the ratio is not correct? There are two possibilities: too high or too low.

What happens when the C/N ratio of a starting mixture is too high and how to correct it?

The onset of decomposition is characterized by an appreciable increase in temperature. If after a few days the pile does not warm up, the possible causes should be checked.

That could mean the C/N ratio is higher than 30 and the microbial process is not optimized, and there is a nitrogen deficit in the mixture. This will cause that the composting process is prolonged and that the compost pile is not kept warm. In order to keep a compost pile hot it is necessary to remake the pile and to mix it with manure to provide the Nitrogen that the microorganisms need to live.

A pile that's too wet can also be hard to keep it hot. In this case, turning the and mixing with dry materials will trigger decomposition. If the pile is too small to be heated, it is preferable to make compost in bins when little material is available. Keep a small compost pile hot will be easier in a container.

How to keep a compost pile hot in winter? When the ambient temperature is too cold to allow the heap to heat up you should wait for spring and activate the heap by turning it over and adding a few layers of fresh materials.

What happens when the C/N ratio of a starting mixture is too low and how to correct it?

On the other hand, if the c/n ratio is less than 20, the microbial process is not optimized and there is an excess of nitrogen in the mixture. Nitrogen losses in the form of ammonia will occur.

In this situation, the pile heats up but gives off a strong smell of ammonia. The ammonia odor indicates that too much nitrogen has been added. It is not necessary to correct it, but it tells us that we should incorporate less nitrogenous material next time if similar materials are used.

How to do Hot Composting step by step:

Materials:

1. Fresh organic matter; preferably that decomposes quickly such as vegetables, green leaves, grass prunings and manure which can be from cows, horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, etc. Some fruit scraps can also be used.
2. Dry vegetable matter: Preferably straw, although it can also contain dry leaves, branches, paper and cardboard.
3. PVC or wood pipe that will be used to make a chimney through which gases produced by decomposition will be expelled.
4. Long-handled fork: very efficient tool for turning the compost. If you do not have this tool you can use a rake, shovel or your hands.
5. Shovel; very efficient for turning the last layer of compost.
6. Backpack sprinkler (optional); helps a lot to wet the materials evenly, if you don't have it you can pour water in the most comfortable way you have.

How to make it:

1. Start by making a base of dry vegetable matter around the pvc tube. Try to always keep a square shape.
2. Moisten the base and each layer that is going to be put. Use water up to 70%.
3. Place a layer of fresh organic debris.
4. Follow with a layer of manure.
5. Continue laying layers repeating the above order (dry, fresh and manure) until you end up with a maximum height of one meter and a minimum height of 80 cm. The last layer should be of dry materials (preferably straw).
6. Remove the "chimney" pipe to allow the gases to escape.
7. Constantly check the temperature of the compost by sticking your arm through the "chimney" hole. The compost pile should keep hot.
8. Let the compost rest for a maximum of 3 days, then turn it over and continue to do so every 3 days. If before 3 days you feel that it has warmed up enough (if it does not hold the heat for more than 10 seconds), turn it over and continue doing it after the number of days it was done the first time. When turning the compost, try to place the parts from the sides to the center and those from the center to the sides.
9. Harvest the compost once it looks brown in color and smells like forest soil.
10. If a finer, more uniform compost (excellent for seedlings) is desired, it can be sieved. Leftover compost (fibrous materials that have not fully decomposed) can be used as mulch material for plants in the garden or can be placed in a new compost.

Recommendations to keep the compost pile hot:

You can also read Composting Problems: Types and How to Deal with Them

• Place the compost in an area protected from sun and rain to maintain its humidity.
• It can be covered, always leaving an air inlet, with a plastic mesh to help increase temperatures.
• When turning the compost, turn it layer by layer and try to remove the parts that may have stuck together due to humidity.
• The ratio between materials is 3 dry to 1 fresh. Do not be too demanding with this, because it is a matter of trying to always achieve better results.
• Use the materials that we have within our reach. Let's try to recycle what we have.
• To accelerate the process even more you can add active soil.

Now you already know what hot composting is about and how to keep a compost pile hot, why keep it cold? Excellent quality and fast composting is possible.

For more information about this, check out this article: The Perfect Compost Ratio: Greens to Brown Balance