Module 2: Managing the Composting Process

This module provides students with a detailed understanding of what happens during the composting process (i.e., the patterns of microbial metabolic activity and temperature that develop when key composting factors are not limiting), as well as the tools to effectively manage this process until compost is stable enough to be used. Managing the composting process involves maintaining optimum conditions for biological activity until decomposition slows and compost is considered to be reasonably stabilized. Other important process requirements are achieving an acceptable reduction in pathogens and weed seeds, and minimizing losses of nitrogen.

In Module 2, students learn how to:
• monitor and evaluate the composting process;
• turn and mix the pile, based on pile temperature and the desired rate of decomposition;
• maintain moisture content within the optimum range; and
• "troubleshoot" common composting problems.

Daily pile temperatures and weekly observations on the composting process are posted to the on-line discussion. At the end of the course, students will prepare a graph of their daily pile temperatures as part of the Module 5 assignment "Documenting and analysing the composting process". Before the end of Module 2, students complete the assignment, "Evaluating the initial composting mix".