How to Make Compost Fertilizer | Fast and Easy – Compost is a type of organic fertilizer that comes from decomposed organic waste such as leaves. This fertilizer consists of leaves, straw, reeds, grass, rice bran, corn stalks, tendrils, and other organic materials. This is how to make compost.
Well, compost can be one of the planting media you need to provide nutrients to plants. Composting can occur naturally. However, with the addition of decomposing microorganisms, the composting process occurs faster.
There are two types of composting, namely cold and hot. Cold composting is done by collecting yard waste or removing organic material and placing it in the trash. To get to the process of becoming fertilizer, composting in this way takes a longer time.
While hot composting requires you to take a more active role. However, hot composting results in a faster process. There are four materials to produce hot composting, namely nitrogen, carbon, air, and water.
You can also make your compost using household waste. Besides being able to preserve the environment, compost also has many benefits.
Benefits of Compost:
1. Protecting the environment
Compost fertilizer uses household waste as the basic material. By making compost, you are also participating in the treatment of waste. Reducing waste reduces the production of methane gas.
2. Water and soil quality are well maintained
Compost fertilizer has an organic content that can maintain water and soil quality. If the structure and texture of the soil are good, the growth of plant roots will be even better. This will certainly greatly affect the absorption of nutrients from the soil for the growth process and plant productivity.
Compost fertilizer can increase the rate of water absorption in the soil and increase heat absorption capacity. Good heat retention will increase plant growth. Soil erosion or soil with a high slope can also be prevented by applying compost.
3. Release carbon dioxide
Compost can help release carbon dioxide, which is very important for improving the photosynthesis process. In addition, it can neutralize the toxic effects of some minerals in the soil. This way, the plant will not absorb toxic minerals that could potentially affect its growth.
4. Increase the number of soil microbes
The addition of microorganisms to compost can improve the quality of fertilizer, which is useful for increasing soil fertility. Of course, the use of compost can also increase the yield of various crops such as tomatoes, peas, and so on.
5. Save money
So you can save money without having to spend money buying expensive chemical fertilizers. Sometimes, chemical fertilizers make the soil temperature warmer.
In addition, compost fertilizer reduces the frequency of watering the soil. Because the soil becomes more loose and fertile. Plants will also be protected from pests without having to use pesticides that can be harmful to humans.
How to make Compost:
No plant owner is willing to see his plants wilt due to a lack of nutrients and not thriving. Plants should also be given compost regularly. If you don’t have enough budget to buy compost, you can make your own.
How to make compost is quite simple and fast. Many tools and materials need to be prepared.
The tools you will need are a basket with small holes, cardboard that is the size of a basket, and a place for composting such as a basket or barrel. Meanwhile, the materials needed are organic household waste such as wood, vegetables, fruits, dry leaves, husks, sugar, and animal waste. You can use chicken manure.
Don’t forget to prepare an EM4 decomposer or starter. You can find them easily at farm shops.
The tools and materials are ready, now is the time to make compost. Follow the methods below yes:
- Dissolve sugar with water to make a starter
- Then add EM4 into the starter to match the predetermined dose
- Then let the starter stand for 24 hours
- Then mix the ingredients such as dry leaves, chicken manure, and husk charcoal
- Combine these ingredients with a starter then stir until evenly distributed
- Let the compost sit for about 17 days
- Check the compost now and then. If it is black, it means that the compost is ready to use
- Stir the compost to be used and prepare the soil or planting media to be fertilized
- Adjust the dose of fertilizer application to the area of land used for plant cultivation
- Place the plant on soil or land that has been given fertilizer. Don’t forget to do plant care such as watering, treating pests and pathogens
There are several ways to compost plants. You can mix the compost with the soil in the pot, sprinkle it on top of the soil or use it instead of mulch (an ingredient like straw).
In addition, you can also soak a little compost for 24-48 hours. Then spray the filtered water on the plants.
Learning how to make compost can provide many benefits. Because compost can reduce the use of artificial fertilizers with a mixture of harmful chemicals.
Characteristics of good quality compost
- The color is dark brown to black, similar to the color of the earth
- Insoluble in water
- No smell
- Has a temperature that is approximately the same as the ambient temperature
Types of waste that cannot be processed into compost
While sorting, pay attention to the materials used in the organic waste. Because not all types of household waste can be processed into compost. Examples include meat and bone residue, fish and bone residue, processed food residue, oil containing fat or milk, sewage sludge, inked paper, glossy paper, and stickers.
The rest of the food above cannot be processed into the compost because it can cause unpleasant odors and create maggots. In addition, the decomposition process is also slow so it will make the composting process take longer.
Meanwhile, the use of sewage sludge and processed paper as compost material can cause disease. Because it contains toxins that are not good for plants.
Also, avoid composting with rice. Because cooked rice will become a magnet for bacteria that can have a negative impact. Raw rice also attracts rodents and other pests.
Remember that metal, glass, and plastic cannot be composted. Because bioplastic will not decompose in a home compost pile.
In addition, always use the manure of vegetarian animals such as cows, horses, and chickens. Do not add dog or cat litter to the compost mix. Dog and cat feces can carry disease and make compost piles smelly. That’s how to make compost.