pit compost

1

Pit Composting• Group 2

Group membersName Index No

F Arham AG/GT/2012/3484

AAS Farwin AG/GT/2012/3485

K Sharmilan AG/GT/2012/3487

WCS Wanasinghe AG/GT/2012/3490

RWN Kumara AG/GT/2012/3492

AAMJ Sanistan AG/GT/2012/3493

M Edison AG/GT/2012/3494

K Jamunakavi AG/GT/2012/3496

YKS Sandaruwan AG/GT/2012/3498

UWU Lakmali AG/GT/2012/3499

AGDS Sirisena AG/GT/2012/3500

HMCN Herath AG/GT/2012/3501

AWI Chathurangi AG/GT/2012/3502

RMPCS Rathnayaka AG/GT/2012/3503

LC Paranagamage AG/GT/2012/3504

10/19/2014 Pit Composting | Green Technology2

Content


1. Introduction

2. Sources which can be used to pit method

3. Location selection

4. Pit making

5. Method

6. Vermicomposting

7. Well made compost

8. Factors affects pit composting

9. Advantages of Pit method

10. Disadvantages of Pit method

IntroductionWe need an increase of food

production for the rapidly growing world population. But the people consider only about increasing the quantity not the quality. Chemicals used to increase agricultural production have negative impacts ecologically, economically and socially. The best alternative for that is using organic chemicals instead of inorganic fertilizers. Composting is one way to produce manure in a green way domestically as well as large scale Agriculture.


What is compost?• An organic stable manure

produced by the soil microbes activity on organic matter.

• It is a natural manure.

• Can be used as a nutrient source and a mulch.


Compost composition

• Water 75%

• Organic matter 22%

• Salts 3%

• Nitrogen 0.3-06 %

• Phosphorous 0.2 %

• Potassium 0.15 – 0.4 %


Composting methods

1. Pit method

2. Barrel method

3. Heap method

4. Fence method

…different methods in different countries


Composting is an effective and environmentally friendly solution for turning yard waste and kitchen scraps into a beneficial soil amendment. The traditional method of composting calls for the creation of a large compost pile located outdoors. However, if this method is too unsightly or too cumbersome for you, you can explore alternatives to the compost pile. One alternative is to make a compost pit. This underground method of composting, sometimes also called "trench composting," is a compact and tidy way to help your organic waste decompose and enrich your soil.


Sources which can be used to pit method• Agricultural waste-

dung , straw ,maize waste

• Industrial waste-paper , card board

• Domestic waste-vegetable ,Egg shells ,fruits

• Not to use-Polythene , plastic , yoghurt cups and any artificially made thing


Location selection

• By making the pit close to the crop waste, you can reduce the transport cost

• Should find a hard soil because if there is a loose soil, nutrients are infiltrated into the soil.

• Access to water

• Access to raw material


Not to do……

• In region of low temperature.

• In low rainfall.

In high Rainfall, water is collected in the pit. Hence the soil microorganisms don’t get sufficient O2 amount for activity as well nutrients can be washed out from the rain.


Pit making


Top Length 2m

Depth0.5m

Bottom Length 1.5m

• Dig the hole for your compost pit.Your compost hole should be about 0.5m deep. The area of the hole will be determined by the amount of organic matter you want to add. Sizes can be vary according to the requirement.

Method

1. First a mulching layer for 1 inch width is put inside the pit. For that straw, saw dust , husks can be used.

2. The other things which are used to make compost such as giricedia , cowpea , ground nut , Albesia leaves are dried under light sun. Better if you can cut those in to small pieces. Make sure your carbon-rich materials (such as paper and dried leaves) are mixed thoroughly with your nitrogen-rich materials (like vegetable scraps and fresh grass clippings)

3. Inoculant nutrients are made in liquid form. For that,i. Dung 22.5 kg ( 1 bucket )

ii. Ash 2.5 kg ( 2 hands full )

iii. Well digested compost manure 4.5Kg


Method Cont

4. This mixture is dissolved in 4.45L of water ( ̴ 3 buckets) . A portion of

processed mixture is poured in to the cover layer inside the pit.

5. Then an organic layer and pour some water

6. Again the inoculant nutrient pour and pour some water

7. This is repeated until it reaches 2 inches above the ground level.

8. Water should be poured for each layer. This pouring should be done as water

flowing out. Underground compost decomposes slowly, because it doesn't

have access to as much fresh oxygen as aboveground piles. To speed the

process, ensure the area stays fairly wet.


Method Cont

9. After the pit is full , it is compacted well , Finally it is covered from a 2 inches width soil layer. Then apply a clay layer or else keep a black polythene and keep a weight over it.

10. To avoid infiltration of rainfall, there should be a shade to be enough to cover the whole pot.

11. This mixture in the pit should be turned and stirred well in 2nd week , 4th week and 2nd month. After 2 and half months we can use the compost.


Actions should be taken

• to apply enough water in dry periods

• cover the compost pit from coconut leaves or polythene to avoid absorbing excess leaves in rainy seasons.


Vermicomposting in Pit

Method of preparation

1. Selection of Earthworms 2. Size of pit

convenient size= 2m*1m*1m3. Preparation of Vermin-bed

It should consist of• bottom - Broken bricks and sand layer (5 cm)

• up - A thick layer of good loamy soil (15-20 cm)This layer is inhabitated by earthworms


Vermicomposting in Pit Cont

4. Inoculation of Earthworms About 100 worms are introduced to the above size pit.

5. Organic layering

It should consist of :• A fresh cattle dung layer on the vermin bed• Dry leaves or hay layer - 5 cm

Then it should be watered without flooding


Vermicomposting in Pit Cont

6. Wet Organic LayeringAfter 4 weeks from the preparations, a moist/organic waste layer (5 cm)This addition can be repeated every 3-4 days

Then it should be mixed properly, without disturbing to the vermin-bed

7. Harvesting the Vermicompost

7. Rate of application

mature vermicompost is recommended at 5 tonnes/ha


Well made compost..

• Dark in color

• Pleasant odor

• Some moisture

• Homogeneous


Factors affects pit composting1. Feedstock

2. Moisture

3. Soil microbes

4. Aeation


Advantages of Pit method

• Completely remove disagreeable odor

• Simple mechanism

• Inexpensive

• Easy to manipulate

• No need of big attention

• High temperature inside the pit kills the pathogens

• No bothersome animals are spread


Disadvantages of Pit method

• Labor intensive

• Not enough practical knowledge with farmers

• Time consuming

• Cannot be practiced in high rainfall regions

• Not enough aeration inside the pit


Reference

• li, ueKsla

Menaka Fernando

S. Subhasinghe

• http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Compost-Pit

• Vermicomposting for Sustainable agriculture

By P.K.Gupta


http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Compost-Pit

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