Hot composting is a fast and efficient process where organic materials decompose at high temperatures to produce nutrient-rich compost. In hot composting, high temperatures are maintained, resulting in compost formation within weeks to months. The high temperatures destroy pathogens and weed seeds, making the compost safe and nutritious. Compost obtained from hot composting enhances soil nutrition and improves soil structure. Through hot composting, you can quickly create nutrient-rich compost that is highly beneficial for your garden.
What Is Hot Composting
Hot composting is a process in which microorganisms and bacteria rapidly convert kitchen waste and other organic materials into compost. This method involves maintaining a proper ratio of green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials and regularly turning the pile to ensure adequate airflow. The compost is kept moist while maintaining temperatures between 130°F and 160°F (54°C to 71°C). These high temperatures accelerate the breakdown of organic matter and destroy weed seeds and pathogens, resulting in rich compost within a few weeks, rather than several months.
Necessary Ingredients for Hot Composting
For hot composting, maintaining a proper balance between green materials (nitrogen-rich) and brown materials (carbon-rich) is essential. Green materials include kitchen scraps and grass clippings, while brown materials consist of dry leaves and cardboard. Avoid adding materials that decompose slowly, emit unpleasant odors, or disrupt the composting process, as they can hinder the effectiveness of the composting system.
Green materials
Green materials are rich in nitrogen and are essential for effective composting. They improve soil structure, retain moisture, and supply necessary nutrients. Key components of green compost include:
- Coffee Grounds: High in nitrogen, they boost microbial activity and help generate heat.
- Fresh Manure: From cows, horses, buffaloes, rabbits, goats, and chickens, accelerates decomposition.
- Grass Clippings and Legume Crop Residues: Provide a substantial nitrogen boost.
- Vegetable and Fruit Peels: Offer vital nutrients and enhance compost quality.
- Garden Plant Dead Flowers/Trimmings: Enrich the compost with additional nitrogen and organic matter.
Brown materials
Brown materials are rich in carbon and are crucial for composting. They primarily consist of dry or woody plant materials and help maintain the carbon balance in compost, contributing to the creation of healthy, nutrient-rich compost. Key components of brown compost include:
- Eggshells: Provide calcium, which helps regulate the pH level of compost.
- Dry Leaves, Straw, Hay: Dead and dry plant matter that aids in nutrient supply and airflow.
- Paper, Cardboard, Tea Bags: Recyclable materials that add carbon.
- Tree Branches and Bark: Decomposable and long-term sources of carbon that improve compost quality.
- Wood Ash from Burned Fields: Can be used in small quantities to increase compost temperature.
Materials To Avoid
For hot composting, certain materials should be avoided as they can reduce the quality of the compost and cause issues in the composting process. Avoid using:
- Fish, Meat, Dairy Products: These decompose quickly, produce strong odors, and can attract pests like rodents and harmful insects.
- Cheese, Butter, Oil, Fat: These materials also produce strong odors and can cause problems due to their rapid decomposition.
- Human and Pet Waste: This waste can introduce health risks and unpleasant smells into the composting process.
- Commercial and Chemical Products: Such as plastics, metals, or chemical fertilizers, which can reduce compost quality and be harmful to the environment.
How To Make Hot Compost
Hot composting is an efficient method for rapidly producing nutrient-rich compost. Begin by collecting nitrogen-rich materials like green plant scraps and carbon-rich materials such as dry leaves. Layer these materials in a compost bin located in a shaded area with good air circulation. Keep the compost pile moist but not soggy, and turn it regularly to maintain high temperatures. With proper management, the compost can be ready in a few weeks, providing valuable nutrients for your garden. The steps to make hot compost are given below:
Choose A Compost location
To make compost, first, you need to select a suitable location. Choosing the right spot for your compost pile will make the process easier. Select a place where direct sunlight is minimal and in a shaded area like under a large tree. Choose an open and well-ventilated area to ensure adequate air circulation. Additionally, place the compost bin near a water source to make it easy to add water as needed. This way, the selected location will enhance your composting process and help improve soil nutrition.
Choose A Compost Bin
A compost bin must meet certain conditions, such as proper air circulation, water retention, and maintaining the correct carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. You can either buy a compost bin or make one yourself using wooden pallets, cinder blocks, or plastic containers. Determine the size of the bin based on the amount of compost you plan to produce. For hot composting, a structure that helps generate heat and facilitates air circulation is needed. A container with a width, length, and height of about three feet each (approximately one cubic yard) will meet this requirement, helping to retain heat and moisture and convert organic matter into compost more quickly.
Combine Green & Brown Materials
For hot composting, create a pile with a depth of at least three feet. Mix green materials (such as fruit peels, vegetable scraps, and coffee grounds) with brown materials (such as dry leaves, straw, and paper scraps). Maintain a general ratio of three parts brown materials to one part green materials (3:1). If the pile becomes too dry or emits a bad odor, add more green materials and water. This will help control moisture and reduce odors, ensuring a healthy composting process.
Water Your Compost Pile
After mixing all the ingredients for composting, sprinkle water over the compost pile regularly so that its consistency resembles damp soil. Avoid adding too much water, as it may cause the microorganisms in the compost pile to suffocate and die. You can monitor the temperature of your compost pile using a compost thermometer. This will help you understand the compost temperature and guide you on when to add water as needed.
Temperature Maintain
The temperature in hot composting usually ranges between 50 degrees Celsius to 71 degrees Celsius. This high temperature creates an environment suitable for microorganisms. It helps in rapidly breaking down the organic materials in the compost pile. To maintain this temperature, it’s necessary to use a compost thermometer, which guides you to the correct temperature range for your compost pile, allowing you to adjust the temperature as needed.
Stir Your Compost Pile
To ensure sufficient oxygen supply in the compost pile, it should be turned regularly every two to four weeks. This can be done using a pitchfork or a compost turner. Monitor the temperature to ensure proper decomposition of the pile. Check the temperature by turning the compost inside the bin with a pitchfork. If the temperature drops, add more green materials, and if the pile becomes dry, add some water. If your pile is sufficiently hot and receives adequate air through regular turning, you can get usable compost within one to two months.
Harvesting Compost
After 1 to 2 months, you can harvest the compost. When the temperature of the compost pile decreases, and the compost becomes dark brown, crumbly, and smells earthy, it indicates that the compost is fully matured. Collect the finished compost from the bin and use it in your garden. Add about 4 to 6 inches of compost to each garden bed and plot at the start of a new growing season.
Maintaining Hot Compost Pile
Maintaining high temperatures and stable microbial activity is crucial for efficient hot composting. It’s essential to keep the temperature in the range of 130 to 140°F. Regular temperature monitoring helps ensure that the compost pile remains within these necessary conditions. If the temperature drops below 130°F, the pile should be turned to reactivate microbial activity.
Managing the moisture level of the compost pile is also important to prevent it from becoming too wet or too dry. Excess moisture can cause unpleasant odors or create anaerobic conditions. If the pile becomes too dry, it should be turned regularly, and moisture levels can be increased by adding damp materials or other nitrogen-rich components.
Regularly turning the compost pile ensures proper microbial activity and creates the conditions needed for full maturation. Turning improves air circulation and oxygen distribution, enhances microbial activity, and speeds up the composting process. It prevents the formation of anaerobic pockets within the pile, promotes the breakdown of residues, and avoids strong odors or incomplete decomposition.
Benefit Of Hot Composting
Hot composting is a fast and efficient process that produces high-quality organic compost within 30 to 90 days. Most of the materials used in hot composting are household food waste, which helps prevent household odors and reduces pest problems. Hot composting also aids in the rapid breakdown of pathogens and unwanted bacteria, and is crucial for breaking down herbicides and pesticides, as the high temperatures quickly decompose residues of these substances.
Hot composting can be done in a single location and completed in a short time. The ample oxygen flow in the hot pile prevents the formation of unpleasant odors typically caused by anaerobic conditions. Additionally, sufficient moisture helps to minimize bad odors and enhances bacterial activity by increasing oxygen flow. The high temperatures in hot composting also prevent the formation of pest colonies and mosquito larvae. Therefore, hot composting is more effective and provides faster results compared to other methods.