farming

Table of contents

Chapter Title Page No

No
1 Introduction 3
2 Materials and methods 4-7
3 Observations and data collection 7
4 Photos 8
5 Cost Benefit Analysis 9
6 Conclusion 9

1|Page
 1. Introduction
Organic manures are natural products used by farmers to provide food (plant nutrients)
for the crop plants. There are a number of organic manures like farmyard manure, green
manures, compost prepared from crop residues and other farm wastes, vermicompost,
oil cakes, and biological wastes – animal bones, slaughter house refuse. Organic
manures increase the organic matter in the soil. Organic matter in turn releases the plant
food in available from for the use of crops. However, organic manures should not be
seen only as carriers of plant food. These manures also enable a soil to hold more water
and also help to improve the drainage in clay soils. They provide organic acids that help
to dissolve soil nutrients and make them available for the plants.  Organic manures have
low nutrient content and therefore need to be applied in larger quantities. For example,
to get 25 kg of NPK, one will need 600 to 2000 kg of organic manure where as the same
amount of NPK can be given by 50 kg of an NPK complex fertilizer.

2|Page
 The nutrient content of organic manures is highly variable from place to place, lot to
lot, and method of preparation. The composition of fertilizers is almost constant. For
example, urea contain 46% N regardless of which factory makes it any where in the
world.

2.Materials And Methods

2.1 Project Theme

. The process of natural decomposition is very important to one type of waste
disposal. Composting is a form of waste disposal where organic waste decomposes naturally
under oxygen-rich conditions. Although all waste will eventually decompose, only certain
waste items are considered compostable and should be added to compost containers. Food
waste, such as banana peels, coffee grinds and eggshells, are great items to compost. Adding
meat products to compost should be avoided because as it decomposes, it will attract large
animals and will smell very badly!
In addition to food waste, yard waste, such as grass clippings and leaves, can also be added
to compost containers. These items will help increase decomposition and help reduce odor as
materials break down. As with household food waste, there are also some types of yard waste
that should be avoided. Perennial weeds, which are plants that come back year after year,
should not be added to compost because they will grow back and spread.
Once these waste items are placed in a pile, the composting process can start. The organic
materials are broken down naturally by earthworms, bacteria and other organisms that live in
soil. Although the composting process can occur without any further human involvement,
most composting involves the addition of water and oxygen - which occurs by turning the
compost - to speed up the overall process. After several months, when all the organic material
is broken down, the final product is created and is often referred to as humus.

3|Page
2.2 Methodology
The composting process adopted for kitchen wastes and garden wastes are different. I have
adopted kitchen waste composting.
2.2.1 Kitchen Waste Composting
Bio bin Composting
Most compost bins are designed to hasten the decomposition of organic matter through
proper aeration and moisture retention. With the proper combination of air and
moisture, ideal conditions are produced for the activity of aerobic organisms responsible
for the high temperatures that transform the organic materials into compost.
A compost bin is a container into which you place organic waste to turn into
compost over time. Some bins are continuous, meaning you can keep adding waste
to them, while others create batches of compost with a set mix of ingredients you
add all at once.
2.2.2 Materials Used
1. Kitchen waste
 Vegetable waste
 Food waste
 Fish waste
NB: Waste shall be devoid of plastics, battery, oily materials, bottles and liquefied food
wastes.

2. aluminium buckets to hold the kitchen waste

 Micro pores on the walls to ensure aeration that facilitates microbial activity.

2.2.3 Composting Process

A. Find an Appropriate Compost Spot

If possible, find a patch of bare earth to begin your compost. A flat,

outdoor area will do if this isn’t available. Another option is an outdoor
receptacle that can sit on your deck or another part of the yard. You can

4|Page
use an indoor bin to keep under your kitchen sink or on the counter with
the intention to add the scraps to the larger outdoor bin.

B. Lay Down Straw or Twigs

For proper drainage, lay down straw or twigs as the base of your pile.

C. Add in Compost

This is the fun part! Composting is one of the best earth day projects for kids since they’ll
love getting their hands dirty during this process. Try to alternate layers of wet items with dry
items— i.e a layer of fruit scraps followed by a layer of shredded newspaper, etc.

D. Add Manure

To have super-efficient compost, you’ll want to add grass/plant clippings, wheatgrass, etc. to
your compost as green manure. In addition, you can also add fortified compost starters as an
alternative.

E. Water Your Compost

One of the most neglected aspects of learning how to start composting is forgetting to water
the compost pile. So, water your compost occasionally, or if you live in a humid/rainy
climate, the weather should be enough on its own.

F. Cover

If possible, cover your compost pile with whatever is available. Wood or a plastic sheet will
do, the main idea is to make sure that the pile is somewhat covered so that it can create its
own moisture. Moreover, covering also protects your compost pile from becoming
overwatered by the rain. Some compost bins are built-in with covers to speed up the process.

5|Page
G. Turn

One of the most important parts of learning how to start composting is committing to turn the
pile every few weeks. This gives the compost pile needed oxygen to help break down its
contents. You can do this with a shovel, or get a bin that has built-in turning handles or
features. Moreover, you can get your kids involved and add it to their weekly chores list so
that they’ll develop a sense of responsibility for the garden.

H. Enjoy Your Compost.

After a while, you’ll begin to see your compost fully biodegrade into nutrient-rich soil. This
soil, coined “garden gold” can be a great natural fertilizer for your plants. Compost can also
build the foundation for a super healthy garden by reducing harmful pests. Moreover,
learning how to compost teaches your family the value of reducing food waste.

3. Data collection & observation

In the first day, bottom was layered with dried leaves. Then kitchen waste was filled. Above
this, waste decomposer was added. From the next day onwards, added daily kitchen waste
and waste decomposer was added. The same process is continued till the compost was being
ready. Dried leaves are used more when there is excess water content. The compost was
ready within 40– 50 days.

4.Photos

6|Page
7|Page
5. Cost& Benefit Analysis
The cost spend towards bio bin compost is less compared to buying from market . Dried
leaves, papers and kitchen waste all these were made available from my house.

6. Conclusion
Composting is an easy, enjoyable and can be done almost anywhere. Composting is an easy
way to deal with problems such as air pollution, environment pollution and such other related
problems. By composting one can produce nutrient rich soil that are beneficial to plants. By
doing organic composting at home I realised the use and significance of making manures at
home. Even if there is some expenses, it is worth when comparing its benefits. Composting
can also improve soil fertility and can offer protection from potential plant diseases as well.
Proper composting can ensure minimum pests as the compost itself contains various micro-
nutrients that act as pesticides. Composting organic waste can help in reducing the overall
impact on the environment. Composting at home can be a fun activity when you have people
to help & guide you. I used the produced compost to all my plants and the growth was
surprising. Since we used organic manures, harvesting was more than we expected.

8|Page