nitrogenous material,
- more coarse materials and less fine ones,
- slightly more soil when building the pile,
- slightly more water when building the pile, and
- a “no turn” approach.
The 9rst time we did this, we got 38% more cured
compost. One publication implies that up to 100% more
may be possible.
Note: Do you know that some of the compost—you build and put into the soil for
nutrients for the plants to eat, to act as a sponge to hold water, and to prevent
disease, because it contains antibiotics—can last in the soil up to 5,000 years? What
a wonderful commitment to sustainable soil fertility!
- Building a pile with a carbon/nitrogen ratio of 44/1,
instead of 30/1 or 60/1. Over time the 44/1 cured
compost consistently produces higher yields of grain and
biomass. (In one test comparing these three types of
compost, the 44/1 derived cured compost produced
double the grain and dry biomass.)
- Building a pile which uses more structural forms of
carbon, such as cellulose and lignin (mature straw and
stalks) and less metabolic forms of carbon, such as
sugars and starches (immature leaves and stalks). The
result may be more durable, lasting cured compost.
- Maintaining the curing compost piles, carefully. A cured
compost pile that has been properly maintained can
contain 20% or more humus rather than the more
