COMPOSTING
PERFORMANCE TASK IN SCIENCE 4
Composting is the natural process
of recycling organic waste matter.
It is returning well-decayed
organic matter back to the soil
Worms and
Microorganisms plays
an important role in
decomposing organic
waste.
They are the one that
converts organic waste
into something useful
for the soil and plants
IMPORTANCE OF COMPOSTING
➢ It provides many essential nutrients for plant
growth, and therefore it is often used as fertilizer.
➢ Compost also improves soil structure and helps the
soil to easily hold the correct amount of moisture,
nutrients, and air.
➢ Helps reduce garbage production.
➢ Cuts down on the usage of chemical fertilizers,
which are harmful to our water supply.
➢ Can help save money.
TWO WAYS OF COMPOSTING
1 COMPOST PIT 2 BASKET COMPOSTING
-A compost pit requires -Basket composting is the process
burying kitchen or soft yard by which your decomposable home
waste, such as chopped garbage, garden, and farm waste
leaves or grass clippings in are allowed to rot in baskets that
a simple pit or trench. are half-buried.
HOW TO MAKE A COMPOST PILE:
A STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
1
GATHER YOUR MATERIALS
• Fruit scraps
• Vegetable scraps
• Coffee grounds
• Eggshells (though they can take a
while to break down)
• Grass and plant clippings
• Animal manure (feces) from
herbivores
• Dry leaves
• Shredded newspaper
• Sawdust from untreated wood
2
WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT INCLUDE:
• Meat, fish, egg or poultry scraps (odor problems and pests)
• Dairy products (odor problems and pests)
• Fats, grease, lard or oils (odor problems and pests)
• Coal or charcoal ash (contains substances harmful to plants)
• Diseased plants (diseases or insects might spread)
• Pet wastes (dog or cat feces, cat litter might contain parasites or
germs)
• Yard trimmings treated with pesticides (m ight kill composting
organisms)
YOUR COMPOST BIN CAN BE ANY
RECYCLABLE MATERIALS LIKE:
3
FIND A GOOD AREA
• Choose an area with good drainage. You do not want
your compost to sit in standing water.
• An a rea with partial sun or shade is also ideal.
→ Too much sun can dry the pile out, while
→ Too much shade can keep it overly wet.
• Choose a site that is easy for you to get to and avoid
areas near dogs or other meat-eating animals.
4
LAYERING
• Lay the grass cuttings first. Avoid
compressing them too much
• Lay and spread a layer of animal
manure (feces of cow, horse, or
chicken) with sawdust
• Spread the kitchen scraps then
cover with enough soil
• Sprinkle small amounts of water
on the pile everyday.
• Keep it moist but not too wet.
REMEMBER:
There should be a balance between:
→ green waste -- watery materials like fruits
and vegetables, grass clippings and weeds;
and
→ brown waste like dried leaves, sticks,
cardboard, and paper.
4
CHECK
• On the 8th week, check the
compost. Take some with a spade
or trowel.
• If it looks like soil, brown black in
color, has clean smell, and easy to
crumble – then you now have
compost!
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES IN
HANDLING COMPOST
● General safety precautions should be followed in order to avoid
transmission of dangerous fungi, bacteria and other pathogens
found in compost:
● Always wear dry, breathable
gloves to avoid direct contact with
the skin, and to protect yourself
from injury while using gardening
tools.
● Wear protective footwear that
covers your skin adequately to
avoid direct contact with
compost. Do not wear them
anywhere except outdoors.
Tilling
● Always wear a nose and mouth
guard or dust mask to avoid
inhaling the various spores
that will become airborne
during tilling and turning
● Wash your hands after dealing
with compost. W hile this
suggestion may sound obvious,
many garden enthusiasts get
so absorbed with their activities
that they forget the potential
dangers from poisoning.
TASK
1. Create a 3-5 minutes vlog on how to
make a compost at home using a recycled
bin.
Video is to be submitted on September 4