Compost adds nutrients and organic matter to soil improving the soil quality. Plant materials, animal manure and kitchen scraps are materials used to make compost.
Start compost making during rainy season as this speeds up the rate of decomposition however do not use animal parts as these attract rodents. A compost pile size of 2m x 2m x 2m is advisable.
Compost making
Create foundation 15 – 20cm deep using coarse materials like maize stalks and cobs.
Add banana, cabbage and pepper leaves above to keep fine materials from going down.
Add 25cm of green and dry vegetation as carbon sources.
Add 5cm of animal manure or legume plants. Add kitchen scrap, ashes, egg shells for nitrogen provision.
Always water, add mulch layer and dig trench around compost for excess water to drain.
Insert a rod in compost centre to check for decomposition and add water to compost once a week.
Chop, thresh plant materials to speed up decomposition.
Turn, mix, move compost to the next location and keep the compost covered to keep low moisture levels.
