Successful Compost even in Small Bins

Food for soil microbes. Each size of bin makes good quality yet different composts, from the same materials added. I use these excellent composts when just six months old, or even four months sometimes. All the time it changes in quality, and is good to use after a year or more. Just there is less of it, from decomposition continuing. From the analysis organised by Martyn Richards of Agriton. "The relatively low fungi-to-bacteria ratios are not caused by a lack of fungi. Fungal biomass in all three samples is within the laboratory’s desired range. The ratios are lower because the bacterial populations are especially high. Large Bay – matured for 19 months has the strongest fungal result: Fungi: 667.90 µg/ml Bacteria: 1,687.46 µg/ml F:B ratio: 0.40 Amoebae: 254,750/ml Fungal-feeding nematodes: 42/ml This is the only sample classified by the laboratory at the “brassica” stage rather than the earlier “weed” stage. That description is based on the fungi-to-bacteria ratio. It does not mean the compost contains weeds, encourages weeds or is only suitable for brassicas. It is the laboratory’s shorthand for the biological balance and its position within a model of ecological succession. It's also visually the darkest, finest and most soil-like sample. The physical appearance and microscopy both reflect the longer maturation period. The time left relatively undisturbed has allowed a larger fungal population to establish. Younger three-bay compost, six months old, is more bacteria-dominated: Fungi: 304.17 µg/ml Bacteria: 1,595.75 µg/ml F:B ratio: 0.19 Amoebae: 475,533/ml Bacterial-feeding nematodes: 125/ml Fungal-feeding nematodes: 42/ml This is active compost that has not had the same maturation time. It contains good fungal biomass, but its greater bacterial dominance and more recognisable woody material show that it is at a different point in the process. This fits the management of the three-bay system. Turning mixes and aerates the material and produces more even compost, while fungal strands then need time to re-establish during the undisturbed finishing period. Six month old compost matured in the Dalek, has the largest overall microbial population: Fungi: 403.20 µg/ml Bacteria: 1,962.59 µg/ml F:B ratio: 0.21 Amoebae: 1,222,800/ml Flagellates: 33,967/ml Bacterial-feeding nematodes: 417/ml Predatory nematodes: 83/ml Although bacteria dominate the ratio, the dalek sample has the widest spread of feeding groups observed in the three samples. The presence of bacterial-feeding and predatory nematodes shows that there is more than a population of decomposers: organisms are feeding on one another and moving nutrients through several levels of the food web. The Dalek has therefore produced biologically active and diverse compost. Its coarser appearance and lower F:B ratio also demonstrate that compost age cannot be judged using one number. You can join this channel by paying a monthly fee, to support our work with helping gardeners grow better, and to receive monthly videos made only for members:    / @charlesdowding1nodig   00:00 Introduction 00:32 My seven-bay system, and a six-day old heap 01:22 Cutting woody ingredients 01:48 A finished heap - high heat 02:30 Examples of green ingredients, including weeds 02:56 Another finished heap - the composting process 03:38 Turning a heap 04:19 Some finished compost 04:53 Compost analysis 05:19 My three-pallet system, and sourcing ingredients for heaps 06:54 Temperature of smaller heaps, and a compost aerator tool 07:28 Five-week old compost 08:07 Constructing pallet bays 08:33 Covering heaps against rain, and watering! 09:29 Timing of the heaps in the three-bay system 09:50 Covering a maturing heap, and two-month old compost 10:38 The three-bay system explained 11:31 Six-month old compost, ready to use 12:21 Compost from middle bay - worm casts 12:44 Using good quality compost for potting mix 13:12 Minty’s poos! 13:31 Dalek bins - current heap 14:16 Checking moisture of compost 14:43 Turning heap with a tool 15:00 Capacity of Dalek bins, and examples of green and brown ingredients 15:48 Last year’s compost in second bin - undecomposed woody content 16:55 Temperature in Dalek bins 17:16 Compost analysis results 17:30 Adding bindweed to heaps - no problem with decomposition 17:55 Pallet bays - lining with cardboard 18:25 Outro