What is Compost?

Compost is any organic material-from leaves to manure to municipal waste-that has broken down into a rich, black, crumbly substance called humus. It feeds the soil, improves its texture, often contains micronutrients, encourages important microbial activity. Compost is one of the best things to add to all soils because it both fertilizes and improves soil texture. Some compost is poor quality. Aged forest products make the best-quality compost. Composted manure is very rich in nitrogen, so be careful to not work in too much or plant growth may be overly lush. Composted manure may have a lingering odor. And remember: With any compost, you pay a premium price for something you can easily make in your own yard.

Safe steps for using cow manure in home gardens

Composting has many advantages over chemical fertilizers. First, gardeners can utilize their yard waste--leaves, grass clippings, vines and stalks--as well as vegetable peelings and straw to form the compost foundation. To aid in chemical breakdown, some gardeners add cow manure to supply the needed nitrogen, but there are some precautions to take before doing so. "Cow manure may contain E. coli, which we know is a dangerous bacteria that can cause severe illness and even death," says Dr. Jodie Pennington, dairy specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. "Generally, we only think of E. coli when consuming beef, but the bacteria itself can remain in manure and spread to what it touches." Fortunately, composting provides a way to address this concern. When the correct blend of carbon, nitrogen, moisture and oxygen are available, beneficial micro-organisms will actively compost, that is decompose the manure and carbon material. Under ideal conditions, the temperature of the compost pile will rise to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, or more. If maintained for several days E. coli and other harmful bacteria are killed. This heating process should also help to kill weed seeds. "When the temperature starts to drop, the pile should be turned over and mixed to re-aerate it so that the active composting will continue," says Dr. Karl VanDevender, Extension engineer. "If desired, the pile can be left alone for several months to finish decomposing at a slower rate. When completed, the finished compost will have a lower nitrogen concentration than the original manure. It will then be less likely to burn or kill vegetation." To use the compost, till it into the soil prior to planting or add it as fertilizer after seeds have been sown. While active composting kills harmful bacteria, it is still recommended that you wear gloves when handling compost containing cow manure as well as washing up thoroughly afterward to avoid cross-contamination of surfaces or food. "Especially important is to thoroughly wash vegetables or fruits grown in cow manure compost," Pennington explains. "A good rule of thumb is to do it before taking it in the house as well as prior to preparing a meal." For more information about food safety and nutrition, visit www.uaex.edu, or contact your county Extension agent. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.

Understanding Soil Types

Understanding Soil Types

Soil is composed of four main elements: mineral matter, water, air and organic matter. Grains of sand, finely pulverized rock or pebbles are mineral matter. The size, proportions and type of mineral matter give the soil its basic texture, which determines its type. Broadly defined, the four soil types are sand, clay, silt and loam. Sandy soil is light and easy to dig, warms quickly in the spring and is rich in oxygen. However, sandy soil doesn't hold much moisture or many plant nutrients. Silty soil has a lighter texture than clay but is heavier than sand. Small silt particles travel easily in water, so soil in low places near rivers and streams often has a silty character. Porr draniage and surface crusting are the main problems you will have when gardening in silty soil. Loam is the a good balance of clay, silt and sand, and a generous amount of organic matter. Clay soil is heavy and difficult to dig and has little pore space for oxyen. Clay often contains plenty of plant nutrients, but the nutrients may be not be available to plants because of the soil's thight texture. Clay soil tends to stay wet for a long time after heavey rains, and may drain poorly. When clay dries out it becomes rock hard. It is encouraging to know that clay soil becomes terricic garden soil if a sufficient amount of organic matter is added.

Lawnmowers and grasscycling

Lawnmowers & grasscycling

What is grasscycling? Grasscycling is the natural recycling of grass clippings by leaving clippings on the lawn after mowing. There is no need to bag them, just cut it and leave it! Grass clippings make up a significant part of our waste stream, and there are only limited areas to dispose of them. Be a part of the solution, while at the same time, save time and money plus have a healthier lawn! Proper mowing is essential. Avoid mowing more than one-third of the lawn height. To grasscycle, a special mower is not needed. Regular lawn mowers can be used to grasscycle effectively by removing the collection bag and adding a blade adapter, which will cut up and pulverize grass even more finely. Grasscycling provides up to one-half of the nitrogen needed by a lawn. When you rake them up, you rob your lawn of food.