How to Build a Anaerobic Compost Pile
by John Yazo
Anaerobic composting
is a method that involves a lot less labor than an aerobic pile does,
but it does still need to be turned once in awhile. The term
"anaerobic composting" is used to describe what is know as the putrefactive
breakdown of organic matter by reduction in the absence of oxygen where end
products such as methane and hydrogen sulfide are released. If you just let the
pile sit without turning it at all it will start to smell and take a
lot longer to produce a usable product. This is the same process takes
place in nature, such as decomposing organic mud at the bottom of marshes,
or wetlands and in buried organic materials that have no access to oxygen.
This method of putrefaction is usually accompanied by odors, hydrogen
sulfide and other reduced organic compounds that contain sulfur.
In anaerobic composting, there is no significant release of heat to the mass organic material being decomposed. This could be a possible problem for the treatment of any contaminated materials. Temperatures need to be high to destroy pathogens and parasites. High temperatures being absent, therefore do not play a part in the destruction of pathogenic organisms in anaerobic composting. This is an unfavorable environment for pathogenic organisms, and they do disappear in the organic mass, because of it and to biological antagonisms. The disappearance is slow and the material must be held for longer periods of time, six months to a year to ensure a relatively complete destruction.
To start your pile you will need to get the organic material you are composting into a pile or bin. Once you have completed this step you will need to moisten it and cover it the same way you would with an aerobic pile. Your pile at this point will start out just as the aerobic pile does by heating up until the organisms in it use up all the air and begin to die off. at this point they will start to get replaced by anaerobic organisms that don't like the heat.
Once the pile starts to cool and the anaerobic organisms take over you will need to keep monitoring the pile to check the moisture content. If your pile starts to develop a smell and is wet or soggy you will need to add more carbon material, along with turn the pile to blend it all together. This will help eliminate the odor and get the pile to heat up once again. In about a week the pile should have cooled and the anaerobic process will be taking over again.
Keep repeating these steps until you have the rich humus organic material that you want for your gardening needs.
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