COMPOST Oxygen in phase I
With the arrival of aerated floor systems for compost, professionals in the field have become increasingly conscious of the significance of aeration – and therefore a good supply of oxygen – when producing compost for mushroom growing. In this respect, oxygen measurement is crucial.
By Jos Buth -
josbuth@gmail.com
In the course of my work, I still often see that little or no thought is given to a good supply of oxygen during the entire composting process – starting at pre-wet. This article attempts to summarise the practical realities, the unintenti- onal mistakes and the solutions.
Oxygen in raw materials A huge variety of raw materials are used in composting. The price and availability are not always in balance and sometimes cost is prioritised to the detriment of quality. This ultimately effects the quality and uniformity of the compost.
Bales of straw that are too wet on arrival usually already contain active microbial life, which can be measured by the temperature. As straw heats
up due to a higher moisture content, the oxygen concentration in the straw can sharply decline. This greatly depends on the structure and how tightly the straw has been baled. Straw can easily acidify causing an adverse effect on the compos- ting process. Not all the acidic straw was too wet when it was baled. Acidification of straw is closely linked to how green it was (available nutrients). Straw should be ‘dead’ material. If the straw, with some residual grains, is left in the field for a few weeks after harvest, the straw weathers and the majority of easily absorbable sugars and easily degradable carbohydrates are degraded. The resulting straw has a lower risk of becoming acidic.
There are also some countries where it is common for grain to dry on the stalks. This
Taking care of a good oxygen supply starts allready at pre-wet stage. 8 MUSHROOM BUSINESS
Damaged oxygen hoses will provide you with wrong
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