Composting

Composting is an aerobic process in which microorganisms decompose organic materials, such as livestock manure, yard trimmings, and food scraps. The process reduces moisture and volume and results is a rich stable soil-like product that can be used as a soil amendment.

Click on the titles below to link to additional information.

CALCULATIONS

-  Optimizing compost mixing ratios (English units)
-  Optimizing compost mixing ratios (Metric units)
-  Composting system for avian flu mortalities
-  Composting lab workbook

RESOURCES

-  Michigan Compost Operator Guidebook
-  NRAES-54 On-Farm Composting Handbook
-  NRAES-114 Field Guide to On-Farm Composting
-  NRAES-094 Composting for Municipalities
-  On-Farm Composting Guide - British Columbia
-  On-Farm Composting Toolkit | Connecting farmers and food scraps
-  USDA NRCS Soil Carbon Amendment Conservation Practice Standard
-  ILSR: State of Composting in the U.S.
-  Controlling Composting Odors (BioCycle) 
-  Manure and Compost: Nutrient Availability (Ohio State)
-  Interpreting Compost Analyses (Oregon State)
-  Composting at Home (Ohio State)

Mortality composting:
-  Ohio Mortality Composting Certification Course (Ohio State) 
-  Ohio Mortality & Slaughterhouse Waste Composting Manual (Ohio State)
-  Mortality Composting: 2018 International Symposium Proceedings

For teachers:
-  Composting in the Classroom (Ohio State)
-  Composting in the Classroom: Scientific Inquiry for High School Students (Cornell University)

PRESENTATIONS

-  Evolution of Composting at Ohio State University
-  Composting Systems for Ohio Dairy and Hog Farms
-  Opportunities and Challenges in Composting
-  Composting at Home Series

LINKS

-  Ohio Organics Council
-  Ohio EPA: Composting Program
-  US Composting Council
-  BioCycle: Find a Composter
-  Black Gold - Composting at Home
-  Creating the Best At-Home Composting System