CAHNRS

College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences

CAHNRS

Extension

^{Organic Agriculture}

Other Management Aspects

Compost Images web site

This page contains images regarding the aspects of compost production listed below. To use an image, click on the thumbnail and you can view and download the full-size file. Images are intended for educational use only, not for commercial use. No permission is needed to use these, but please provide a credit to “WSU” or the “CERWA project.” More details are on the main page for this site.

Topics

Monitoring and Research
Environmental Protection
Site Design and Layout
Nuisance Control

Monitoring and Research

tarp laid out in front of application machine — Rate #1. A simple way to measure compost application rate is the tarp method. Lay down a tarp that will be totally covered by the spreader pattern. Then drive the spreader over it at operating speed.

two people grab tarp corners — Rate #2. Pick up the tarp with the compost and collect into the center.

they pour material from tarp into bucket — Rate #3. Carefully pour all the compost into a container for weighing.

they weigh bucket by hanging from spring scale — Rate #4. Weigh the compost and calculate the rate based on the weight and the area of the tarp. Adjust the spreader as appropriate and keep careful notes of the rate associated with each spreader setting.

scattered piles of compost — Small pilot piles are used to conduct research at the WSU facility.

Steam escaping from composting windrows at the WSU site in Washington.

small thermometer (similar to meat thermometer) stuck in pile of compost — Temperature can be monitored within the windrows with specialized compost thermometers.

Man looks at thermometer stuck in compost pile — This compost manager is monitoring windrow temperature near Nampa, ID.

person holding carbon dioxide moniter — Measuring carbon dioxide levels in a windrow is another monitoring approach for process control in composting.

Germination tests are often used to determine compost maturity and insure that the compost is not phytotoxic to plants.

Water truck drives next to windrow spraying water — Water is added to windrows using a water truck near Canyon City, ID. Turning piles in summer can lead to excess drying.

Machine rolls next to windrow turning and adding water. — This turner is adapted to add water to windrows at a Texas location.

clos-up of water being added to windrow using of sprinkler-like nozzles — A view of the water nozzles on the windrow turner used to add moisture to compost in dry climates; Texas.

windrow covered in green material — Water has been added via moist feedstocks and lettuce windrows; California.

Water has been added via moist feedstocks and ice cream waste at this site in Vermont.

windrow with fabric cover — A grower at Hood River, OR, uses fabric row coverings over the windrows to exclude excess moisture from winter rain.

compost falls down tilted metal plane into bin — Excess moisture is removed from manure with this sloping screen separator prior to composting; Idaho.

This equipment is used to remove excess water from manure at a Texas site.

large covered structure with funnel-type system protruding — A facility used to dry compost in Vermont.

Top

Environmental Protection

windrow with peak every few meters — Contoured windrows to capture leachate at WSU facility.

windrow that curves around — Contoured windrows.

front end loader carrying raw materials to form windrow — Forming the initial windrows with a front end loader.

pond next to agricultural fields — Leachate collection and storage pond at WSU composting facility; Washington.

ditch for runoff next to windrow — Pad runoff collection channel at a poultry farm in Idaho.

windrows on concrete — An abandoned concrete manure storage area is used here as a composting pad; Massachusetts.

puddles forming on concrete from windrows — Pad drainage at a Washington site.

puddles form on concrete pad surrounding windrows — Paving provides an all-weather working surface at the WSU compost site; Washington.

An asphalt pad is installed at a western Washington composting site.

Preventing runoff from leaving the composting site.

large muddy area next to windrow — An example of problems from poor drainage management.

wall of concrete blocks in from on machinery — Concrete blocks used to reduce equipment noise.

Top

Site Design and Layout

stripes of windrows with two ponds in center and ditches. — An aerial view of the layout of the WSU composting facility in Pullman, WA.

steam rising off windrows surrounded by snow — View of the WSU compost piles in the winter.

A schematic diagram of evaluating site drainage for a compost facility.

A schematic diagram of the construction and drainage for a composting pad.

A diagram of the construction of an aerated static pile.

An example of a circle diagram for a composting site layout.

A diagram of site layout and drainage.

A profile diagram of a windrow site.

Top

Nuisance Control

flies cover inside of compost bin — Flies can become a nuisance as on this compost bin with fish added.

birds rest on top of windrows — Birds can be a nuisance like these on compost windrows in Vermont.

biofilter positioned at end of windrow — This small biofilter is used to control odor at an Idaho composting facility.

Steam rises off bed of woody debris — A large scale biofilter made with woody debris and compost helps control odor at a Washington site.

An attempt to mask odors at a Washington facility met with limited success.

Top