Elements of Active Composting-Temperature

For the active composter there are a few key parts of the composting process that they will need to keep
an eye in order to help the compost along in the most efficient way. What exactly those parts are can be
a subject of much heated discussion but in general most people that deal with compost agree on the
following four.

• Temperature

• Material type and ratio

• Moisture level

• Aeration or oxygen in the pile

Having these four aspects of composting in sync can lead to producing quality compost in an efficient and predictable manner.

Which for anyone that needs or wants compost on a larger scale it is vitally important to fully understand what the four elements of composting above can do to your pile if they are not managed
correctly. The first element I want to touch on is temperature. How hot or cold your pile is determines how quickly the compost will decompose to the useful black gold that you want. Most of the time you are looking to maintain a pile temperature of between 135 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the optimum
temperature range for thermophilic microorganisms which are the important microorganisms in the
process of composting. Maintaining a temperature between 135 and 160 also has beneficial side effects
of killing weed seeds and reducing potential pathogens. According to the USDA it will take around
three days at 135 degrees and above to safely kill the seeds and pathogens The longer and hotter you
can maintain the pile the greater the removal of weeds and pathogens from your compost.

Building a Hot Compost Pile

The best way to build a hot compost pile is to build it all in one shot. As in create a Batch pile of
compost rather than an add as you go. This will help create a hot pile because all of the material
needed by the microorganisms is present in the pile when you are finished building it. Another key
factor is the C:N ratio of materials in the pile. You want to maintain a 30:1 ratio for optimum
microorganism activity which is what generates the heat in the pile.

Maintaining a Hot Compost Pile 

You will run into one of two difficulties in maintaining the right temperature in the pile for the required
number of days. Either it will be to cold or it will be to hot.

Fixing to Cold....

• Turn the pile over using a pitchfork, shovel or compost aerator.

• See if C:N ratio is wrong and adjust accordingly

• Add water if dry

• Apply a compost starter like these to add more microorganisms to the pile.

Fixing to Hot...

• Most composters agree that turning the pile will reduce temperature. However studies done by
   the Cornell University have shown that is will do it only temporarily.

• It will go down by itself after the microorganisms have died off or run out of things to compost.
  You really only need one thing to monitor compost pile temperature and that is a thermometer with a
   long enough sensor to reach all the way into your compost pile. They can be found in many different        
   models and types and you can see some of what is available in my Soiled Stuff store. For a easy way
   to keep track of what temperature your pile is reaching check out my Compost Tracking Worksheet
   located in the Composting Resources section of this page.