![]() ![]() The university's vermicomposting piles can break down 10 pounds of food waste and paper per day. ![]() Red wigglers ( Eisenia fetida) are the most common worm used in vermicomposting, or composting with worms, Worsham said. Worsham is building composting resources at the University of Dayton and is including red wiggler worms in the composting piles. These animals break down the food waste, yard trimmings and other organics in the compost pile and help turn the waste material into nutrient-rich soil. In addition to microorganisms, other helpful creatures, such as pill bugs, centipedes and worms, will find their way to the composting pile if the conditions are right. ![]() The remaining percentage of microorganisms are species of fungi, including molds and yeasts. Anaeorbs produce chemicals that are occasionally toxic to plants, and they cause composting piles to stink because they release hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs.Ībout 80 to 90 percent of all microorganisms found in compost piles are bacteria, according to Cornell University. They also don't process the organic waste as efficiently as aerobic bacteria. The aerobes consume the organic waste and excrete chemicals such as nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium, which are nutrients plants need to thrive.Īnaerobic microorganisms are bacteria that don't require oxygen. The aerobes are bacteria that require oxygen levels of at least 5 percent to survive and are the most important and efficient composting microorganisms, according to the University of Illinois. There are two main classes of composting microorganisms, known as aerobes and anaerobes, according to Planet Natural. At this stage, temperatures begin to drop enough for mesophilic microorganisms to resume control of the compost pile and finish breaking down the remaining organic matter into usable humus. The third stage, which typically lasts for several months, begins when the thermophilic microorganisms use up the available supply of the compounds. Techniques such as aeration and turning over the compost pile help keep temperatures below about 149 degrees F (65 degrees C), as well as provide additional oxygen and new sources for the thermophilic microorganisms to break down. ![]() The higher temperatures are more conducive to breaking down proteins, fats and complex carbohydrates.Īlso, during the second stage, temperatures continue to rise and if not closely watched, the compost pile can get so hot that it can eventually kill off all the helpful microorganisms. The thermophilic microbes work to break down the organic materials into finer pieces. Mesophilic microorganisms are replaced by thermophilic microorganisms (microorganisms that thrive in the increased temperatures) during the second stage, which can last from a few days to several months. Heat is a natural byproduct of this initial process and temperatures quickly rise to over 104 degrees F (40 degrees C). The first stage is typically only a couple of days long during which mesophilic microorganisms, or microorganisms that thrive in temperatures of about 68 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 45 degrees Celsius), begin physically breaking down the biodegradable compounds. ![]()
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