Soil Conservation

Let us learn

Organic materials used to make compost manure include dry crop remains, grass clippings, hedge clippings, weeds, food remains and animal wastes from cattle, sheep, goats, chicken or rabbits. To make good compost manure, ash, fresh garden soil and water are also required. However, the following materials should not be used:

1. Meat, fish, bones, cooking fats and oils and dairy products such as milk and yoghurt. They can attract flies, rats and other animals.
2. Cat and dog wastes. They can spread diseases and parasites to human beings.
3. Weeds that have seeds.
4. Plants affected by diseases or pests.
5. Any material that cannot decompose.

Some organic materials in our environment are therefore important resources that should be used to make compost manure. The manure can be used to improve soil fertility in our gardens either in school or at home.

Activity 3: Let us do (in groups)

1. Select a suitable site for preparing the compost manure. Such a site should be well drained and sheltered from sunlight and rainfall.
2. Collect the required material such as dry maize stalk, dry grass, dry sugarcane, grass leaves, dry bean stalks, green leaves, animal wastes, ashes, fresh topsoil and water.
3. Measure a rectangle of about 100 centimetres wide and 150 centimetres long. Your teacher will guide you on any other suitable measurements.
4. Dig a shallow pit about 30 centimetres deep. Put the topsoil on one side, you will need it later.
5. Put a bottom layer of rough materials such as maize stalks or dry vegetation in the shallow pit. This layer should be about 30 centimetres thick. Sprinkle some water on this layer.
6. Add a second layer of green vegetation such as green grass, green leaves and hedge cuttings. You may also add food leftovers and kitchen wastes. This layer should be about 15 centimetres thick. Sprinkle water on this layer too. You should sprinkle water on each layer as you add it. The pile should be moist throughout.
7. Put on a third layer of animal manure.
8. Sprinkle some ash.
9. Add a thin layer of topsoil. Old compost may be added if it is available instead of topsoil.
10. Add more layers in turn, starting with dry vegetative materials, then green materials followed by animal manure, wood ash and topsoil. Remember to sprinkle water on every layer. Build the pile up to 100 to 150 centimetres high. The height of the pile will depend on the materials available.
11. Cover the whole heap or pile with dry grass or dry vegetation such as banana leaves.
12. Take a long, sharp, pointed stick and drive it in at an angle so that it passes through the heap from top to bottom. This stick will act as your “thermometer”. After 3 days, decomposition will have started in the pile, and the stick will be warm when you pull it out.

1. Keep checking the progress of the decomposition process by pulling the thermometer stick from time to time. If the thermometer stick is cold, it means decomposition is not taking place and you need to turn the materials.
2. Sprinkle water on the compost heap occasionally (about every 3 days, depending on the weather). If it has been raining, you may not need to water the pile.

After every 2 to 3 weeks, turn the compost heap over with a manure fork to ensure that the different layers are well mixed. The top layer will now become the bottom layer while the bottom layer will become the top layer.

After about 3 to 4 months the compost manure will be fully decomposed and ready to use in your garden. If it is not being used immediately, it is good to put it in a shade to prevent loss of nutrients through evaporation. When fully decomposed, the compost heap will become cool and the size of the original heap will be greatly reduced. The compost manure should be dark in colour and have a fresh, earthly smell. It should not show any grass, leaves or animal manure.

Note

Take photos and videos as you participate in the project of making compost manure and save them in your portfolio. You will present to your teacher, parent or guardian to show your participation in the project.

Take Home Activity

Make a habit of making compost manure at home using organic waste materials so that you can be applying it in your kitchen garden. You will be conserving your environment by re‑using the organic waste materials since the environment will be neat. Your garden will also be more fertile and therefore produce more food for your own consumption. Discuss with your parent or guardian how you can do this together to practise what you have done in school.