(e) Formulations
There is no standard pattern in the compost fromulations. However, 3 basic formulations for preparing compost are in use. The horsedung compost is all horse-manure. Synthetic compost is mainly a combination of straw, carbohydrate source (wheat bran), chicken litter and chemical fertilizer. The main objective of computing the formulation being to achieve some of the balance between carbon and nitrogen. The nitrogen level of compost at stacking is adjusted to 1.5% of the dry matter and the carbon-nitrogen ratio at the same time is 25-30 : 1. the compost should have 2.0-2.3% N at the completion of the process, which corresponds to 17:1, C-N ratio.
There are so many variations in compost formulations. The basis of primarily the cost of availability of the ingredients and suitable supplements in the particular growing states. Some recommended formulae are :
(i) Natural compost
Basic formula (IARI)
| |
(in kg) |
| Horsedung |
1,000 |
| Wheat straw (chopped) |
350 |
| Urea |
3 |
| Gypsum (hydrated calcium sulphate) |
30-40 |
Urea can be replaced with 100 to 110 kg of poultry manure Hayes and Randle (1969) recommended :
| |
(in kg) |
| Horsedung |
1,016 |
| Chicken manure |
101.6 |
| Molasses |
38.1 |
| Cotton-seed meal |
15.24 |
| Gypsum |
15 |
Synthetic compost Formulated at IARI, New Delhi
| |
(in kg) |
| Wheat straw (chopped) |
1,000 |
| Wheat bran |
80 |
| Urea |
10 |
| Ammonium sulphate or calcium ammoinum nitrate |
10 |
| Gypsum |
40-50 |
Optional supplements. Molasses 40 kg or 20 kg molasses + 20 kg cotton seed or groundnut+seed meal; chicken manure 100-150 kg. Molasses should be diluted 20 times with water. Oilseed-meal cakes may be added during the first turning. Poultry-manure is added at the beginning of composting.
Formulated by schisler (1974)
| |
(in kg) |
| Hay or Wheat straw |
68 |
| Corn cobs (crushed) |
68 |
| Brewer's grain |
13.6 |
| Poultry manure |
11.33 |
| Urea |
1.18 |
| Potash |
1.63 |
| Gypsum |
4.5 |
Formulated by Takahashi (1975) in Japan
| |
(in kg) |
| Rice straw |
1,000 |
| Urea |
5 |
| Calcium cyanide |
10 |
| Ammonium sulphate |
13 |
| Calcium carbonate |
25 |
| Calcium superphosphate |
30 |
Formulated by Shin et al. (1971) in Korea
| |
(in kg) |
| Rice straw |
1,000 |
| Chicken manure |
100 |
| Urea |
12-15 |
| Gypsum |
20 |
Formulated by Ho (1978) in Taiwan
| |
(in kg) |
| Rice straw |
1,000 |
| Ammonium sulphate |
18 |
| Urea |
4.50 |
| Calcium superphosphate |
18 |
| Calcium carbonate |
27 |
