How A Compost Pile Should Be Maintained

How A Compost Pile Should Be MaintainedThe substrate chemistry of a compost pile is the main cause of biological activity in a compost pile. So, it is very important to understand this important aspect before you start to compost your kitchen scraps. The chemicals that are present in a compost pile will be more than enough to control the microbes and the activity level of the rest of the organisms.Chemical composition is very important since the stability of a compost pile will depend on it. The chemical composition and its utilization for use as an environment for microbial activities can be described as follows. There are two basic types of chemical compositions that are present in a compost pile, namely, alkaline and acidic.Alkaline chemical composition is the type which has a high acidity. This type of chemical composition includes alkaline material such as peat, manure and charcoal. So, it has high acidity and hence the presence of many microbes. However, in order to maintain th e pH level in a compost pile, there must be a balance between the acidity and alkalinity.Acidic chemical composition is the type which has a high alkalinity. It is a good thing for the microbes in a compost pile, since it has a low acidity. It also maintains the pH level and the activity level of the other microbial organisms.So, this means that if the chemicals in a compost pile are not maintained, the activity level will be affected. The chemical composition of a compost pile includes a lot of materials like for example, organic matter and animal products. In order to maintain the acidity of the pile, acid is added to the pile. For maintaining the alkalinity, some water is added.Another important aspect that needs to be understood is the substrate chemistry. In simple terms, the substrate chemistry can be described as the basic chemical substance from which the microbes live and develop. The substrates include different sources, mostly food materials. These sources include manure, coffee grounds, fruit residues, cheese, pasta, old banana peelings, and various other substances.Each of these different kinds of substrates can be classified as either being acidic or alkaline. The reason for the pH level to change is that they have either too much or too little acid or alkalinity. One of the consequences of changing the substrate chemistry is that the activities of the microorganisms are also changed. This means that these microorganisms might be more active than before or even less active.