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Monitoring and Research
Rate #1. A simple way to measure
compost application rate is the tarp method. Lay down a tarp
that will be totally covered by the spreader pattern. Then drive
the spreader over it at operating speed.
 
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Rate #2. Pick up the tarp
with the compost and collect into the center.
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.Rate #3. Carefully pour all the compost into a
container for weighing.
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Rate #4. Weigh the compost
and calculate the rate based on the weight and the area of the
tarp. Adjust the spreader as appropriate and keep careful notes
of the rate associated with each spreader setting.
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Small pilot piles are used to
conduct research at the WSU facility.
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Steam escaping from composting
windrows at the WSU site in Washington.
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Temperature can be monitored
within the windrows with specialized compost thermometers.
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This compost manager is
monitoring windrow temperature near Nampa, ID.
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Measuring carbon dioxide
levels in a windrow is another monitoring approach for process
control in composting.
Slide courtesy of Karin
Grobe
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A commercially available
kit used to test for compost maturity.
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Germination tests are often
used to determine compost maturity and insure that the compost
is not phytotoxic to plants.
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Water is added to windrows
using a water truck near Canyon City, ID. Turning piles in summer
can lead to excess drying.
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This turner is adapted to add
water to windrows at a Texas location.
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A view of the water nozzles
on the windrow turner used to add moisture to compost in dry
climates; Texas.
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Water has been added via
moist feedstocks and lettuce windrows; California.
Slide courtesy of Karin
Grobe
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Water has been added via
moist feedstocks and ice cream waste at this site in Vermont.
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A grower at Hood River,
OR, uses fabric row coverings over the windrows to exclude excess
moisture from winter rain.
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Excess moisture is removed
from manure with this sloping screen separator prior to composting;
Idaho.
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This equipment is used
to remove excess water from manure at a Texas site.
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A facility used to dry compost
in Vermont.
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Environmental Protection
Contoured windrows to capture
leachate at WSU facility.
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Contoured windrows.
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Forming the initial windrows
with a front end loader.
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Leachate collection and
storage pond at WSU composting facility; Washington.
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Pad runoff collection channel
at a poultry farm in Idaho.
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An abandoned concrete manure
storage area is used here as a composting pad; Massachusetts.
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Pad drainage at a Washington
site.
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Paving provides an all-weather
working surface at the WSU compost site; Washington.
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An asphalt pad is installed
at a western Washington composting site.
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Preventing runoff from leaving
the composting site.
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An example of problems from poor
drainage management.
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Concrete blocks used to
reduce equipment noise.
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Site Design and Layout
An aerial view of the layout
of the WSU composting facility in Pullman, WA.
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View of the WSU compost
piles in the winter.
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A schematic diagram of evaluating
site drainage for a compost facility.
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A schematic diagram of the construction
and drainage for a composting pad.
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A diagram of the construction
of an aerated static pile.
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An example of a circle
diagram for a composting site layout.
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A diagram of site layout
and drainage.
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A profile diagram of a windrow
site.
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Nuisance Control
Flies can become a nuisance as
on this compost bin with fish added.
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Birds can be a nuisance
like these on compost windrows in Vermont.
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This small biofilter is
used to control odor at an Idaho composting facility.
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A large scale biofilter
made with woody debris and compost helps control odor at a Washington
site.
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Composting at a dairy on
the edge of urbanization requires extra measures for odor control.
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An attempt to mask odors
at a Washington facility met with limited success.
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