PowerPoint Presentation Slide 1

Compost Train the Trainer Workshop

LIVING SOILS

Ecosystems and Food Webs

• An ecosystem is a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
• Producers harness energy from the sun
• Consumers feed on other organisms to get what they need to survive
• Producers are eaten by plant eating organisms called Herbivores
• Herbivores are eaten by either Omnivores, that eat both plants and animals, e.g. humans, or Carnivores, that eat only meat.

Organic matter is important because:

• It improves soil structure which improves aeration, infiltration of water and makes it easier for roots to grow
• It holds water – very useful in dry periods
• It holds soils particles together forming stable crumbs (aggregates)
• Other beneficial organisms e.g. earthworms feed on organic matter
• It hold and releases nutrients continuously which increases nutrient supply to plants and reduces leaching.
• It helps balance/maintain healthy soil pH

“So what’s so great about compost?”
Benefits of compost

• It turns waste into something useful.
• It provides food and the energy that is needed by the soil organisms
• improves structure, aeration and moisture in the soil to help our crops grow.

Compost makes soil healthy and helps crops to grow

Generally High C:N ratio materials are

• Generally High C:N ratio materials are

Dry/Brown

• Generally Low C:N ratio materials are

Green

What can I put into my compost?

Food scraps from the kitchen, including egg shells, fish waste
Garden waste
Newspapers and other paper

Coconut husks