Practicality and Procedures for Composting Institutional Waste Streams.

The recently established composting operation at the University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM) campus was evaluated for feasibility, practicality, and for potential use as a model for home gardening and farm practices. Compost consists of agricultural pavilion and cafeteria waste, piled into open windrows on the UTM farm. Manure and wood shavings from the agricultural pavilion and food from the University’s full-service cafeteria provide a continuous waste stream that would otherwise be sent away for disposal. The first pile, established August 2008, was monitored for temperature through January 2009, when a sample was taken to determine maturity. The compost was found to be immature at this time. It was tested for moisture content, carbon dioxide respiration, nitrates, potassium, and phosphorus. A compost tea was made and tested for nutrients, then set aside to cure. A new compost pile was started for spring 2009 waste. Once the temperature dropped and leveled on the fall 2008 pile, a new sample was taken and tested for the same content and properties as the earlier sample and found to be mature. A replicated bioassay of cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) helped determine which of the materials tested would support plant growth most effectively, using various potting mixtures with the teas, immature sample, mature sample and regular soil. In addition to determining compost quality in the lab, methods are being developed to help farmers and gardeners evaluate compost quality and maturity in the field and home setting.