Key Concepts in Composting and Ecosystem Dynamics

Bald Cypress survival in waterlogged conditions

By growing 'knees' from their roots, which rise above the water to allow oxygen into the root system.

Materials with a C ratio higher than 30:1

Sawdust, wood chips, cardboard.

Ecological benefit of domesticated animals

They provide important benefits with little or no direct cost.

C ratio of finished compost

Approximately 10:1.

'Greens' and 'browns' in composting

'Greens' have a higher nitrogen content (around 15:1), while 'browns' have a higher carbon content (above 30:1).

Materials with a C ratio between 10:1 and 30:1

Cattle manure, chicken manure, vegetable produce.

Nitrogen loss during high heat composting

Some nitrogen may be lost as nitrogen-containing compounds vaporize more easily.

Temperature range of hot compost pile

140°F to 170°F (60°C to 70°C).

Vermicomposting

A method of composting that uses earthworms to break down organic matter.

Avoiding meat and dairy in compost

They can attract pests and lead to bad smells due to putrefaction.

Depth of old riverbed deposit beneath Clippinger Hall

At least 75 feet deep.

Bald Cypress tree

Because it loses its needles each fall and regrows them in the spring.

Materials carried by the Hocking River

Rocks, gravel, sand, and silt.

Granite formation

Granite forms when magma cools very slowly in the earth's crust.

Ideal carbon to nitrogen ratio for compost

30:1.

Ingredients for a successful compost pile

Carbon, nitrogen, water, and oxygen.

Ruminants' digestive system

They have a specialized stomach that digests cellulose from grass with the help of bacteria.

Nutrient extraction by ruminants

They rapidly eat grass, ferment it with bacteria in the rumen, regurgitate it to chew, and absorb nutrients through fermentation.

Defining feature of domesticated animals

Humans control their breeding.

Chickens in modern agriculture

They are efficient in mass production, providing both eggs and meat.

Major rock types around the farm

Sandstone and shale.

Effect of excess moisture on compost pile

It pushes out oxygen, creating anaerobic conditions that can lead to ammonia loss.

Environmental benefits of hot composting

It kills weed seeds and most plant pathogens.

Role of Actinomycetes in composting

They are a type of bacteria that generate heat and produce spores, aiding in the decomposition process.

Adding carbon-rich materials to soil without enough nitrogen

Microorganisms may use up available nitrogen, leaving plants stunted and yellow.