Composting can happen either aerobically (in the presence of oxygen) or anaerobically (without oxygen). Oxygen is essential for microbes to efficiently break down organic wastes. Decomposition will occur under anaerobic conditions, but the process is slow and produces foul odors. If the compost pile is too large or is turned infrequently, the interior of the compost pile can become anaerobic while the exterior is aerobic. Your goal should be 100 percent aerobic decomposition.
The keys to successful aerobic composting are:
• aeration — turning the pile on a regular basis
• particle size — ideal particle size is less than 2 inches
• moisture — the pile should stay evenly moist without being wet
• components — strive for a balanced mix of 12 to 20 parts of carbon-based (brown material) to one part nitrogen-based (green material) yard waste.
Generally it is unnecessary to add small amounts of fertilizer to sustain decomposition.
