Composting Straw

barrybro · Nov 2, 2009

I have a pumpkin patch operation where we use about 500 bales of straw and 400 bales of grass hay for decoration, mazes & structures. All of it is wet and the hay is starting to get moldy. My plan is to make big piles, throw my pumkins in, let it compost until spring and then spread over my 30 acres of tilled fields. I am worried about the straw since it takes so long to rot. Any other options?

Barry

keh · Nov 2, 2009

Probably will be pretty well rotted by then. If not, pile it so you can leave it until the next year and spread it then. You are making compost, and if it is not well rotted, it is taking nitrogen from the soil to aid in the composting process. After being well rotted, the nitrogen level comes back up, at least according to my imperfect understanding.

KEH

Ed S. · Nov 2, 2009

Ditto that. The pile of sm. square bales that I set out to compost last fall (pushed 'em too fast and baled too wet) is well-rotted underneath, but still has a lot of intact hay on the top... If I rotated it a bit over the summer, it probably all would have been nicely rotted by now.

es

barrybro · Nov 2, 2009

Just a note - I have cut all the strings so it is loose in the piles. I plan on turning with my loader every couple of weeks to help.

Barry

OH Boy · Nov 2, 2009

Mix some soil, manure or finished compost in with it and it will rot down faster. If you can turn it every couple of weeks (with a loader maybe?) it will help it heat up too by getting additional oxygen into the pile.

old · Nov 2, 2009

I do not know if this is true or not but I have been told if you add lime it will help it compost better and faster. Also keeping it wet helps a lot

chuck bolton · Nov 2, 2009

throw some dry nitrogen on the pile and roll it over-- it will decompose-- maybe by spring-- the nitrogen feeds the microbes and they wont work too much through the winter.

johns48jdb · Nov 4, 2009

i have my douts if it will do by spring this year. next year maybe. covering it with black plastic to hold the heat in is best, but a lot of work as it hard to keep it tied down in winter winds. also need to stir it often and plastic will be in the way. if you have any horse stables near you get their manure. they have wood chips in it, but the one close to me adds lime to their manure and chips to keep flies down, saving you the cost of lime. if you put wood in a compost pile you have to add lime.

OliverGuy · Nov 6, 2009

Go get some 28% nitrogen from the co-op and spray it over the top. Works great at kick starting and continuing the process. You have plenty of "brown", you now need lots of "green" (nitrogen). Do it with wood chips and other materials to speed up the composting process.

Composting Straw

barrybro

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keh

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Ed S.

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barrybro

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OH Boy

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old

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chuck bolton

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johns48jdb

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OliverGuy

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