Develop a recipe for a compost starter and design a research project to test its effect on the compost temperature profile. Measure the pH of a number of different compost mixes.
Some instructions call for adding lime to increase the pH when compost ingredients are mixed.
Other instructions caution to avoid this because it causes a loss of nitrogen. Microorganisms Composting recipes sometimes call for inoculating the pile by mixing in a few handfuls of finished compost. When constructing compost bins or piles, some people incorporate perforated pipe, wire mesh, or other systems to increase passive air flow. Try mixing the same ingredients in a large outdoor pile, a two-can bioreactor, and a soda bottle bioreactor. In some experiments, plants have not show increased growth when planted in fresh worm castings.