Composting Troubleshooting Guide Solid Waste Management Fact Sheet No. 5 EP5 Prepared by Charles W. Marr, Extension Horticulturist, Vegetable Crops and Robert I Neier, Sedgwick County Extension Agent, Horticulture Problem Possible Causes Solution Rotten Odor excess moisture (anaerobic conditions) turn pile, or add dry, porous material, such as sawdust, wood chips, or straw compaction (anaerobic conditions) turn pile, or make pile smaller Ammonia Odor too much nitrogen (lack of carbon) add high carbon material, such as sawdust, wood chips, or straw Low Pile Temperature pile too small make pile bigger or insulate sides insufficient moisture add water while turning pile poor aeration turn pile lack of nitrogen mix in nitrogen sources such as grass clippings or manure cold weather increase pile size, or insulate pile with an extra layer of material such as straw High Pile Temperature (&gt;140 F) pile too large reduce pile size insufficient ventilation turn pile Pests: Rats, Raccoons, Insects presence of meat scraps or fatty food waste remove meat and fatty foods from pile, or cover with a layer of soil or sawdust, or build an animal-proof compost bin, or turn pile to increase temperature This publication is distributed in electronic format only.
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Extension Horticulturist
Sedgwick County Extension Agent
Troubleshooting
Sedgwick County Extension