How to Create a Compost Windrow for Large-Scale Soil Health

As a passionate home and garden enthusiast with years of experience working in landscaping and home renovation, I know firsthand the importance of healthy soil in creating beautiful and functional outdoor spaces.

In today’s post, we’re going to explore how to create a compost windrow for large-scale soil health.

By the end of this post, you will understand the benefits of large-scale composting and how to build, manage, and use a compost windrow to improve soil health in your own outdoor space.

Let’s dive right in.

Benefits of a Compost Windrow

Creating a large-scale composting project has numerous benefits for your garden and soil health. If you’re looking for a way to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in your local landfill, composting is the way to go. By composting, you can significantly reduce the amount of waste that you create while improving the quality of your soil.

Compost windrows offer an effective way to create healthy soil that will benefit agriculture. They provide a large enough area to create compost on a large scale. Utilizing windrow composting means that you’ll be able to create a high-quality compost that can be used to help improve your garden soil, which is essential for growing healthy crops.

One of the biggest benefits of compost windrows is that they can help to break down organic materials quickly and efficiently. Unlike traditional composting methods that can take months to finish, a compost windrow can create usable compost in a matter of weeks.

Another significant benefit of compost windrows is that they can help to reduce the amount of time and energy that you spend on gardening tasks. With healthy soil that is rich in nutrients, your plants will be stronger and more resistant to pests and disease. When your garden thrives, you’ll enjoy more robust yields and less maintenance time.

If you’re looking for an efficient way to create high-quality compost for your garden, there’s no better choice than a compost windrow. With a little planning and effort, you can create healthy soil that will feed your plants and help to reduce your environmental impact.

Tips for Selecting an Appropriate Site for the Compost Windrow

When selecting a site for your compost windrow, it is essential to consider various factors to ensure that your composting project’s success. Here are some tips to help you choose the best site for your compost windrow:

First, consider the wind direction. Your compost windrow should be located in an area that receives a good airflow. This will ensure that there is continuous air movement through the compost pile and the pile doesn’t become anaerobic (without oxygen).

Secondly, ensure that the site is leveled and adequately drained to prevent water accumulation in the pile, which could adversely affect the composting process.

It would be best to place the compost windrow on a surface that can sustain it, like a concrete pad or a soil surface. A well-maintained soil surface can help prevent run-offs, and the compost pile will not erode or move in case of extreme weather, like heavy rain and wind.

The site should also be located away from property lines and any contamination sources such as septic tanks, fuel storage tanks, or underground pipelines that may leak and affect the compost pile.

Lastly, consider the distance to the supplier of organic materials for composting. By having the biomass source nearby, it will save substantial amounts of time and energy that would otherwise be spent hauling waste to and from the site.

By following these tips, you will ensure a successful compost windrow project and have a steady supply of organic matter for your garden while also supporting soil health.

Steps for Building a Compost Windrow

Before you start building a compost windrow, you need to ensure you have sufficient space, ventilation and suitable materials. Choose a site that is level, well-drained, and has good water access. Plan to build your windrow between 1.5 to 2.5 metre in height and up to four metres wide.

Step 1: Prepare Your Site

Prepare the site by removing any vegetation and adding a layer of coarse material, such as wood chips, to improve drainage and aeration. This layer also helps to prevent soil-borne diseases and improves the longevity of the compost.

Step 2: Gather Your Materials

You will need a carbon source, like straw or leaves and a nitrogen source, like manure or grass clippings. Aim for a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 25:1. This balance ensures that the microorganisms in the pile have enough fuel for optimal decomposition.

Step 3: Begin the windrow

Lay down a layer of coarse woody material, followed by a layer of nitrogen-rich material. Water each layer as you go, making sure that everything is thoroughly moistened. Repeat this process, alternating between carbon and nitrogen-rich materials to continue building the windrow.

Step 4: Monitor Progress

During the composting process, keep an eye on the temperature of your windrow. The objective is to have the pile reach and maintain a temperature of 55-65 degrees for at least 15 consecutive days. After that, there should be a temperature drop to 40-45 degrees. Turning the windrow with a front-end loader ensures the materials are mixed, aids aeration and helps all the material to reach the desired temperature.

Step 5: Finish Your Compost Windrow

Your compost windrow is finished when the material reaches a uniform color, is crumbly, and resembles earth. For the compost to cure, let it rest for about one month. After that, the compost is ready for use in your garden.

By following these five simple steps, you’ll have built a compost windrow that will provide you with a rich and nutritious compost for your home garden or farm. Remember, composting takes time and patience, but with some effort, you’ll create a rich soil amendment that will help your plants thrive.

Tips for Managing and Maintaining a Compost Windrow

Compost windrows require ongoing attention to ensure they generate nutrient-rich compost as efficiently as possible. Here are some tips for managing and maintaining a compost windrow:

First, it’s important to maintain the proper moisture content in your windrow. If the pile becomes too dry, the composting process slows down. Conversely, if the pile is too wet, the compost may become anaerobic and produce unpleasant odors. To monitor moisture levels, insert a long-stemmed thermometer into the pile and feel the moisture content using your hands. If it feels dry, try adding water to the pile. Aim for a moisture content of around 50%.

Second, it’s important to turn your compost on a regular basis to introduce oxygen and humidity throughout the pile. This helps to maintain aerobic conditions in the pile and speeds up the decomposition process. The frequency of turning depends on several factors, such as the size of the pile and weather conditions. A rough rule of thumb is to turn the pile every three to seven days, depending on how quickly the compost is breaking down. This is best done with a commercial compost turner, but can also be done manually using a pitchfork or similar tool.

Third, it’s important to monitor the temperature of your compost pile on a regular basis. Composting involves a series of chemical reactions that generate high levels of heat. This heat is a sign that the microbes in the pile are hard at work breaking down the compost. Ideally, target an internal temperature range of 135-160°F (57-71°C) for a minimum of three days. If this temperature is not reached, your compost may not be generating enough heat to destroy weed seeds, pathogens, and other undesirable organisms.

Fourth, keep an eye on the pile for signs of poor decomposition such as a foul odor or a wet, slimy texture. If these issues arise, the compost may need additional aeration, more carbon-rich materials, or a nitrogen-rich amendment such as blood meal or chicken manure.

By following these tips for managing and maintaining your compost windrow, you can create nutrient-dense compost that’s perfect for agricultural use. Remember that composting is an ongoing process that’s affected by many factors, including weather, site conditions, and starting materials. With patience and persistence, you can create high-quality compost and support a healthy ecosystem.

Composting with the Windrow Method

If you do not have access to a compost bin or tumbler, another method of composting is the windrow method. This method is particularly useful for large-scale composting projects as it can be used to break down large amounts of organic material that cannot be accommodated in a bin or tumbler.

To create a windrow, you will need to pile the organic materials into long, narrow piles. The piles should be between four and eight feet wide and up to six feet tall. The piles should be formed in rows and spaced out evenly to allow sufficient airflow through the compost pile.

There are several advantages to using the windrow method. For one, it is an inexpensive way to break down large volumes of organic waste materials. Additionally, a properly maintained windrow can produce high-quality compost in as little as three months.

However, there are also some disadvantages to the windrow method. Chief among them is the fact that it requires more space than a compost bin or tumbler. Additionally, a compost pile formed using the windrow method is more difficult to manage, as the organic materials will need to be turned by hand to ensure that they break down evenly.

Despite these challenges, using the windrow method to compost can be a rewarding experience. If you have the space and time to invest in such a large-scale composting project, the rewards can be many, including improving soil health for farming and gardening, and reducing landfills.

Composting Windrow Amendments

Using amendments in a compost windrow can help to accelerate the decomposition process and improve the quality of the resulting compost. Common amendments include:

• Manure: Adding manure to the compost windrow can add valuable nutrients and introduce beneficial microorganisms.
• Leaves and grass clippings: These materials can add carbon and nitrogen to the compost windrow, helping to achieve the optimal balance for decomposition.
• Food waste: Adding food scraps to the compost windrow can help to add moisture and break down tougher materials.
• Wood chips: Adding wood chips to the compost windrow can help to improve aeration and reduce odors.

When adding amendments, it’s important to do so in the right amounts and at the right time. Too much of one type of amendment, or adding amendments too frequently, can throw off the balance of the compost windrow and slow down the decomposition process.

As a general rule, it’s best to add amendments in thin layers, alternating between “brown” materials (such as dead leaves and wood chips) and “green” materials (such as grass clippings and food waste) to achieve the optimal carbon-to-nitrogen ratio.

It’s also important to mix in the amendments thoroughly to avoid clumping and ensure even distribution throughout the compost windrow. This can be done manually using a pitchfork or shovel, or through the use of specialized equipment like a compost turner.

Remember, being mindful of the types and amounts of amendments added to the compost windrow can help to create high-quality compost that’s rich in nutrients and helps to support healthy soil.

Harvesting and Using Compost Windrow

When it comes time to harvest your compost windrow, it is important to follow these simple steps to ensure that you get the best possible material for your garden:

First, remove any large, woody materials from the compost windrow by sifting the material or picking it out by hand. These materials are unlikely to fully decompose and may take years to break down in your garden.

Next, let the compost windrow sit for a few weeks to allow any remaining materials to break down. During this time, you may want to turn the windrow once or twice to speed up the decomposition process.

Once the compost windrow has fully decomposed, it can be used to improve soil health in a variety of ways. One of the best ways to use the compost windrow is to mix it into your existing soil. Not only will this provide your plants with essential nutrients, but it will also improve soil structure and drainage.

Another great way to use compost windrow is to use it as a top dressing for your garden beds. This will help to suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil, while also providing your plants with valuable nutrients.

Finally, consider using your compost windrow as a soil amendment for a large-scale agricultural project. Compost windrows are ideal for improving soil health in large fields or pastures, and can help to increase crop yields and improve plant health over time.

By following these simple steps, you can harvest and use your compost windrow to improve soil health in a number of different ways. So if you’re looking for a simple and effective way to improve your garden or agricultural project, consider starting a compost windrow today!

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, creating a compost windrow is an effective way to support large-scale soil health for agriculture.

Not only can it help reduce waste, but it can also improve the nutritional quality of crops while enhancing the texture and structure of soil.

But creating a compost windrow requires attention and the use of the correct materials.

It is essential to follow the steps for building and managing a compost windrow to have the desired results.

Now it’s your turn - which technique will you be trying first to create your compost windrow?

I would love to hear back from you about how successful your project is.

And if you found this blog helpful, please share it on social media so that others can benefit as well.

Thanks for reading and happy composting!