[USCC] aerobic composting, definitiion

[John A. Crockett]

There is a lot of discussion on anaerobic and aerobic.

What is the specific definition of aerobic composting in terms of the oxygen
level in the compost?  Is it 5% oxygen, 10%, 15%?  What CO2 levels are still
acceptable under the definition of "aerobic"?  OR, is there no such
definition?

I strive for 1 - 2% CO2 in the off-gas, and I base that on assaying the
active bacteria population, and the fact that we've gotten our best
populations of active bacteria when the CO2 in the off-gas was less than 4%.

We've also had many cases where in the early days of the process, we've
sustained temperatures > 150°F with a rate of aeration > 25 times the volume
of the compost, in fresh air, every hour, in order to hold the CO2 within
those limits.  

Working Together to Create a Sustainable Environment,
John A. Crockett, a.k.a. Dr. Mike Robe
Mother Nature's Farms
(845) 225-7763
http://www.magicsoil.com/
jac at magicsoil.com