Technologies

Improved compost preparation [Nepal]

Creation: 06/07/2011 6:53 p.m.
Update: 06/05/2019 1:51 p.m.
Compiler: Richard Allen
Editor: –
Reviewers: David Streiff, Alexandra Gavilano

Sudhariyeko compostmal nirman (Nepali)

technologies_1750 - Nepal

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Completeness: 65%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:

Richard Allen

SLM specialist:

Director

Soil Management Directorate, Department of Agriculture

Nepal

SLM specialist:

Team Leader

Sustainable Soil Management Programme

Nepal

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Sustainable Soil Management Programme, Nepal (SSMP)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Department of Agriculture, Soil Management Directorate, Hariharbhawan Lalitpur (doasoil) - Nepal

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

HELVETAS (Swiss Intercooperation)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

Farmer field schools on integrated plant nutrient systems [Nepal]

Participatory and collaborative learning through the farmer field school approach

Compiler: Richard Allen
01/19/2009 midnight

Farmer-led experimentation [Nepal]

Participatory technology testing and adaptation through farmer-led experiments

Compiler: Richard Allen
02/19/2009 midnight

Farmer-to-farmer diffusion [Nepal]

Wider diffusion of sustainable soil management technologies through a demand responsive farmer-to-farmer diffusion approach

Compiler: Richard Allen
01/19/2009 midnight

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Improved compost preparation using a range of biomass and waste to produce high value fertiliser

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Compost can be prepared from a wide range of organic materials including dead plant material such as crop residues, weeds, forest litter, and kitchen waste. Compost making is an efficient way of converting all kinds of biomass into high value fertiliser that serves as a good alternative to farmyard manure, especially for crop-growing households without livestock. The compost is often mixed with forest soil, ripe compost from the previous batch, or even a small amount of animal dung as a starter for the decomposition process. The mix of materials determines the quality of the final compost as much as the management of the composting process. Nitrogen-rich fresh materials such as legume residues and many types of weeds and shrubs are mixed with carbon-rich forest litter and cereal residues. Small amounts of wood ash, lime, or mineral fertiliser can help increase or balance the overall nutrient content of the compost.
The compost needs to be turned every 30-50 days depending on the mix and the outside temperature. It should be protected from direct sunlight, rainfall and runoff so as to reduce volatilisation and leaching of nutrients. The material must remain moist at all times to avoid slowing down decomposition and hindering the efficiency of the micro and macro-organisms involved in decomposition. Heaping the compost or collecting the material in a pit helps the compost to reach the temperatures needed (700C) to destroy pests and weeds.
Once the compost is well decomposed and has an earthy smell, it can be applied directly or stored for later application. It can be applied as a crop fertiliser in rows or to individual plants for improving general soil fertility and organic matter content, thus improving the soil structure and its water holding capacity.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

Media Gallery

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Nepal

Further specification of location:

Midhills districts of Nepal

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

Improve compost production

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Cropland

Annual cropping

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Intensifying cultivation practices with either 1) the inadequate application of fertilisers leading to a decline in soil fertility and the mining of soil nutrients or 2) the application of too much fertiliser causing environmental problems through excessive leaching, and losses of fertiliser in surface runoff and consequent eutrophication or nitrification of streams, ponds or groundwater.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

integrated soil fertility management
waste management/ waste water management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

management measures

M7: Others

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

chemical soil deterioration

Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

reduce land degradation

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Layering of the different materials in a compost pit
Note: This is just an example and need not be followed exactly. The important aspects are:
- the need for a starter such as forest soil or manure
- place weeds in the centre of the pit so that they are fully decomposed
- cover dry materials with moist material and material that only decays slowly with easily decaying material.
The pit can be 1 to 2m in diameter and about 1m deep. The size depends on the available biomass for composting and the amount of compost required.

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: increase in soil fertility and productivity, increase in soil organic matter content, improvement in physicalsoil conditions, increase in soil water holding capacity

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

2.00

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Dig a 1-2m diameter and 1m deep pit using a spade or shovel
2.	Collect crop residues, grass, tree leaves, ash, lime, and animal urine
3.	Put a layer of ash at the bottom of the pit followed by tree leaves, grass, crop residues, and a layer of forest soil (as it contains the necessary microorganisms – bacteria, fungi, etc. – and quickens the decomposition process)
4.	Add more tree leaves, crop residues, and grass until the pit is full and contains a healthy mixture of dry and fresh/moist materials
5.	Cover the compost heap with a fi ne layer of ash or mud and a cap of

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Preparing compost pit	Persons/day	2.0	2.0	4.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					4.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					4.0

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Dispose of domestic and household wastewater and cattle urine in the pit to keep it moist (but not saturated/soaked) until it is fully decomposed.
2.	The compost needs to be turned every 30-50 days depending on the mix and the outside temperature.
3.	Depending on the location, it takes about 3-6 months for the compost to be fully decomposed.

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Maintaining compost	Persons/day	1.0	2.0	2.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					2.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					2.0

Comments:

Cost as in January 2007

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall

< 250 mm
251-500 mm
501-750 mm
751-1,000 mm
1,001-1,500 mm
1,501-2,000 mm
2,001-3,000 mm
3,001-4,000 mm
> 4,000 mm

Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

Annual rainfall: Also 2000-3000 mm

Agro-climatic zone

humid

Thermal climate class: subtropics

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:

flat (0-2%)
gentle (3-5%)
moderate (6-10%)
rolling (11-15%)
hilly (16-30%)
steep (31-60%)
very steep (>60%)

Landforms:

plateau/plains
ridges
mountain slopes
hill slopes
footslopes
valley floors

Altitudinal zone:

0-100 m a.s.l.
101-500 m a.s.l.
501-1,000 m a.s.l.
1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
> 4,000 m a.s.l.

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Also moderate (6-10%), rolling (11-15%) and hilly (16-30%)

Landforms: Also footslopes

Altitudinal zone: Also 1000-1500 m a.s.l., 1500-2000 m a.s.l. and 2000-2500 m a.s.l.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Market orientation of production system:

subsistence (self-supply)
commercial/ market

Individuals or groups:

individual/ household

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Off-farm income specification: In most farm households, off-farm income plays at least a minor and increasingly a major role. Occasional opportunities for off-farm income present themselves in the form of daily labour wages. Some households’ members receive regular salaries, whilst an increasing number of Nepalis are working in India, the Middle East, Malaysia, and elsewhere and sending remittance incomes home.

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

< 0.5 ha
0.5-1 ha
1-2 ha
2-5 ha
5-15 ha
15-50 ha
50-100 ha
100-500 ha
500-1,000 ha
1,000-10,000 ha
> 10,000 ha

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

individual, not titled
individual, titled

Land use rights:

leased
individual

Comments:

Sharecropping between owner and tenant

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Income and costs

expenses on agricultural inputs

increased

decreased

Comments/ specify:

Reduced expenses on chemical fertilisers

workload

increased

decreased

Comments/ specify:

Preparation of compost is labour intensive

Ecological impacts

Other ecological impacts

Soil fertility

reduced

improved

Organic crop production

reduced

improved

Application of fertilizer

increased

decreased

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

groundwater/ river pollution

increased

reduced

Comments/ specify:

Reduction of nutrient influx into water bodies

Dependence on external inputs

reduced

improved

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

Comments:

The high cost of mineral fertilisers means that the establishment costs are soon recovered. In the long-term, a major reduction in costs leads to large benefits.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

Comments on spontaneous adoption: About 30% of the participants of SSMP activities related to compost making, and about 20% of farmers that were
not part of the programme have adopted the technology.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The use of compost reduced the need for mineral fertiliser thus reducing production costs and outside dependence How can they be sustained / enhanced? Further promote the technology to increase this impact
Compost making does not require any livestock How can they be sustained / enhanced? Its low cost and use of local materials makes it the fertiliser of choice for poor households
In-situ composting saves labour involved in transporting compost to the fields

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The preparation of compost is not appropriate for commercial use (except in nurseries)	Compost improvement should go hand-in-hand with promoting alternatives for the other requirements
Compost requires a large amount of biomass which may otherwise be needed for fuel, fodder, or animal bedding