Limiting Aeration to Control Temperature

I can give six reasons why we should limit aeration of our compost to keep it from getting too hot. I will then give four reasons why this may be a terrible idea. When organic matter decomposes, it produces heat. How we manage that heat impacts the activity of the microbial community. My observations are that we are slowing the composting process if we limit aeration. If our goal is to have our microbes decompose the organic material, we should be optimizing their environment!

[@solobiologico_sfw]

Thank you for your time, I have learned a lot with your composting methods. I am a Soil Food Web Consulting here in Brazil. Thanks again Paul.

[@TransformCompost]

Thank you for your response. Great to hear that you are doing good work in Brazil!

[@dnawormcastings]

Nice video easy to understand 🇳🇿

[@TransformCompost]

Thank you!

[@marcoantonio-fb6vl]

Hey John, great video like always, have you ever tried using compost solely as a growth medium? most growth medium where im from is actually sterilized, so maybe if we could get compost with good physical and chemical qualities, we can ignore the high temperatures all together or maybe even raise them to the point of sterilization?

[@TransformCompost]

Hi Marco, thanks for the question. I find that most composts cannot be used as a growth medium because they are too high in electrical conductivity, unless they are produced outside in high rainfall climates, where all the soluble nutrients are washed out! Blending a good compost with the peat or other components of the growing media is a good thing as it adds beneficial microbes that help the plants against potential pathogens. Sterilized media is great only unit a pathogen shows up, then there are no good microbes to outcompete it....!