Recycling organic materials
| In every "food chain" or "food web," organic matter that is not used for cellular respiration, regeneration, reproduction, or shelter, is discarded as a waste product, either intentionally or not. This biological waste can be very helpful to other organisms and bacteria, and if allowed to intermix with loose soils, can be an excellent source of nutrients for plants. Humans use or consume (and throw away) large amounts of organic material, most of which can be easily "recycled" for other purposes. By combining optimal amounts of moisture, dirt, and discarded biological waste (such as banana peels, small wood chips, dead flowers, and even bits of newspaper), and allowing the mixture to sit for periods of a few days to several months, compost is produced. Under favorable conditions, the biological material in the compost heap is broken down into nutrient components by microbes. During the decomposition stage, a great deal of heat is generated; the average compost heap can reach 55 degrees Celsius in a matter of days. Core temperatures can reach higher temperatures, but if the pile becomes too hot, beneficial microorganisms can be destroyed. Several other factors have to be taken into account to manage a productive compost, such as air and water content, acidity, pile size and shape, and environmental conditions. Composting is a technique used by farmers and gardeners to produce a low-cost, high-nutrient soil supplement for crops and flowers. Small household composting is not only useful as a soil supplement for gardens and yards, but also encourages recycling and helps to reduce the amount of material in local landfills (where biological constituents are not very worthwhile). Shown here, a gardener takes a sample from a compost heap to check the acidity level (called the "pH") of the decaying material. |
Credit: Dylan Prentiss, Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara
For more info: http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~dylan/mtpe/biosphere/topics/en/foodweb.html