GB2238529A

GB2238529A - Grass cutting composting system

Info

Publication number: GB2238529A
Application number: GB9025196A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Douglas Coots
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-11-22
Filing date: 1990-11-20
Publication date: 1991-06-05
Also published as: GB9025196D0; GB8926334D0

Abstract

A composting method comprises mixing straw and grass cuttings and allowing the mixture to stand. The method may be carried out efficiently in a bin, by allowing the user to mix grass cuttings and straw in about equal quantities in layers each time the lawn is mowed. This method composts lawn grass cuttings in a rapid aerobic manner thereby producing a peat-like material that is pleasant to handle and of value as a garden soil additive. Moreover, my composting method does not have any of the noxious smells normally associated with decomposing lawn grass cuttings. The bin may have dimensions such that it may be marketed with a standard straw bale inside. <IMAGE>

Description

Grass Cuttings Composting System This invention relates to a method of composting lawn grass cuttings.

Composting methods are a well known way of using vegetable waste to produce compost; a desirable and valuable garden soil additive.

Lawn grass cuttings are a substantial source of vegetable matter in all those gardens that have a lawn.

Lawn grass cuttings are notoriously difficult to compost because they have a high water and nitrogen content. When lawn grass cuttings are piled in a heap the nitrogen and water cause very rapid decomposition to take place on the surface of the heap. This process forms a dense layer which stops aerobic decomposition from occurring in the body of the heap. The heap then decomposes inon anaerobic mode which takes a long time (typically 1 to 2 years) and produces a noxious smell especially when disturbed.

Cereal farming in Britain produces, as a waste product, straw in large quantities. Many methods have been tried to usefully use the huge vegetable resource that straw represents. Attempts to "plough in" usually fail because straw lacks water and nitrogen and normal decomposition does not take place. A popular solution to the disposal problem, that is presented to the farming community by the large tonnage of straw waste produced each year, is straw burning. This process is undesirable on many counts not the least of which is a contribution to the green house effect and the destruction of wildlife.

It is an object of my invention to provide a method of composting grass cuttings and a compost mixture including grass cuttings, which produces compost in a substantially shorter time and with little or no smell in comparison with traditional methods and mixtures.

According to the present invention in another aspect thereof a composting mixture includes grass cuttings and cereal straw.

Preferably said mixture includes substantially equal quantities by volume of said grass cuttings and said cereal straw.

According to the present invention in one aspect thereof a method of composting grass cuttings includes intimately mixing cereal straw with said grass cuttings and allowing the resultant mix to stand exposed to the atmosphere.

Intimate mixing of cereal straw and lawn grass cuttings will compost in most proportions. Preferably however the method of composting comprises mixing substantially equal quantities by volume of grass cuttings and cereal straw. Preferably the method of composting includes the step of enclosing the resultant mix in a non airtight container.

Bins suitable for putting the method of composting into effect may be marketed each with a bale of straw inside. Such bins with straw bales contained my be conveniently dimensioned so as to fit into the boot of an average size family car for transportation from a retailer to a customers premises.

It will now be apparent that my method of composting uses the properties of straw to consume water and nitrogen in it's decay process and the lawn grass cuttings to shed water and nitrogen in order to compost in an aerobic way.

An embodiment of my composting method will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing of which Figures 1A and 1B are side and plan views of a composting mixture respectively.

The chronological pattern of events inherent in the bin variant of my method of composting is as follows:1. The empty bin is placed in the garden onto a soil surface.

2. The cover is removed and placed aside.

3. An even layer of loose straw, typically 100mm deep, is placed inside the bin to cover the enclosed soil surface.

4. An even layer of lawn grass cuttings, typically 100mm deep, is placed inside the bin to cover the said layer of straw and both the grass and the straw mixed together.

5. The bin cover, which has suitable air intakes (see Drawing A), is placed over the bin.

6. Steps 2 - 5 are repeated as required.

7. During the composting process the said grass/straw mixture decomposes and reduces in volume.

8. After a period of time, which may be as short as 10 weeks, the bin is lifted and removed to a new site and steps 1 to 7 repeated.

9. The resultant compost may then be used as a soil enricher/fertiliser as is described in the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service Analysis Report Reference R78562 Dated.13.7.89.

A composting method or mixture according to my invention composts lawn grass cuttings in a rapid aerobic manner thereby producing a peat-like material that is pleasant to handle and of value as a garden soil additive.

Moreover, my composting method or mixture produces a loamless compost without any of the noxious smells normally associated with decomposing lawn grass cuttings.

A peat-like loamless compost created as described above may be produced in a British garden in less than a summer season.

In one example of a method of composting according to my invention compost was produced from straw and ordinary lawn grass cuttings grown without fertiliser of any kind. After ten weeks the compost was analysed and found to comprise:pH 6.9 Phosphorus 240 mg/L Potassium 3181 mg/L Magnesium 208 mg/L Nitrate 335 mg/L Organic Matter 36.it The analysis was carried out by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (A.D.A.S) 13.7.89. A.D.A.S recommend this product for use as an organic soil enricher/fertiliser (Ref.No.E78562).

Claims

1. A method of composting grass cuttings including the steps of intimately mixing cereal straw with said grass cuttings and allowing the resultant mix to stand exposed to the atmosphere.

2. A method of composting as claimed in claim i and wherein substantially equal quantities by volume of grass cuttings and cereal straw are intimately mixed.

3. A method of composting grass cuttings as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 and further including the step of enclosing the resultant mix in a non-airtight container.

4. A composting mixture including grass cuttings and cereal straw.

5. A composting material as claimed in claim 4 wherein said mixture includes substantially equal quantities by volume of said grass cuttings and said cereal straw.

6. A method of composting substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Fugures 1A and 1B of the accompanying drawing.