Comments on: Using Horse Manure Compost in the Fall http://www.o2compost.com/blog/2008/10/28/using-horse-manure-compost-in-the-fall/ Successful Manure & Waste Management Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:35:19 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: peter http://www.o2compost.com/blog/2008/10/28/using-horse-manure-compost-in-the-fall/comment-page-1/#comment-945 peter Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:31:53 +0000 http://www.o2compost.com/blog/?p=88#comment-945 Edith... our primary objective with composting is to exceed 131 degrees F throughout the pile for at least 3 days in order to destroy pathogens and parasites in the mix. This is really quite easy to do, with temperatures often as high as 160 degrees for a week or two. Research and practical experience also indicates that these same temperatures destroy virtually all weed seeds, even those with hard seed coatings that can survive for decades in the soil. An easy way to check for viability of weed seeds in compost is to fill a clear container with ~1/2 inch of moist compost and place it in a window sill for a week or two. I like to use the pre-cooked (i.e. rotisserie) chicken containers that you can buy at the grocery store (black bottoms with clear tops). Edith… our primary objective with composting is to exceed 131 degrees F throughout the pile for at least 3 days in order to destroy pathogens and parasites in the mix. This is really quite easy to do, with temperatures often as high as 160 degrees for a week or two. Research and practical experience also indicates that these same temperatures destroy virtually all weed seeds, even those with hard seed coatings that can survive for decades in the soil.

An easy way to check for viability of weed seeds in compost is to fill a clear container with ~1/2 inch of moist compost and place it in a window sill for a week or two. I like to use the pre-cooked (i.e. rotisserie) chicken containers that you can buy at the grocery store (black bottoms with clear tops).

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