{"title":"Compost Amender","description":"\u003cp\u003eA BLEND OF COMPOST FEEDSTOCK AND PUMICE works twice—pumice provides a buffer to the extreme volatilization taking place in the decomposing matter, mitigates nitrogen loss, and provides inert bulk that improves airflow. Then, once in the soil, pumice provides long-term \u003ca href=\"\/en-ca\/collections\/pumice-soil-amendment\"\u003esoil performance improvement\u003c\/a\u003e on a structural, root-zone level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePumice Improves the Composting Process\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe following studies show the viability of pumice as an amendment to the composting matter to improve the overall process and better meet the challenges presented by various feedstocks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eREDUCTION OF VOCs:\u003c\/strong\u003e A study published in \u003cem\u003eBiosource Technology\u003c\/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e detailed research using natural material amendments blended at a 1:10 volumetric ratio with poultry litter to reduce VOCs during composting. The results quantified the effectiveness of pumice (at 100 days) to significantly reduce VOCs at an 88% reduction (with pumice out-performing the other materials tested).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMITIGATING NITROGEN LOSS:\u003c\/strong\u003e A study\u003csup\u003e2\u003c\/sup\u003e done by the Department of Environmental Engineering, Ondokuz Mayis University in Samsun, Turkey looked at improving nitrogen availability in composted poultry litter (mitigating NH3 volatilization) using natural amendments. It was found that natural materials significantly reduced NH3 volatilization. In particular, only 26% of initial total N was lost from the compost containing pumice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEFFECTIVE BULKING AGENT:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bulking agents can reduce the cost, labor, time duration, and increase the compost quality and nutritive values. The choice of bulking agent is greatly dependant on what is being composted. For wet materials, a low-moisture, highly absorbent amendment like pumice meets the need.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Chinese study\u003csup\u003e3\u003c\/sup\u003e quantified the contributions of pumice in sewage sludge composting when used as an inert bulking agent. Pumice, with its rich pore structure and strong water absorbent capacity, was found to significantly improve the biological reactions in the composting process in terms of material porosity, water-holding capacity, nitrogen absorption (promoting ammonia assimilation to organic nitrogen rather than loss to volatilization), and accelerating the composting period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an inert amendment agent to compost, pumice has none of the drawbacks of using organic bulking agents like straw, husks, wood chips or sawdust—pumice does not degrade and compact during the composting process, performs consistently, blends readily, and is easily sourced and stored. The physical nature of pumice also provides an ideal carrier for adding additional elements to the bio-formulation, such as sucrose3 (to add a carbon source and provide a growth platform to quickly ignite microbial action).\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"compost-sugar-compost-amender-1-8-fines-mn","title":"Compost Sugar™ Compost Amender","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA One-Two Punch Composting Amendment.\u003c\/strong\u003e Not only do pumice and composting belong in the same sentence, they belong in the same organic-waste-to-blackgold process—and the same soil-improvement calculation. Blended with organic feedstock, Compost Sugar™ (a pumice grade-blend) tamps down decomposition volatility, then combo-punches with the finished compost to rebuild and recharge poorly-structured, nutrient-starved junk soils.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePumice Sweetens the Decomposition Process.\u003c\/strong\u003e Blending organic feedstock with pumice improves the composting process itself, as pumice buffers the extreme volatilization cooking off in the decomposing matter, capturing nitrogen and mitigating its loss. Pumice also provides inert bulk that improves airflow and process efficiency, especially when composting soft manures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePumice Gives Compost an Enduring Structural Element.\u003c\/strong\u003e Compost is valuable for both the nutrient charge that it adds to poor or depleted soils and for the (temporary) physical reshaping it brings to the soil structure itself. A friable, well-composed root zone is vital to sustained vegetative health, and composted organic matter certainly lends those structural benefits to poorly-structured soils...until it doesn’t. Once the organic matter is exhausted, poorly-structured soils collapse, reverting to inglorious junk-dirt status. The solution: compost fortified with inorganic and enduring pumice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCompost Sugar\u003c\/b\u003e™ is an economical mine grade size-blended to be an ideal functional amendment to composting feedstock. \u003cstrong\u003eInstructions: \u003c\/strong\u003e Sprinkle liberally\/heavily over each added layer of compostable waste\/feedstock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComplete Product Information and Support Data\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003ca title=\"Compost Sugar: Composting amendment\" href=\"https:\/\/compostsugar.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ecompostsugar.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Hess Pumice Products","offers":[{"title":"20 lbs. (box)","offer_id":30954355818576,"sku":"","price":21.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"45 lbs. (full-sized production bag)","offer_id":39557524619344,"sku":"","price":23.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"120+ lbs. (contact us)","offer_id":30954355982416,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1180\/4954\/files\/compostsugar-image-block_deafba59-5b21-4de2-9f6f-acf902ba00fb.jpg?v=1730233788"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1180\/4954\/collections\/pumice-amended-compost.jpg?v=1771930274","url":"https:\/\/pumicestore.com\/en-ca\/collections\/pumice-compost-conditioner.oembed","provider":"The Pumice Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}