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7. INFRASTRUCTURE AND EFFICIENT TIME MANAGEMENT

Vermicomposting and composting production processes require a certain level of

mechanization for effective time and cost management. Equipment that can be used in some
basic processes to ensure that the production process results in high-quality outputs by

consuming less labor and time are given below.

7.1. Crushing, Shredding, Size Reduction

Most materials used in farm composting do not require crushing or shredding. Newspapers,
cardboard and other garden waste are crushed and shredded. Tree bark and other large objects

are also reduced in size before composting. Thanks to shredding, materials such as newspapers
can be shredded and used as bedding material before composting. However, crushing/shredding

operations may create noise and dust problems. Equipment that can be used in this process are
paper shredders, large garden shredders, lawn mowers and straw clippers. Some size reduction

mechanisms can be used with auxiliary equipment such as balers, dust separators, conveyors

and screens. Actual capacities depend on materials used, loading rate and other conditions. The
cost varies depending on the power need and the equipment used. If a crusher or shredder is

only needed for a few weeks a year, it is more profitable to rent this equipment. The primary

types of crushing/shredding equipment used in composting systems are surface shredders,
hammer axes, trough shredders and chippers [53].

7.2. Mixing and Batching

The most necessary step in the composting process; It is mixing the substances in appropriate
proportions and then forming stacks with this mixture in a closed reactor. In most closed reactor

methods, mixing is done within the system. Substances are loaded into the silo or hopper with

conveyors, augers and/or bucket loaders. In windrow and aerated pile methods, mixing and
stacking occur in separate steps. Initial mixing is especially important in aerated static pile

systems. Once mixing is done, the quality of this mix lasts throughout the entire composting
process. In the windrow method, in the first mixing step, the raw materials are proportioned and

mixed until they reach a certain density. With subsequent mixing, the substance is completely
mixed. Mixing and windrowing can be done in different ways depending on the compost

method, the equipment available and the method of manure processing on the farm. For mixing

materials and creating stacks; loaders, manure spreaders and other equipment on the farm are

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