Johnson-Su Composting Bioreactor

Johnson-Su Compost Reactor : 

Johnson-Su Compost Reactor David C. Johnson davidcjohnson@nmsu.edu Phone 575-646-4163 Funding Provided by

Johnson/Su Static Composting Technology : 

Johnson/Su Static Composting Technology Little to no investment in specialized equipment, Requires “NO TURNING” and little manpower, Produces no odors or associated insects, Reduces nutrient volatilization and leaching Reactor materials cost less that $35 and can be reused more than 10 times (hard costs of less than $3.50 per batch) davidcjohnson@nmsu.edu

Johnson/Su Static Composting Technology : 

Johnson/Su Static Composting Technology Reduces water usage by a factor of 6 times Reduces composting time by 66% Results in a low salinity (~2-3 mS/cm2) compost Amenable to incorporation of vermicomposting after thermophilic phase (observed 10X N increase in end product) Produces a “HIGH QUALITY” nutrient rich, high-microbial-biomass & biodiverse compost davidcjohnson@nmsu.edu

Reactor Design : 

Reactor Design Materials List: Pallet with 6 evenly spaced 4 ½” holes Landscaping cloth- 5.1 oz needle punched ( 2- 6’x6’, 6’x12’) Concrete remesh(6”x6”#10) wire (5’x12’) Six (6) 4” X 5’ perforated plastic drainfield pipe Sprinkler system (Timer, spray emitter) davidcjohnson@nmsu.edu

Installation Instructions : 

Installation Instructions Obtain pallet and cut 6 evenly spaced 4 ½” holes Cut Landscaping Cloth into (2 pieces 6’x6’, one piece 6’x12’) davidcjohnson@nmsu.edu

Slide 6: 

Cut six 4 ½” diameter holes in pallet to accommodate PVC sewer drainfield pipe. Overlay 6’x6’ landscape cloth over pallet and cut holes with torch. davidcjohnson@nmsu.edu Installation Instructions

Installation Instructions : 

Installation Instructions Fold 6” of landscape cloth over the top and bottom of cage and weave with tie wire to hold in place. Place wire cage with fabric on top of pallet also covered with cloth. davidcjohnson@nmsu.edu

Slide 8: 

Installation Instructions Place 4” diameter X 5’ long drainfield pipe into holes cut in pallet. Begin placing material into reactor and arrange around piping. davidcjohnson@nmsu.edu

Installation Instructions : 

Make sure to saturate the material sufficiently and to maintain spacing of PVC drainfield piping as you build the pile. davidcjohnson@nmsu.edu Installation Instructions

Slide 10: 

As you fill the container, do not pack the contents, let the weight of the material determine the packing density. Install the “spray type” irrigation system and set to spray 1-2 minutes, three time/day. Cover with the 6’x6’ landscape cloth. Remove pipe after one day. davidcjohnson@nmsu.edu Installation Instructions

Slide 11: 

Secure covers in place and monitor for proper operation of irrigation system and system temperature. After 4-5 months, the bacteria and fungi will have reduced the volume of the pile by about half. ( Mass reduced by 15%) davidcjohnson@nmsu.edu Installation Instructions

Reactor Operational Parameters : 

Reactor Operational Parameters Oxygen concentration in compost remains aerobic (>6 % O2 in thermophilic phase and ~18 % O2 in maturation phase) in all parts of pile, without turning. Moisture content remains high (>60%) in pile without wetting/drying cycles as in windrows, allowing maximum biodegradation by the bacterial, fungal, protozoan ,nematode and micro-arthropod communities. Compost substrates are quickly broken down in this environment to yield a highly beneficial nutrient rich plant and soil amendment. davidcjohnson@nmsu.edu

Composting System Benefits : 

NO odors, NO flies or pests, and NO leaching or ground water contamination. Low cost, low maintenance, biodegradation efficient system that could be scaled up on any site. (mechanized loading and parallel processing) Yields a high quality compost: low salinity (2-4 mS/cm2), but most importantly an exceptionally biodiverse, and abundantly populated microbiome. Composting System Benefits davidcjohnson@nmsu.edu