Transcript Composting Powerpoint

Energy
Cycling
1
Energy Flow within an Ecosystem
Heat
Heat
Sun
Heat
Solar
Energy
Chemical
Energy
Chemical
Energy
Primary
Consumer
Producers
Organic
Waste
Heat
Organic
Waste
Secondary/Tertiary
Heat
Consumer
Organic
Waste
Decomposers
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Decomposition/Decay
Decomposers
consume dead plants & animals (biomass) to
recycle them back to nutrients for producers
Decomposers are usually put at the bottom of a food web, but they are
very important because they cycle biomass.
3
Biomass
• Biomass is organic matter left behind when organisms die or as a
byproduct of some industries.
• Decomposers cycle biomass back into the food web by converting
this organic matter into carbon dioxide and nutrients.
• Energy is released in the form of heat during this process.
• Biomass is also considered a renewable energy source!
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Nutrients that decomposers recycle
back into the soil:
5
Water
Nitrogen
Carbon
Phosphorus
These are essential to all life but are only present
in finite (Small) amounts throughout the world
hence the need for cycling of nutrients in
ecosystems
Composting
6
Controlled Decomposition – in your backyard!
Humus
Mature compost ready to deliver
the nutrients from decomposed
materials back to producers.
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Composting requires a mixture of –
1. Browns – carbon source
3. Water
leaves,
branches
2. Greens – nitrogen source
grass,
food scraps
4. Air
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Why Compost?
Think of different reasons that the composting
cycle is important to YOU!
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Why Compost?
Turn dead organic waste (biomass), like dead
leaves and table scraps (only vegetables), into
a healthy, natural fertilizer for your gardens
and lawns.
The humus can replenish nutrients in the soil.
Results:
• Higher crop yields
• Enrich soil
• Cleaner soil & air
• Suppress plant diseases
• Reduce waste without a
landfill!
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Decomposers: Bacteria
-Unicellular organisms
-Can break down just about
any type of organic matter
-Live on land, air and sea
-1 gram of soil (about a
paperclip’s weight) contains
40 million (40,000,000)
bacterial cells!
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Decomposers: Fungi
-Are not plants
-Does include molds
-Fungi release enzymes to
decompose decaying material
-Fungi grow
on hyphae:
unseen strands
beneath the surface
of the material they
are decomposing
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Decomposers:
Earthworms
• Earthworms act as scavengers
• Earthworms breathe through
their skin
• They do not have eyes but do
have light & touch sensitive
organs
The Big Picture:
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Cycle of
Matter
Replenish
Soil
Compost
Cycling of
Nutrients
Organic
Waste
Decomposers