Anaerobic decomposition?
Top answer
From the KNF library
Drake's library shows how KNF inputs handle gas, time and spoilage. It does not call FPJ anaerobic or aerobic.
The UH manual says to secure a breathable cover over the container (Student's Manual, Basic Course, p. 34). The microbes stay alive and keep making gas, so the lid stays loose (Student's Manual, Basic Course, p. 34). Ferment no longer than 7 days, since quality appears to diminish after that (Student's Manual, Basic Course, p. 34). For long-term storage, add brown sugar by weight to prevent souring (Student's Manual, Basic Course, p. 34).
Anaerobic is not always the enemy. Silage is packed tight to force out air, so it ferments anaerobically with lactobacillus instead of spoiling aerobically (Office Hours May 2025, 34:02). Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are conditionally anaerobic and can also survive with oxygen (Cho, Recipe, p. 53). Cho writes that almost all LAB are anaerobic species (Cho, Theory, p. 81).
Too much moisture can push a system anaerobic in unwanted ways. In IMO collection, wet leaf mould forms an anaerobic condition (Cho, Recipe, p. 11). Smell is the test for a stored LAB culture.
The library says nothing about compost tea, or why it turns harmful when stored too long.
Sources
- 34:02 Office Hours (May 2025) — Good vs Bad Silage, Chick Die-Off Timing, Horsetail Silica · “Stepping forces out air so the pile ferments anaerobically with lactobacillus instead of spoiling aerobically.”
- p. 11 Cho, Recipe · “If leaf moulds contain too much moisture, an anaerobic condition is formed”
- p. 53 Cho, Recipe · “LAB are conditionally anaerobic, so they can also survive with oxygen.”
- p. 34 Student's Manual, Basic Course · “Secure a breathable cover over the mouth”
- p. 81 Cho, Theory · “almost all of the lactic acid bacteria belong to anaerobic species”
Also discussed on Office Hours
Know the answer? Members answer, ask, and get their questions onto the Sunday show.
Sign in Become a member