Can You Compost Peanut Shells?

Are Peanut Shells Good to Compost? Yes, Peanut shells are a carbon-rich brown material, a great addition to compost piles, and can enrich and enhance the composting process when added correctly. However, because of their tough structure, they cannot decompose easily. This article explores the best ways to compost peanut shells, including considerations, advantages, and potential drawbacks of composting Peanut Shells.

After reading this article, you’ll become an informed gardener after knowing how to compost peanut shells and why it’s essential for the environment. So, stay tuned for accurate information about composting peanut shells.

Are Peanut Shells Good for Compost

Yes, peanut shells and hulls surrounding the peanut are entirely compostable materials. You can also compost this brown material as it will add brown color to your compost, and this material is also rich in carbon, which is an essential part of the composting process. All the microorganisms that help compost, find carbon and nitrogen-rich components providing energy, thus with the energy they break down the materials. 

The weather and climate conditions matter a lot in the effective composting of the peanut shells. If you are composting peanut shells in the southern US, this might not be a good idea, as using peanut shell mulch has increased the spreading of fungal diseases, including southern blight. 

This issue has stopped people from using peanut shells for composting and using them as mulch. However, it is only confined to using them as mulch, as the peanuts come from homes or local gardens where they don’t use any fungicides. If you have a garden and take care of it properly by adding fungicides, you will not face any problems using peanut shell compost. 

Pros And Cons of Composting Peanut Shells

There are different types of benefits and some drawbacks to composting peanut shells. By following these pros and cons, you can decide if it is a good idea to use peanut shells for composting or not;

Pros 

• A carbon-rich source of peanut shells is essential for the perfect growth of nascent life in your garden. These shells provide a necessary nitrogen-carbon balance to your compost bin.
• In addition to carbon, peanut shells contain nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen providing extra nutrition to the end product.
• Dry peanut shells when added to compost, absorb excess water. They can manage over-wet compost difficulties and develop a more favorable environment for growing plants.
• Recycling peanut shells instead of just throwing them away as domestic waste products will create safer surroundings free from poisonous substances.
• As the peanut shells are lightweight and bulky materials, they can facilitate composting. Later this results in excessive air circulation through the crops and their increased size.
• Composted peanuts may sold as fertilizer, making it an opportunity for profit that is not readily available in the market with highly nutritious products.

Cons

• Preparing peanut shells for composting can be time-consuming, necessitating additional steps to lead to better results.
• Peanut Shells took a long time to decompose hence, slow down the overall composting process.
• Including peanuts facilitates nematode survival within the compost, adversely affecting plant growth and posing a danger to gardening.
• Peanut shell structures may attract different kinds of insects that are harmful to gardens since they can lead to destruction, too.
• Groundnut shells might harbor southern blight fungus while other fungal diseases may also exist, thus endangering the overall health of the manure.
• Excessive and large amounts of peanut shells in your compost bin at once can disturb the balance of the compost pile.

Everything comes with several problems along with benefits. In the end, composting peanut shells is okay as it helps reduce kitchen waste and keep the environment safe. They also provide the perfect combination of nutrients to help grow your garden bigger and healthier. 

Considerations When Composting Peanut Shells

There are some considerations that you need to keep in mind while composting the peanut shells. Southern blight is the most significant consideration among many others, this disease is fatal and destroys the whole garden in a matter of time. The fungus Sclerotium rolfsii is the reason behind this disease, and it effectively damages the garden along with all the nearby growing. 

This disease is one of the most common in the southern US, but it is not confined to the south; you will also find this fungal disease on the northern side. If you live in these areas, you must avoid using peanut shell compost. If you have a beautiful garden, the last thing you will need is a fungal or worm attack in your garden, so it is better not to take the risk. 

Avoid the usage of salted Peanut Shells in the compost pile because salt can kill essential microbes that help in the decomposing process. As the peanut shells take longer to decompose so breaking them into small parts may speed up the composting process. Peanuts are a rich source of carbon and brown material. Thus, ensure the balance ratio of carbon-nitrogen and add enough green material to your compost pile.

Just like other compost piles, turn the pile with shells regularly (every week or two) to aerate the materials and facilitate proper decomposition. Composting peanut shells provides a super healthy amendment for the soil and plants of your garden.

How Long Does It Take for Peanut Shells to Decompose

The time taken by the peanut shell to decompose depends on the size of its hull and the environmental conditions. The average time a peanut shell takes is from 8 to 24 months when these shells are outside. If more rain occurs in your area, these shells decompose faster. 

The well tended and hot compost pile takes decomposing time of about 5 to 10 months. If your composting system is cold, it can take 9 to 18 months, along with the peanut hulls, to break down entirely. 

The hull of a peanut takes more time than the actual shell, if you break down the shell before adding, it will save a lot of time, and it will take 2 to 6 months to decompose completely. The smaller pieces added to the compost align better, are readily available for the microbes, and get digested easily into shell fragments. 

How to Compost Peanut Shells

Here is a step-by-step detailed guide to composting peanut shells effectively:

Step 1: Checking for Illnesses in the Peanut Shells 

Firstly place all peanut shells on a tray and check if they have any visible disease. If you notice any discolorations, spots, or other appearances or any shell indicating some illness, dispose of them immediately. The color change or irregular shapes can later cause trouble for your compost

Step 2: Smash or Slice the Peanut Shells

After the detailed check of the peanut shells, crush or chop them to fasten their decomposition process. You can use many kitchen gadgets, enabling you to break them into smaller pieces. The breaking or crushing of shells results in the quick decomposition of shells, fastening the whole composting process.

Step 3: Drench Peanut Shells

You can also soak crushed shells in water for twelve to sixteen hours. This makes the shells more supple and more accessible for composting. This soaking benefits in two ways: first it removes excess salts from harming microbial-eating organisms and second it infuses moisture into compost.

Step 4: Put the Shells into the Composter

Do not mix moistened peanut shells with a composter if much water exists. If it is too wet, you can mix it with other carbon ingredients, such as straw or leaves. After that put this mixture in your compost pile or bin, and balance it with green compost matters like veggies and fruit wastes.

Step 5: Maintain Your Compost Heap

Regularly check the compost pile and ensure enough supply of oxygen, warmth, and moisture in it. Turn it over every four days to seven days to initiate or fasten microbial activity. Loom for any wetness and bad smells after some time to ensure their effectiveness in the composting process and prevent future complications.

Methods to Compost Peanut Shells

Following are some useful methods to compost Peanut Shells in a nutritious soil amendment:

Hot Composting Method

The hot composting method serves with higher temperatures, produced through microbial activity for the quick decomposing of peanut shells. A big composting pile is required in this method and is well-suitable for larger quantities of peanut shells. 

Cold Composting Method

The Cold Composting method requires low maintenance and is suitable for smaller amounts of peanut shells. This is actually a natural method by which peanut shells break down and decompose slowly.

Bokashi Composting Method

In this method, food wastes like peanut shells are placed inside a bokashi container for fermentation. This method originated in Korea and Japan by using bokashi bran initiating the decomposition process.

Conclusion

Composting the peanut shell is possible, but it comes with some considerations. This article explores complete information about Peanut shells related to the composting process, the pros and cons, and different methods of composting peanut shells. However, composting peanut shells is beneficial by using the correct methods, it is important to consider specific situations before adding them to your compost.

FAQs

1. Is it possible to compost peanut shells? 

Composting peanut shells is a practical option for reducing waste and improving soil fertility. Peanut shells, when properly added to the compost heap, would help decompose, providing environmental benefits. 

2. Do Peanuts Make Good Compost?

Indeed, as they make a good carbon source for our compost heaps, they are turning brown. Besides this, they contain carbohydrates, which are vital in speeding up the decomposition process.

3. What are the Pros And Cons Of Composting Peanut Shells?

Composting peanut shells has its upsides and downsides. Advantages include an excellent carbon source, nutrient-rich content, excess water absorption capacity, environmental sustainability perspective, increased aeration, and chances for profits. Conversely, the cons consist of laborious set-up processes involving extensive nematode habitats likely to cause infestation by insects, fungi, and disease risks.

4. What are the Points To Consider When Composting Peanut Shells?

There is a potential risk of Southern blight, a fungus disease that could wipe out your garden if you compost peanut shells. Using something other than peanut shells as part of your compost in areas where this disease prevails more often is essential. Nuts are usually salted for taste; hence, salt if mixed with peanut shells turns beneficial, but avoid adding excessive salt.

5. How long does it take for peanut shells to decompose?

The length of time required for the decomposition of peanuts differs according to size and surrounding situations, such as nature’s condition. On average, outdoor exposure takes 8-24 months, and a decomposition period for peanuts’ skins, when cared for under a hot system or well-managed composting, may be 5-10 months, while those in a cold one can take up to 9-18 months. Breaking the shells into smaller pieces will help to speed up decomposition.