Decomposers and Composting

What are decomposers?

• Living things that eat organic matter

• Living things that eat rocks

• Living things that eat plastic

• Living things that eat metal

What is compost?

• Dirt or soil

• Water

• Air

• Plants

What do decomposers do to organic matter?

• Break it down into compost

• Turn it into rocks

• Turn it into plastic

• Turn it into metal

What does compost add to the soil?

• Vitamins or nutrients

• Water

• Air

• Plants

Where do decomposers live in nature?

• Under logs, rocks, and leaves

• In the air

• In the water

• In the desert

What is the purpose of compost piles?

• To speed up the natural process of decay

• To create homes for decomposers

• To create backyard lasagna

• To create mountains

What do worms and pill bugs do in the compost pile?

• Help keep the pile warm and break down food into compost

• Help keep the pile cold and break down food into rocks

• Help keep the pile warm and break down food into plastic

• Help keep the pile warm and break down food into metal

What is topsoil?

• The top 6 inches of soil that contains nutrients

• The bottom 6 inches of soil that contains nutrients

• The middle 6 inches of soil that contains nutrients

• The entire soil layer that contains nutrients

What does compost do to topsoil?

• Makes it moist, adds structure, and makes it arable

• Makes it dry, removes structure, and makes it unarable

• Makes it wet, adds structure, and makes it arable

• Makes it moist, removes structure, and makes it unarable

What harmful gas is created in landfills?

• Methane

• Oxygen

• Carbon dioxide

• Nitrogen