Editing Windrow composting (section)

==Compost windrow turners==

Compost windrow turners were developed to produce [[compost]] on a large scale by Fletcher Sims Jr. of Canyon, Texas.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Maheshwari |first1=Dinesh |title=Composting for Sustainable Agriculture |date=2014 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9783319080048 |page=222 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PEABBQAAQBAJ&q=Compost+windrow+turners+fletcher+sims&pg=PA222}}</ref> They are traditionally a large machine that straddles a windrow of {{convert|4|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} or more high, by as much as {{convert|12|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} across. Although smaller machines exist for small windrows, most operations use large machines for volume production. Turners drive through the windrow at a slow rate of forward movement. They have a steel drum with paddles that are rapidly turning. As the turner moves through the windrow, fresh air ([[oxygen]]) is injected into the compost by the drum/paddle assembly, and waste gases produced by bacterial [[decomposition]] are vented. The oxygen feeds the aerobic bacteria and thus speeds the composting process.

;Utilization
To properly use a compost windrow turner, it is ideal to compost on a hard surfaced pad. Heavy-duty compost windrow turners allow the user to obtain optimum results with the aerobic hot composting process. By using [[four wheel drive]] or [[Caterpillar track|tracks]] the windrow turner is capable of turning compost in windrows located in remote locations. With a [[self-trailering]] option this allows the compost windrow turner to convert itself into a trailer to be pulled by a semi-truck [[tractor]]. These two options combined allow the compost windrow turner to be easily hauled anywhere and to work compost windrows in muddy and wet locations.