VOA慢速英语20060228a

AGRICULTURE REPORT - Bird Flu: Composting the Remains¹ of Farm BirdsBy Mario Ritter

Broadcast: Tuesday, February 28, 2006

I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

Farmers usually have to destroy all of their chickens and other birds if a case of bird flu is found. Then they face another difficult decision: What to do with the remains?


A government worker takes dead chickens to be burned on a farm outside Kano, Nigeria. Composting offers another way.

Some farmers choose composting. They avoid the danger of transporting infected birds, the cost of burning them and the risk that burial could pollute ground water.

Composting uses the natural action of microorganisms to break down organic² materials. Many agricultural extension³ services explain ways to compost animal remains.

Composting must be carefully controlled. The balance of carbon and nitrogen⁴ is very important. A correct nutrient⁵ balance requires extra material like dry grass or pieces of wood. These materials are called bulking⁶ agents.

Also, the compost must hold the right amount of water. Too little, and bacteria cannot do their job; too much, and air will not reach all the compost. The mixture should reach temperatures between fifty-seven and about sixty-three degrees Celsius⁷.

If the pile begins to smell bad, this could be a sign that ammonia is building up. Adding the chemical ferrous sulfate can help solve this problem.

Experts say a simple way to compost farm birds is to create a windrow. A windrow is simply a mass of material. It should be three to four meters wide and about two meters high. It can be as long as space permits.

A windrow this size should contain three levels of birds, placed between layers of bulking agent.

Windrows should not be near be homes, animal shelters or water resources.

Experts say one thousand birds weighing a little over one kilogram each would need about ten cubic meters of bulking material. The material should be placed loosely so air can pass through it.

The windrow should take about one week to reach a high temperature. After another week to ten days, the temperature will begin to drop. At this point, the windrow must be turned.

Turn all the material completely. If it is too dry, add water. If it is too wet, add more bulking agent. Completely bury any bird remains that might be uncovered⁸.

Experts say that after about three to four weeks more, the compost should be ready to use as fertilizer⁹.

This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario Ritter. Read and hear our reports at www.unsv.com. We also have a link to detailed¹⁰ information from the University of Maryland on composting poultry¹¹. I'm Steve Ember.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 organic   

adj.有机的，有机物的；有组织的

参考例句：

• Organic farming is expanding everywhere.有机农业正在各地迅速发展起来。
• The organic fertilizer shall keep the soil in good heart.这有机肥一定会使土壤保持肥沃。

3 extension   

n.伸长，扩大，伸展；延长，延期；延长部分，扩大部分；电话分机

参考例句：

• The pupils disliked the extension of the term.小学生们不愿延长学期。
• Our extension is nearly finished.我们的扩建部分已接近完工。

4 nitrogen   

n.[化]氮

参考例句：

• The atmosphere consist of more than 70% of nitrogen.大气中含有70%以上的氮气。
• What is the percentage of nitrogen in air?空气中所含的氮的比例是多少？

5 nutrient   

adj.营养的，滋养的；n.营养物，营养品

参考例句：

• Magnesium is the nutrient element in plant growth.镁是植物生长的营养要素。
• The roots transmit moisture and nutrient to the trunk and branches.根将水分和养料输送到干和枝。

6 bulking   

散装，罐装； 体积； 增量； 膨化变形

参考例句：

• It'summed up the measures of controlling the sludge bulking too. 并归纳了污泥膨胀的控制措施。
• Lateral clinker bulking systems is set at the side of silos. 为方便熟料外运，库侧设有熟料散装系统。

7 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

8 uncovered   

adj.无盖的，未保险的v.揭开…的盖子( uncover的过去式和过去分词 )；揭露，发现

参考例句：

• His head was uncovered. 他光着头。
• A plot to assassinate the banker has been uncovered by the police. 暗杀银行家的密谋被警方侦破了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 fertilizer   

n.肥料，化肥

参考例句：

• Fertilizer enriches the soil.肥料使土壤肥沃。
• Get some more fertilizer for the garden.给花园再多施些肥料。

10 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

11 poultry   

n.家禽，禽肉

参考例句：

• There is not much poultry in the shops. 商店里禽肉不太多。
• What do you feed the poultry on? 你们用什么饲料喂养家禽?