They are the ones responsible for the rise and fall of temperature and work differently according to the temperature in the pile and create this important activity in compost.
Psychrophile Stage
The Psychrophile microbes work best in low temperatures (10-21°C). They invade the pile and begin to burn or oxidize carbon releasing heat and nutrients in the form of amino acids as the temperature rises in the compost.
Mesophile Stage
The Mesophile grows best (10-50°C). Most of the micro-organisms on earth belong to the group of mesophiles, found in soil and water environments most of the diseases caused by bacteria and viruses that affect humans come from this group. They can spoil food and dead animal matter quickly. They love food scraps and are important in breaking down organic matter. They are the real workhorses of the compost heap.
Thermophile Stage
The Thermophile grow and live in extremely hot environments (32-93°C), devoting their 3-5day life span to raising the temperature huge enough to destroy sneaky disease germs or weed seeds. This also generates humic acid which enables plants to assimilate the nutrients in the compost.
