RE: [compost_tea] Re: vermicompost

From: Frank Teuton <fteuton_at_sympatico.ca>
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 07:26:08 -0500

Hi Elaine,

 

The general view among compost scientists is that finished compost has a C:=
N
ratio of around 10 or 12 to 1. See for example

 

http://compost.css.cornell.edu/calc/cn_ratio.html

 

“The usual recommended range for C/N ratios at the start of the compostin=
g
process is about 30/1, but this ideal may vary depending on the
<http://compost.css.cornell.edu/calc/bioavail.html> bioavailability of the
carbon and nitrogen. As carbon gets converted to CO2 (and assuming minimal
nitrogen losses) the C/N ratio decreases during the composting process, wit=
h
the ratio of finished compost typically close to 10/1. “

 

I’d be interested in knowing your basis for the 20-30 figure for mature
compost.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Frank Teuton

 

  _____

From: soilfoodweb_at_aol.com [mailto:soilfoodweb_at_aol.com]
Sent: 18 décembre 2004 15:25
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Re: vermicompost

 

In general (and please note that caution, there are exceptions), mature
compost should have a C:N of 20 to 30.

 

So, it is iffy to make absolute statements about C:N, unless you know the
starting materials, and the composting conditions.

 

Elaine R. Ingham
Soil Foodweb Inc., Corvallis, Oregon
Soil Foodweb Inc., Port Jefferson, New York
Soil Foodweb Institute, Lismore Australia
Soil Foodweb Institute Cambridge, New Zealand
Laboratorios de Soil Foodweb, Culiacan, Mexico
Soil Foodweb Inc., Jerome, Idaho
Soil Foodweb Inc., South Africa












Received on Sun Dec 19 2004 - 09:11:02 EST

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