The production of compost. Personal opinion (Part 4). The calculation formula of compost.

I'll start with the basic conditions of the undisputed success of composting, cultivators adopted in all countries. This is a definite correlation of carbon and nitrogen in three main points of the compost. C:N - 30:1, at begining of compost pile preparation, 20...22:1 at moment of compost loading in pasteurization tunel, and 15...17:1 at moment of inoculation with mycelium. Thise are figures mentioned in most sources of information of the compost making for mushrooms. This information can be safely taken as a basis for preparing high-quality compost. Let us consider the concept of Carbon in more detail. What is Carbon? Carbon an integral part of organic matter involved in the process of composting. The formula for calculating the carbon in the dry matter is as follows:

C = (100 - %ash) 0,48

Ash content is determined by the combustion of the sample material in a muffle furnace at certain temperature. 0,48 a conversion rate of Organic matter into Carbon. For example, if the analyzed material has an ash content of 12%, the carbon content of this sample is:

= (100 - 12) 0,48 = 42,24 units

On the basis of this formula, we can conclude that the maximum Carbon content is at the minimum ash content. Then, before proceeding to describe the calculation formula of compost, I would like to highlight some points that are mentioned with the enviable persistence in foreign sources for "mushroom" literature, and in the publications of "local" followers. Blind faith in the infallibility this outdated basic knowledge, of mushroom growing, also does not allow to the domestic group, to think about some of the moments of the compost.

Most fundamental thing that I can not unerstand - it is recommendation to Nitrogen on a dry basis at the begining of compost preapering. This was written in a diferent of literary sources (up to the doctoral theses), said at seminars and similar events. Definitively it finishes with fact of many given tips, how to reach these infamous 2%, and most strange (fatal for the future of the compost), all this without taking into account the ash content of the raw materials used! Let's look at this moment by the mathematics. Take the basis that there is no doubt the absolute majority of mushroom grovers. This ratio of carbon to nitrogen in the compost tab:

C / N = 30 anda N = C / 30
That is, the nitrogen content must be equal to N= 1/30 of Carbon. Let's try to calculate the maximum theoretically possible Nitrogen content of compost at the time of the pile preapering. The maximum Carbon will be possible with minimal Ash content. We take the value 0 for the ash content (of course this is only possible in theory). With this ash we have:

C = (100 - 0%) 0,48 = 48 units of carbon

From this it follows that even in theory the maximum percentage of nitrogen in the compost tab that allows you to have a generally accepted ratio of C / N = 30 / 1, as can be:

N = C / 30 = 48 : 30 = 1,6% !!!
And it is at zero ash content, which in practice is impossible! Where are those 2%? I still do not understand. In practice, at best, in begining of the compost preapering, Nitrogen can be in the range 1,5-1,56%. Even if the ratio of Carbon and Nitrogen to take 28, the Nitrogen at the begining of compost preparation, may be possible to make 1,6-1,65%. The validity of this assertion, as a condition for obtaining high-yielding compost was tested by me enough times in practice. With regard to foreign companies, which I visited, and which had a very good yield, when they had compost technologies calculated on the nitrogen content base.

The second point that is worth paying attention, to the calculation formula of compost - it is necessary to consider what kind of Nitrogen in this formula. In a previous article I talked about this a little bit. Personally, my opinion is, that the Nitrogen must be taken into account in calculation as organic Nirogen. The mineral forms of Nitrogen are rapidly removed from the mass of compost at a time when there is not a mechanism for fixing this nitrogen in the compost. Practical results of such an approach leaves no doubt as to its correctness. In the case of the calculation formula for laying the compost by the generally accepted

scenario, prescribing the content of 2% nitrogen in compost pile formation, with mineral nitrogen and without ash, events may occur in the following areas. 1. A good option (if you're lucky). Organic matter in the compost will be enough to "balance the excess interest N" to the ratio of 28-30. A mineral Nitrogen is added a little bit and it quickly vent out and develop into compost without damaging micro-organisms in the composting process. In this case, the compost will work normally. The only negative - it is the additional financial costs for the acquisition of mineral forms of nitrogen. 2. Option occurring most often (bad). Nitrogen in the tab is too much. With the same 2% of nitrogen and organic matter content is low, that is, carbon, C / N ratio in the tab can reach less than 20. In this case, if the nitrogen is mainly organic, then get rid of ammonia in the pasteurization of the compost will be impossible. If there is a lot of mineral nitrogen, the large ammonia during the fermentation process can kill all the microbes and stop the process. If the excess will be two types of nitrogen, the chances of a good compost will make not only the minimum, as in the first two situations, but with a minus sign. That is, there will be no chance. For the reasons that determine the distribution of such an approach to the calculation formula of compost, come to mind very different thoughts. But I leave them to myself, and let all the consequences of such an approach will be on the conscience of the people who contribute to its spread.

So how to calculate the formula for the compost? I offer you a technique that I use quite a long time, and which gives a very decent stable results.

Given the potential losses in the poultry manure during compost pile preapering, I take as a basis for the ratio of Carbon to Nitrogen ratio is not equal to 30 and 28.

C / N = 28 = straw + chicken litter

the total carbon; straw carbon in straw; chicken litter the carbon in chicken litter.

N = Nstraw + Nchicken litter

N the total nitrogen; Nstraw nitrogen in straw; Nchicken litter nitrogen in chicken manure.

straw = Mstraw (1 - %moisture content of straw / 100) (1 - % ash content of straw / 100) 0,48
straw carbon in the straw on a dry basis; straw mass of straw; (1 - %moisture content of straw / 100) - the conversion rate of dry matter of straw; (1 - %ash content of straw / 100) - the conversion rate of organic matter of straw; 0,48 conversion factor of organic matter into carbon.

chicken manure = chicken manure (1 - % moisture chicken manure / 100) (1 - %ash content of chicken manure / 100) 0,48
chicken manure chicken manure carbon in the dry matter; chicken manure mass of chicken manure; (1 - %moisture chicken manure / 100) a conversion factor of solids chicken manure; (1 - %ash content of poultry manure / 100) the conversion rate of organic matter chicken manure; 0,48 Conversion factor of Organic matter into carbon.

Nstraw = Mstraw (1 - %moisture content of straw / 100) % N straw / 100

Nstraw nitrogen contained in the straw on a dry basis; straw mass of straw; (1 - %moisture content of straw / 100) the conversion rate of dry matter of straw; %N straw / 100 the coefficient of nitrogen in the straw.

Nchicken manure = chicken manure (1 - %moisture chicken manure / 100) %of the nitrogen chicken manure / 100
N nitrogen in chicken manure on a dry basis; mass chicken manure; (1 - %moisture chicken litter / 100) a conversion factor of solids chicken manure; %Nitrogen chicken manure / 100 the coefficient of nitrogen in chicken manure.

That's all there is to know the formula for calculating the compost. Now we have to give an example of how to use it all into practice. First, you must have the following results of analyzes of straw and chicken manure. This moisture, ash and organic nitrogen (protein may be) on a dry basis. If you have identified the protein, then dividing the amount at the rate of translation of protein Nitrogen, equal to 6,25; you will know the % Nitrogen. Next you need to decide what you will consider in the formula, how much of chicken manure to put on one ton of straw. Typically, we calculate chicken manure quantity on one ton of straw. Thus, the version of the compost formula, will be calculated on chicken manure contents of chickens, on floor system of growing. We have a straw with the results of the analyzes: humidity of 12%; ash content of 5%; nitrogen is 0.6%. Chicken manure: humidity of 27%; ash content of 15%; org. nitrogen is 3.5%. The problem: how much chicken manure to add per 1 ton of straw to get the ratio. Denote the desired number of chicken manure - ?Kg C / N = 28 = straw + chicken manure straw = 1000 kg (1 - 12 / 100) (1 - 5 / 100) 0,48 = 1000 0,88 0,95 0,48 = 401,28 kg chicken manure = ?kg (1 - 27 / 100) (1 - 15 / 100) 0,48 = ?kg 0,73 0,85 0,48 = ?kg x 0,29784 N = Nstraw + Nchicken manure Nstraw = 1000 kg (1 - 12 / 100) 0,6 / 100 = 1000 kg 0,88 0,006 = 5,28 kg Nchicken manure = ?kg (1 - 27 / 100) 3,5 / 100 = ?kg 0,73 0,035 = ?kg x 0,02555 = straw + chicken manure = 401,28 kg + 0,29784 x ?kg N = Nstraw + Nchicken manure = 5,28 kg + 0,02555 x ?kg

(401,28 kg + 0,29784 x ?kg) / (5,28 kg + 0,02555 x ?kg) = 28 401,28 kg + 0,29784 x ?kg = (5,28 kg + 0,02555 x ?kg) 28 401,28 kg + 0,29784 x ?kg = 147,84 + 0,7154 x ?kg 401,28 - 147,84 = 0,7154 x ?kg - 0,29784 x ?kg 253,44 = 0,41756 x ?kg

The required quantity of chicken manure per ton of this straw:

?kg = 253,44 / 0,41756 = 606,95 kg

Let us check the calculations. = straw + chicken manure straw = 401,28 kg chicken manure = 606,95 kg (1 - 27 / 100) (1 - 15 / 100) 0,48 = 606,95 kg 0,73 0,85 0,48 = 180,77 kg = 401,28 kg + 180,77 kg = 582,05 kg N = Nstraw + Nchicken manure Nstraw = 5,28 kg Nchicken manure = 606,95 kg (1 - 27a / 100) 3,5 / 100 = 606,95 kg 0,73 0,035 = 15,51 kg N = 5,28 kg + 15,51 kg = 20,79 kg

: N = 582,05 kg : 20,79 kg = 27,9966 !!!

I hope I'm not tired you with this math. For practical purposes you can use the calculator below. Finally I want to tell, that this is just my perception of the calculation formula of compost, and I had absolutely no impose it nobody. And this is the first step in the beginning of composting. There are steps, and each of them is no less important for high-yielding compost. I hope that I will have enough time and effort to describe them all, and you have the patience to wait and read. And I hope that someone at least it will be interesting and useful.

Straw Humidity Ash

5 12

%
0.6

Nitrogen % Chicken manure Humidity Ash

15 27

%
3.5

Nitrogen

607 kg of chicken manure per 1 ton of straw.