Tricks of Compost : Nitrogen Content

NITROGEN CONTENT

The nitrogen content should be 2.0 to 2.5 percent at spawning. There is a positive correlation between nitrogen (N) content and yield. The greater the N content provided and if there is no ammonia present, the better the yield. This correlation, however, does not necessarily hold true with rate of spawn growth. It is possible to have very rapid spawn growth in compost with a low N content, as well as very slow spawn growth.

Generally speaking, the spawn growth may be slower in composts with a high N content but "fills out," becomes denser, as it grows. Of course, slow spawn growth does not necessarily denote good compost. In summary/the rate of spawn growth is not necessarily related to either yield or the N content of compost.