RE: [compost_tea] Re: vermicompost

From: <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 21:26:03 -0500
Think about the possible reasons for the difference between C:N that most scientists, who have never considered that biology in compost is important, and myself, who understands that biology can greatly change compost and the composting cycle, might have.

If you alter starting materials, what do you suppose the effect will be on C:N?

If you compost with fungi predominant, where so much less C will be blown off as carbon dioxide, what do you suppose the effect will be on C:N?

What would lead you to expect that all compost, regardless of starting materials, or way the composting process has been handled, has to finish up at the same composition, and at the same C:N ratio? 

If you allow the compost pile to become anaerobic, and most of your available N is volatilized, what will be the effect on C:N?

What is in compost that could greatly alter C:N ratio of the final product?  What is the C:N of bacteria, versus fungi?  What kind of metabolites are produced?  What is the difference in the way bacteria versus fungi use C? 

What is the difference in anaerobic versus aerobic use of N, and C? 

--
Elaine Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
SFI Corvallis, OR
SFI Port Jefferson, NY
SFI Lismore, NSW, Australia
SFI Cambridge, New Zealand
SFI Culiacan, Mexico
SFI Jerome, Idaho
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http://www.soilfoodweb.com


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Received on Sun Dec 19 2004 - 22:14:46 EST

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