| Every gardener knows that the key to a great garden is compost. But how do you make the best compost quickly? The best compost comes from having the right mix of carbon to nitrogen and that's where this handy chart will help. Some of the most commonly available and used materials are highlighted in green as well as notes to help use them effectively. Remember though that having the right mix of compost materials is only part of the magic of making great compost. Having the correct moisture and oxygenation by turning are also vitally important and must not be neglected if you want really great compost quickly.. | Ingredient | Lig % | Cellulose (%) | Hemicellulose (%) | Nitrogen % | Ash % | | (all data on a dry matter basis) | | | | | | | Acorns | 13 | -- | -- | 0 | -- | | Alfalfa | 7.5 | 24 | 8 | 2.72 | | | Meal dehydrated (dehy) 15% | 13 | 23 | 14 | 2.56 | 10 | | Meal dehy 17% | 10 | 25 | 10 | 2.72 | 11 | | Hay, early (E.) vegetative (veg.) | 5.3 | 20.7 | 10 | 3.744 | 10 | | Hay, late (L.) veg. | 6.5 | 21.5 | 11 | 3.472 | 10 | | Hay, E. bloom (bl.) | 7.1 | 23.9 | 11 | 3.04 | 9 | | Hay, medium (M.) bl. | 8.7 | 27.3 | 10 | 2.72 | 9 | | Hay, full (F.) bl. | 10.4 | 30.6 | 10 | 2.08 | 9 | | Hay, L. bl. | 12.2 | 30.8 | 12 | 1.92 | 8 | | Hay, E. veg. | 6 | 19 | 8 | 4.8 | 10 | | Hay, L. veg. | 7 | 20 | 10 | 4.32 | 9 | | Hay, E. bl. | 8 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 9 | | Hay, M. bl. | 10 | 25 | 9 | 3.52 | 8 | | Hay, F. bl. | 11 | 26 | 11 | 3.04 | 8 | | Hay, L. bl. | 12.2 | 26.8 | 14 | 2.72 | 8 | | Hay, mature | 14.4 | 29.6 | 14 | 2.24 | 7 | | Hay, seeded | 17 | 32 | 21 | 1.92 | 7 | | Hay, weathered (old hay) | 15 | 30 | 13 | 1.6 | 8 | | Wilted Silage | | | | | | | E. bl. 35% dry matter (DM) | 10 | 23 | 10 | 3.04 | 9 | | M. bl. 38% DM | 11 | 24 | 12 | 2.72 | 9 | | F. bl. 40% DM | 12 | 30 | 9 | 2.56 | 8 | | Almond Hulls, good | 6.1 | 10.9 | 5 | 0 | 7 | | Medium quality | 10 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 7 | | Molded | 30 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 8 | | Apple pomace | 5 | -- | -- | < 0.5 | -- | | Bagasse | 18.9 | 33.4 | 30.0 | -- | 2.4 | | Bagasse | 11 | 38 | 34 | -- | -- | | Bahiagrass, 30% DM | 7 | 31 | 30 | 1.424 | 10 | | Hay | 8 | 33 | 31 | 1.312 | 11 | | Bakery Waste | 1 | 12 | 5 | 1.44 | 5 | | Bamboo | 20.1 | -- | 19.6 | -- | 3.3 | | Barley, Grain | | | | | | | Heavy | 2 | 5 | 12 | 2.08 | 3 | | Grain Light | 2.9 | 7.1 | 18 | 2.24 | 4 | | Malt Sprouts w/hulls | 3 | 15 | 28 | 4.496 | 7 | | Straw | 11 | 48 | 21 | 0.688 | 7 | | Beet Pulp, dehy | 2 | 31 | 21 | 1.232 | 5 | | +Steffen's filtrate | 2 | 19 | 21 | 1.6 | 6 | | Bermudagrass | 7 | 32 | 38 | 1.44 | | | Coastal Hay, L. veg. | 6 | 26 | 38 | 1.6 | 8 | | Black pepper | 18 | -- | -- | 1.28 | -- | | Bloodmeal (good source - most often used for organic compost) | -- | -- | -- | 14.672 | 7 | | Brewers, Grains, dehy | 6 | 18 | 22 | 4.16 | 4 | | -Grains wet, 21% DM | 4 | 19 | 19 | 4.16 | 10 | | Brome | 5.5 | 27 | 15.3 | -- | -- | | Hay, Pre-bl. | 5 | 33 | 27 | 1.68 | 10 | | Hay, L. bl. | 8 | 36 | 28 | 1.184 | 9 | | Smooth, Hay M. bl. | 4 | 33 | 29 | 2.336 | 10 | | Hay, mature | 8 | 37 | 26 | 0.928 | 8 | | Canarygrass, Reed, Hay | 4 | 32 | 28 | 1.648 | 10 | | Carrot Roots, fr. 12% DM | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1.584 | 8 | | Cattails | 8.5 | -- | -- | 2.176 | -- | | Celery seed | 22 | -- | -- | 2.4 | -- | | Cinnamon bark | 20 | -- | -- | 0 | -- | | Citrus pulp, dehydrated | 3 | 19 | 1 | 1.12 | 7 | | Clover, Ladino, Hay | 7 | 22 | 7 | 3.52 | 10 | | Clover, Red, Hay | 10 | 31 | 15 | 2.56 | 9 | | Cocoa bean | 25 | -- | -- | 2.56 | -- | | Coconut meal | 10 | -- | -- | 3.44 | -- | | Coffee Grounds | 15 | -- | 9 | 0 | 2 | | hulls (bran) | 20 | 51 | 22 | 0 | 5 | | Corn | | | | | | | Bran | 1 | 15 | 44 | 1.76 | 3 | | Cobs, ground | 7 | 28 | 55 | 0.512 | 2 | | Cob | - | 36.5 | 28 | -- | -- | | Cob | 7 | -- | -- | 0.48 | -- | | Corn leaves | 3.8 | -- | -- | 3.04 | -- | | Corn meal | 2 | -- | -- | 1.776 | -- | | Distillers grain, dehy | 5 | 12 | 33 | 4.16 | 4 | | wet | 4 | 11 | 25 | 4.16 | 4 | | grains + solubles | 4 | 12 | 28 | 4.72 | 5 | | solubles, dehy | 1 | 6 | 16 | 4.752 | 8 | | Fodder | 3 | 30 | 22 | 1.424 | 2.4 | | Gluten feed | 1 | 11 | 33 | 4.096 | 5 | | Gluten meal | 1 | 8 | 28 | 7.488 | 3 | | Gluten meal 60% crude protein | 1 | 4 | 9 | 10.752 | 2 | | Grain cracked | 0.2 | 2.8 | 6 | 1.6 | 2 | | Grain flaked | 0.2 | 2.8 | 6 | 1.6 | 2 | | Grain ground | 0.2 | 2.8 | 6 | 1.6 | 2 | | Grain high moisture | 0.2 | 2.8 | 6 | 1.696 | 2 | | Hominy | 2 | 11 | 42 | 1.84 | 1 | | Stover | 11 | 28 | 28 | 1.056 | 7 | | Whole ear (corn & cob) | 2 | 10 | 16 | 1.44 | 2 | | Corn Silage | 3 | 26 | 16 | 1.44 | | | -45% grain | 3 | 23 | 15 | 1.44 | 5 | | +NPN | 3 | 23 | 15 | 2.08 | 5 | | +NPN + Ca | 3 | 23 | 15 | 2.08 | 7 | | -35% grain | 4 | 24 | 18 | 1.376 | 7 | | -25% grain | 5 | 26 | 21 | 1.328 | 8 | | -40% grain | 4 | 23 | 18 | 1.472 | 4 | | NPN | 4 | 23 | 18 | 2.112 | 4 | | NPN + Ca | 4 | 23 | 18 | 2.08 | 6 | | 25% grain | 6 | 27 | 22 | 1.328 | 7 | | Stalklage | 7 | 38 | 23 | 1.008 | 9 | | Immature (25% DM no ears) | 3 | 35 | 22 | 1.44 | 11 | | Cornstalk | 11 | 38 | 26 | -- | 3 | | Cornstalk | 3.9 | -- | -- | 1.056 | -- | | Cornstalk | 11 | 33.5 | 32.6 | -- | 1 | | Cotton | -- | 80-95 | 5-20 | -- | -- | | Cottonseed | | | | | | | hulls | 24 | 49 | 17 | 0.656 | 4 | | Black whole seed | 15 | 16 | 9 | 3.68 | 5 | | high lint | 16 | 21 | 10 | 3.2 | 4 | | seed meal, mech. ex. | 6 | 14 | 8 | 7.04 | 7 | | Solv. 41% crude protein (CP) | 6 | 13 | 7 | 7.296 | 7 | | Solv. 43% CP | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7.824 | 7 | | Cotton straw | 15 | 42 | 12 | -- | -- | | Distillers' grains | 5 | -- | -- | 3.52 | -- | | Feather meal | -- | -- | -- | 12.48 | 4 | | Fescue, Alta, Hay | 6.5 | 34.5 | 29 | 1.632 | 10 | | Fescue, K31, Hay | 4 | 31 | 28 | 2.624 | 9 | | Hay F. bl. | 5 | 34 | 28 | 1.936 | 8 | | mature | 7 | 35 | 28 | 1.472 | 7 | | Fescue, Meadow, Hay | 7 | 36 | 22 | 1.456 | 8 | | Tall fescue | 3.1 | 30 | 24.5 | -- | -- | | Fishmeal | | | | 10.656 | 25 | | Fruit pits | 40 | -- | -- | -- | -- | | Ginger root | 6 | -- | -- | 1.6 | -- | | Grape pomace | 17 | -- | -- | 0 | -- | | Grape pomace | 35 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 10 | | Grape stems | 12 | -- | -- | < 0.5 | -- | | Guineagrass | 8 | 35 | 26 | 1.44 | | | Kelp, treated | 6 | -- | -- | 4.8 | -- | | Linseed meal | 7 | -- | -- | 4.48 | -- | | mech. ex. | 7 | 10 | 8 | 6.064 | 6 | | meal solv. ex. | 6 | 13 | 6 | 6.128 | 6 | | Lupins | 3.3 | -- | -- | 5.472 | -- | | Manure | | | | | | | Elephant manure | 10.4 | -- | -- | 1.12 | -- | | Chicken manure (good source if used fresh - organic) | 3.4 | -- | -- | 5.424 | -- | | Pig manure (not recommended for home compost) | 2.2 | -- | -- | 4.416 | -- | | Cow manure sample 1(good source if used fresh - organic) | 8.1 | -- | -- | 3.104 | -- | | Cow manure sample 2(good source if used fresh - organic) | 7.9 | -- | -- | 3.216 | -- | | Cow manure sample 3(good source if used fresh - organic) | 10.1 | -- | -- | 2.752 | -- | | Millet feed | 4 | 13 | | 2.064 | 3 | | Milo see sorghum | | | | | | | Molasses beet, | | | | | | | 79% DM | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.48 | 11 | | Molasses cane, | | | | | | | 73% DM | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.28 | 8 | | Municipal refuse | -- | 76 | -- | -- | -- | | Napiergrass fr. | 8 | 36 | 28 | 1.44 | | | -30 days DM | 10 | 35 | 25 | 1.392 | 9 | | -60 days DM | 14 | 33 | 28 | 1.248 | 6 | | Needle and thread | 6 | 37 | 40 | 0.656 | 20 | | Nutmeg hulls | 17 | -- | -- | 0.16 | -- | | Oats, grain gr. | | 0 | 0 | | | | -38 lb/bushel | 3 | 13 | 16 | 2.128 | 3 | | -32 lb/bushel | 4 | 17 | 21 | 2.096 | 5 | | Hay | 6 | 30 | 30 | 1.488 | 8 | | Hulls | 8 | 34 | 36 | 0.624 | 7 | | Silage dough | 9 | 23 | 24 | 1.6 | 7 | | Straw | 14 | 33 | 23 | 0.704 | 8 | | Olive waste | 28 | -- | -- | 0 | -- | | Orchard grass | 4.7 | 30 | 14.4 | -- | -- | | Orchardgrass, young | 4.3 | 26 | 25 | 2.4 | | | Hay E. bl. | 4 | 30 | 23 | 1.632 | 10 | | Hay, L. bl. | 4 | 34 | 27 | 1.344 | 9 | | Palm kernel oil meala | 14 | -- | -- | 0.24 | -- | | Pangola grass | 7 | 34 | 29 | 1.76 | | | fresh pangola grass, 21% DM | 5 | 33 | 32 | 1.648 | 10 | | Paper Products | | | | | | | Brown cardboard (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 12 | 72 | -- | -- | 1.7 | | Christian Science Monitor | 21 | 60 | -- | -- | 0.4 | | Manchester Guardian | 3 | 59 | -- | -- | 30 | | Newsprint (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 20.9 | -- | -- | 0.816 | -- | | Playboy | 9 | 51 | -- | -- | 24 | | Solka floc (cellulose) | 5 | 84 | -- | -- | 0.3 | | Washington Post | 26 | 55 | -- | -- | 0.4 | | Whatman no. 41 | 5 | 89 | -- | -- | 0.2 | | Pea vines, Silage, 25% DM | 9 | 40 | 10 | 2.096 | 12 | | Peanut, Hulls | 23 | 42 | 9 | 1.248 | 4 | | Meal | -- | -- | 8 | 8.32 | 6 | | Peanut skin | 7 | -- | -- | < 0.5 | -- | | Pineapple, bran | 7 | 30 | 36 | 0.736 | 3 | | Potato tubers | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1.424 | 6 | | Poultry, Manure | 2 | 12 | 24 | 4.512 | 22 | | Pricklypear, fr. 17% DM | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0.768 | 6 | | Rapeseed meal | 3.7 | -- | -- | 6.768 | 8 | | Red Top, fr. 29% DM | 8 | 32 | 24 | 1.856 | 8 | | Reed Canary grass | 5.3 | 28 | 16.5 | -- | -- | | Reed foxtail | 4.5 | 29 | 17.7 | -- | -- | | Rice | | | | | | | bran | 3.3 | 10.7 | 11 | 2.08 | 10 | | Grain, ground | 2.1 | -- | -- | 1.424 | 5 | | Grain, polished | <1 | <1 | -- | 1.376 | 1 | | hulls | 17 | 55 | 10 | 0.48 | 20 | | straw | 12.5 | 32.1 | 24.0 | -- | 17.5 | | Russian Thistle, | 11 | 33 | 20 | 1.792 | 15 | | Rye grain | 1 | -- | -- | 2.208 | 2 | | Ryegrass, Hay | 2 | 28 | 11 | 1.376 | 10 | | Ryegrass, Straw | 5 | 37 | 27 | -- | -- | | Safflower, Meal | | | | | | | mech. ex. | 14 | 27 | 18 | 3.536 | 4 | | meal solv. ex. | 14 | 27 | 17 | 4.064 | 4 | | Sagebrush, Big s.c. | 12 | 18 | 12 | 1.488 | 7 | | Sesame seed | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | | Sorghum, Grain dry (milo) | 1.4 | 3.6 | 18 | 1.984 | 2 | | Grain rolledb | 1.4 | 3.6 | 18 | 1.984 | 2 | | Grain, steam flaked | 1.4 | 3.6 | 18 | 1.92 | 2 | | -Silage, 30% DM | 6 | 32 | 26 | 1.2 | 9 | | Soybean, Hulls | 2 | 48 | 17 | 1.936 | 5 | | Soybean meal -44 | 0.3 | 9.7 | 4 | 7.84 | 7 | | Soybean meal -49 | 0.2 | 5.8 | 2 | 8.8 | 7 | | Soybean Straw | 16 | 38 | 16 | 0.832 | 6 | | Soybean whole | 0.2 | 8.8 | 4 | 6.848 | 6 | | Sudangrass, Hay | 4 | 35 | 27 | 1.808 | 10 | | -Silage, 28% DM | 5 | 37 | 29 | 1.728 | 10 | | Sugar beet pulp | 5 | -- | -- | 1 | -- | | Sunflower | | | | | | | Sunflower hulls | 19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | | Sunflower meal | 12 | 21 | 7 | 4.144 | 6 | | Tapioca | -- | -- | -- | 0.496 | 3 | | Timothy | | | | | | | Timothy, mature | 7.3 | 31 | 29 | 1.12 | | | Hay L. veg. | 3 | 27 | 25 | 2.24 | 8 | | Hay, E. bl. | 4 | 30 | 27 | 1.76 | 7 | | Hay, M. bl. | 5 | 31 | 31 | 1.44 | 7 | | Hay, L. bl. | 6 | 34 | 28 | 1.28 | 7 | | Hay, Milk st. | 7 | 36 | 28 | 1.12 | 6 | | Hay, seed st. | 9 | 36 | 27 | 0.96 | 6 | | -Silage, L. bl. 42% DM | 7 | 34 | 24 | 1.44 | 7 | | Tomato | | | | | | | Tomato pomace, dried | 11 | 39 | 5 | 2.56 | 8 | | Tomato vines | - | -- | -- | -- | -- | | Trefoil, birdft., Hay | 9 | 27 | 11 | 2.608 | 7 | | Turnip, fr. 9% DM | 10 | 24 | 10 | 1.888 | 2 | | Urea (excellent source, but may not be considered organic) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46.72 | 0 | | Vanilla bean | 14 | -- | -- | 0 | -- | | Vetch, Hay | 8 | 25 | 15 | 3.328 | 7 | | Water hyacinth | 8.7 | -- | -- | 2.832 | -- | | Wheat | | | | | | | bran | 3 | 12 | 36 | 2.736 | 7 | | Grain, Hard red spring | 1 | 4 | 11 | 1.808 | 2 | | Grain, soft white | 0.6 | 3.4 | 10 | 1.808 | 2 | | Hay, E. veg. | 4 | 26 | 22 | 1.92 | 8 | | Hay, headed | 7 | 34 | 27 | 1.36 | 7 | | Middlings | 2.2 | 8.8 | 26 | 2.944 | 2.4 | | Silage dough | 7.7 | 25.3 | 19 | 1.296 | 8 | | Straw | 8.9 | -- | -- | 1.488 | -- | | Straw | 14 | 40 | 31 | 0.576 | 8 | | Straw | 18.0 | 30.5 | 28.4 | -- | 11.0 | | Straw | 18 | 34 | 27.6 | -- | 1.3 | | Straw | 7 | 42 | 31 | -- | -- | | Wheatgrass crest., Hay | 6 | 30 | 29 | 1.44 | 9 | | Whey, Acid | -- | -- | -- | 2.272 | 10 | | Delact. | -- | -- | | 2.864 | 17 | | Winterfat, s.c. | 10 | 34 | 28 | 1.728 | 15 | | Wood | | | | | | | Aspen (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 15.5 | 50.8 | 28.7 | -- | 0.2 | | Balsam Fir (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 28 | 42.7 | 24.4 | -- | 0.2 | | Beech (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 12.7 | 27.7 | 21.1 | 1.44 | -- | | Birch (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 19.5 | 38.8 | 37.3 | -- | 0.3 | | Birch (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 19.5 | 40.0 | 39.0 | -- | 0.3 | | Pin cherry (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 8.98 | 8.77 | 8.4 | 1.77 | -- | | Pine (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 27.8 | 44.0 | 26.0 | -- | 0.4 | | Pine (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 27.8 | 42 | 23.5 | -- | 0.4 | | Pine kraft pulp (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 5.0 | 77.0 | 18.0 | -- | 0.4 | | Red maple (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 23 | 39 | 33 | -- | 0.2 | | Spruce (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 28.6 | 42 | 26.5 | -- | 0.4 | | Spruce (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 28.6 | 43.0 | 27.0 | -- | 0.4 | | Sugar maple (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 8.49 | 14.1 | 9.95 | 0.97 | -- | | Yellow birch (use sparingly - depletes nitrogen) | 12 | 17.3 | 13.2 | 1.42 | -- |
Sources: Van Soest, Peter J. 1994. Nutritional ecology of the ruminant. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. 476 pp. Ladisch, M. R., K. W. Lin, M. Voloch, and G. T. Tsao. 1983. Process considerations in the enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass. Enzyme and Microb. Technol. 5(2):81-160. Lynch, J. M. 1987. Lignocellulolysis in Composts. In: Compost: Production, Quality and Use (M. De Bertoldi, M. P. Ferranti, P. L.'Hermite, and F. Zucconi, ed.). Elsevier Applied Science, New York. 853 pp. Nodvin, S. C. 1983. Effects of distrubance on decomposition processes and on sulfur cycling in the northern hardwood forest. Ph.D. Thesis, Cornell University. Chandler, J. A. , Jewell, W. J., Gossett, J. M., Van Soest, P. J., and Robertson, J. B. 1980. Predicting Methane Fermentation. Biotechnology and Bioengineering Symp. No.10., John Wiley and Sons, Inc. pp. 93-107.
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