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  • From: M McGuire <Michael.McGuire AT uvi.edu>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: dumb compost answer
  • Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 16:27:18 -0700


Good compost has a C/N ration of between 15:1 to 20:1. Any higher than 20:1 and the material will likely cause a nitrogen deficiency in your crops. To answer your question accurately you would need to know the dry weight of the hay pile and % N in the pellets. It would be easier, though far less accurate, to just eyeball it. I would suggest a thick layer of hay and then a thin, but not miserly, layer of alfalfa pellets, stacked up several layers thick. The more pellets, the quicker you will get compost and the richer it will be, but you will also spend more. With adequate moisture and sunlight it should not take longer than three months to produce compost in comfortable outdoor weather; if it does, add more pellets next time around. After a few times round the circus and you will likely get a feel for what works for you. Compost will form quickly in the summer and slowly in the winter.





  • Re: dumb compost answer, M McGuire, 08/14/2002

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