why does the carbon to nitrogen ratio be important in preparing compost for plant growth? if it is an important parameter to be analysed, what is the standard ratio that should be maintained?
@ Madhumidha, carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio is significant in composting because microorganisms need a good balance of carbon and nitrogen in order to remain active. High C/N ratios can lead to prolonged composting duration and low C/N ratios enhance nitrogen loss that's why the ratio is very important. The standard ratio should be maintain between 25:1 to 35:1.
It should be around 28-30:1. In this C:N ratio microorganisms become active in maximum potential. So this ratio should be stabilize.
Madhumidha Marudhamuthu for compost, the residue with high C/N ratio implies that during microorganism metabolism more amount of carbon is available with less nitrogen which leads to nitrogen immobilization and prolonged composting. in same way less C/N ratio results in less carbon and high nitrogen which results in nitrogen released into soil which may lost through leaching before application. hence, C/N is most important
C:N ratio is one of the important indicator of compost maturity. Finished compost should have a C:N ratio less than 20:1. Wider ratio results in microbial immobilization of N and narrow C:N ratio results in nitrogen loss. As microorganisms have a C:N ratio of 10:1, they require this much carbon and nitrogen for their cell synthesis.
C:N ratio indicates the ratio between the total Carbon and total nitrogen content of the material. This is important because the microorganisms feed on the materials and convert them into compost. During the composting process, the suitable C:N ratio for the microbial action is 30 to 35. Because the microbes feed on the materials and utilize the Carbon and nitrogen for their multiplication. After composting, the C:N ratio will be reduced to less than 20. which indicates the maturity of the compost.
A C:N ratio in the range of 25:1 and 30:1 is optimum for composting. You need a mix of organic material with different N and C contents to achieve this. However, it is important to consider the bioavailability of the C in your C source as not all C is necessarily labile in the timeframe of composting.
1. Compost is product of composting process.
2. Composting process is a decomposition of biomass by microorganisms.
3. In order to decompose biomass effeciently, microorganisms need 25~30 C for every 1 N.
4. If 'compost' has C/N ratio >30:1 is applied to the soil, microorganisms will rob Nitrogen from the soil (because, there is pleanty of food-Carbon available) and used to complete biomass decompostion (competion between roots and microorganisms will go on).
I think that these answers are excellent and satisfy since the C/N ratio must be 30-35 at the beginning of composting process and around 20 in the end product
C/N Ratio need for making compos as organic fertilizer to manage competion absorpsi oksigen between root and microba
You can get a lot abot the importance of this C:N ratio. I advise you read the article through this link: http://www.carryoncomposting.com/
Thank you!
It is imperative to understand the concept of C: N ratio of the compost...Wider C: N ratio means more organic carbon with less nitrogen while narrower C: N ratio means more nitrogen as compared to the organic carbon.... Organic compost with wider C: N ratio when applied in the soil will utilise nitrogen from the soil if soil is sufficient in nitrogen(thereby nitrogen deficiency in the soil because of application of compost of wider C:N) or there will be slower decomposition as microbial mass require protein from the nitrogen present in compost for multiplication, proliferation, growth and development , but due to wider ratio, less nitrogen so slower decay...on the other hand, narrower ratio compost will decompose rapidly as microorganism's will get nitrogen easily for survival...20-30:1 ratio of carbon to nitrogen should be there while preparing compost..if C: N ratio is >30:1, there will be immobilisation and
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