Compost Calculations
Mature compost has approximately:
pH 7
Total N 1%
ammonia content <100mg/kg
C:N ratio 15-20:1
soluble salt <3.5 mmhos/cm (<2mmhos/cm in greenhouses)
moisture content 40-50%
Maturity test: Place 2 liters of compost in a sealed container with a thermometer for 2-3days. Mature compost
should be at 86°F and immature compost can reach 140°F or more.
Useful Conversions:
Parts per million times 2 = pounds per acre
1 ton = 2,000 lbs
Cubic yards of compost required to cover a specific area: _____ ft2 x ______ inches of compost x 0.0031 = ______ yd 3
Example: 43,560 ft2 x 1 inch of compost x 0.0031 = 135 yd3 per acre
Calculating nutrient application rates from compost
A) Volume method
1) Calculate cubic yards of compost applied per specific area (see above)
2) Determine lbs nutrients applied per specific area:
a. Compost application rate (yd3/area) x nutrient content (lbs/cubic yard)
= lbs of nutrient/specific area
b. Example: 135 yd/acre x 6.56 lbs N/cub yd (from test) = 885.6 lbs Total N per acre
B) Weight method
1) Convert compost application rate from cubic yards to pounds:
a. Compost application rate (yd3/area) x compost bulk density (lbs/cubic yard)
= lbs of compost/specific area
b. Example: 135 yd/acre x 1025 lbs/cub yd (from test) = 138,375 lbs moist compost / acre
2) Determine compost application rate (per area) on a dry weight basis:
a. Application rate (lbs/specific area) x dry solids content of compost (%)
= lbs of dry compost applied
b. Example: 138,375 lbs compost/acre x 0.57 = 78,873 lbs of dry compost applied
3) Determine nutrient application rate:
a. Lbs of dry compost applied x percent nutrient on dry weight basis
= lbs (total) of specific nutrient applied
b. Example: 78,873 lbs dry compost x 0.012 Total N (from test) = 883.4 lbs Total N per acre
Calculating Soluble Nitrate in compost
1) Convert moist weight mg/kg to %: 146 mg NO3/kg (from test) x 0.0001 = 0.0146 %
2) Calculate lbs NO3 /cubic yd. of compost: 0.0146% NO3 x bulk density 1025 lbs/cubic yd (from test) /100 =
0.15 lbs NO3/cubic yd of compost.
3) Calculate soluble nitrate available to your crop at the time of application: 0.15lbs NO3/cubic yd. x 135 yd3 per
acre = 20.25 lbs NO3/acre
Calculating Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) from compost
In most New England soils, a common mineralization rate is 10-15% N made available to the crop in the first year
following application. Each subsequent year, half the amount mineralized in the year prior will be available. So, for
example:
First season: 10% (885.6 lbs Total N per acre x 0.1) = 88.56 lbs PAN
Second season: 5% (885.6 lbs Total N per acre x 0.05) = 44.28 lbs PAN
Third season: 2.5% (885.6 lbs Total N per acre x 0.025) =22.14 lbs PAN
Calculating Plant Available Phosphorus from compost
In the first season following application, 15-20% P is made available; the rest precipitates as sparingly soluble iron,
aluminum and calcium phosphates. Once these binding sites are full, phosphorus will leach or run off.
Example: 135 yd/acre x 0.86 lbs P/cub yd (from test) =116.1 lbs P/acre
116.1 lbs P/acre x 0.15 = 17.4 lbs P available
Maximum Compost or Organic Amendment Application and total P2O5 per Soil Test Category
and P2O5Concentration1
Soil Test Phosphorus Category
Compost/organic Very Low/Low Optimum
Optimum Above Optimum
amendment P2O5content
Compost Compost
% P2O5 (dry wt.) P2O5 (lbs/acre) (tons/acre) P2O5 (lbs/acre) (tons/acre)
2
Low (0.1 to 0.5%) 0.25% 330 120 82 30 No application
Medium (0.5 to 1.5%) 1% 330 30 55 5 No application
High (1.5% to 3.0%) 2% 330 15 No application No application
1 Assumes moisture content of the compost or organic amendment of 45%.
2Percentage used to calculate amounts of P2O5 applied for various rates of compost applications.
From: New England Vegetable Management Guide, 2014-2015 ed. Pg 17.
Prepared September, 2015 by Katie Campbell-Nelson
Resource: Field Guide to Using Compost, 2001: www.uscompostingcouncil.org
