13. Why do we look at carbon and nitrogen ratios for composting? What other elem

Question

13. Why do we look at carbon and nitrogen ratios for composting? What other elements might be important and again, why? 14. Well-managed compost piles are aerated to prevent bad smells, which of your metabolic processes may lead to one such bad smell? 15. While working on a soil sample with your partner, you notice he’s being very careless with it. You point this out to him fearing contamination and his response is “It came from a tree pit, it’s got a bit of everything in it already!” You open your mouth and…

Explanation / Answer

13. All the orgainc matters is made up of subctantial amounts of carbon combined with the lesser amounts of nitrogen. The balance of these elements in an organism is called carbon - nitrogen ratio. For best performance, the compost pile, or more to the point the composting microorganisms, recquire the correct proprotion of carbon for energy and nitrogen for protein production. Many problems with the compost piles are solved by adjusting C/N ration. Other than C/N ratio, Oxygen, Nutrient balance and pH are important in compost pile. Oxygen is used for oxidization of carbon for energy and carbondioxide is released. Without sufficiant of oxygen the process becomes Anaerobic and produces undesirable odors. Adequate phosphorous, potassium and trace materials (calcium, iron,copper) are essntial to microbial metabolism, Normally, these nutrients are not limiting because they are present in ample concentration in the compost source materials. A pH between 5.5 and 8.5 is optimal for compost microorganisms. As bacteria and fungi digest organic matter, they release organic acids.

14. As said in previous answer oxygen is recquired for microorganisms to oxidize the carbon to carbondioxide whic will be release to atmosphere. This is aerobic pathway whic will not have odors, which is natural by maintaining the C/N ratio and other elements of it. If there is a smell or odor in the compost then there must be wrong in the composition of compost so it leade to odor. They may lack of oxygen, more or less pH, too many nitrogen rich materials, more moisture, wrong carbon sources such as meat, bone, grease etc, which leads to different forms of odors to the compost.

15. Even though it is from tree pit, there are organisms in the environment of the lab or surroundings that may contaminate the actual composition of organisms of the soil sample.

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