Re: Compost Pile-pH, etc.

Chris & Dan:
	1st Chris - Your 7.9 > 8.3 pH readings for compost are very interesting.
Occationally I send compost down to Ohio State University's Agricultural
Extension Office for a full blown soil test.  (I'm a master gardener so
it's convenient.) It's one of those - how good is my composts - kinda
things. 
	My highest compost pH reading was some thing like 7.3 and lowest 6.8.
	I fully agree that nutrients locked up in the soil are released most
rapidly when the soil is slightly to the acid side of neutral.  However the
act of composting should always work itself toward neutral.	As for your 8.3
pH reading, I've not a clue how that happens. However, climates,
environments, etc, between CA and OH are radically different and the
readings I get from my compost at OSU could be completly different than the
readings you get for your compost at UC_ _ .
	Also don't listen to the "Old Wives Tales." Oak leaves do not make compost
acidic and oak leaves are not as acidic as many others, I think beech is
twice as acid as oak, but, it doesn't make any differenence in the end.. 
All leaves are acidic to start with, when they break down they all go
toward neutral.
	Leaf mold, or compost made entirely from leaves, if you allow leaves to
sit the 2 or 3 years, un-turned, no N materials, etc. until they completly
rot and become compost will be slightly more acidic than hot or fast
compost.
	DAN - The reason one turns a pile is to put more air into the center of
the pile.  You can try placing perferated drain pipe under the pile, up the
center etc. to bring in more air.  This means less turning.  If you've got
access to a tractor with a front end loader - boy do I wish.  
	You have wonderful materials to make great compost.  The C:N thing is at
best a guess - in any body's book.  If you have to much N it will evaporate
and you'll know this by the smell of amonia. You don't want to lose N, so
if this happens 1. add more C, or, 2. turn it again, or, 3. like some
really anal retentive composters, cover thier pile with a layer of dirt,
clay is better.  It does not sound like you've too much C. Go for it!
During the off season most of us will be growing winter pumpkins,
espeically around Christmas and mostly around our waist.  You on the other
hand will be slim and trim, strong as an ox and at least twice as smart.
yea right - compost happens
Michael
----------
> From: Chris Andersen <chrisa@value.net>
> To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
> Subject: Re: Compost Pile-pH
> Date: Monday, December 01, 1997 10:40 PM
> 
> Michael,
> 
> What is the pH of finished compost? Everything I have tested and
commercial
> compost analysis I have reviewed places finished compost at 7.9 to 8.3
pH.
> At this pH level many of your nutrients are bound, if you had a soil pH
of
> 6.0 and added 50% compost you would land at or around 7.0, preferably 6.8
to
> 6.9 pH at which level most all nutrients are available?
> 
> Just Prodding!
> Chris Andersen

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