Compost Nutrient Value

The nutrient concentrations of composted materials are highly variable depending on the type of feedstocks used and the production process. The table below lists typical nutrient ranges for several compost types. Ranges were developed from compost samples submitted to and analyzed by NCDA&CS Agronomic Services. Macronutrients are listed in percent (%) and micronutrients in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) on a dry-weight basis.

Compost Type	#	N %	P %	K %	Ca %	Mg %	S %	Fe mg/kg	Mn mg/kg	Zn mg/kg	Cu mg/kg	B mg/kg
Biosolids	396	1.7 - 2.4	0.4 - 0.7	0.4 - 0.7	1.7 - 6.6	0.3 - 0.4	0.3 - 1.7	6000-10000	220-750	200-300	80-130	20-60
Mortality, Poultry	457	2.2 - 4.3	1.1 - 1.7	1.4 - 4.0	1.6 - 2.7	0.4 - 0.8	0.4 - 1.0	1100 - 3900	340 - 630	300 - 510	180 - 430	30 - 70
Mortality, Swine	718	2.6 - 3.6	0.7 - 1.6	0.5 - 0.7	1.2 - 2.9	0.1 - 0.2	0.3 - 0.4	1000 - 3800	50 - 110	90 - 170	10 - 25	3 - 15
Manure, Beef	104	0.8 - 2.0	0.1 - 0.5	0.3 - 1.0	0.6 - 1.4	0.2 - 0.4	0.1 - 0.3	3300 - 14800	200 - 470	80 - 160	20 - 40	10 - 50
Manure, Dairy	257	1.3 - 2.3	0.2 - 0.6	0.7 - 1.7	0.9 - 1.7	0.3 - 0.7	0.2 - 0.3	1100 - 5500	150 - 280	90 - 250	20 - 50	10 - 20
Manure, Horse	243	0.8 - 1.6	0.2 - 0.5	0.6 - 1.2	0.6 - 1.2	0.2 - 0.5	0.1 - 0.2	900 - 6600	170 - 320	60 - 150	20 - 40	10 - 20
Manure, Poultry	466	2.1 - 3.9	1.0 - 1.8	1.4 - 3.4	2.0 - 4.1	0.5 - 0.8	0.4 - 1.0	1000 - 4200	390 - 740	330 - 670	130 - 490	30 - 60
Manure, Swine	640	2.0 - 3.6	1.2 - 4.3	0.3 - 0.7	2.3 - 6.7	0.4 - 1.6	0.3 - 0.9	2500 - 8700	230 - 800	410 - 3100	80 - 770	15 - 40
Mushroom	8	1.4 - 2.2	0.2 - 0.5	0.6 - 1.2	1.4 - 6.2	0.3 - 0.8	0.3 - 1.0	600 - 4300	100 - 250	60 - 140	15 - 55	20 - 30
Plant Material	2120	0.9 - 2.1	0.1 - 0.5	0.3 - 0.6	1.5 - 0.4	0.2 - 0.4	0.1 - 0.4	3400 - 11700	170 - 450	70 - 200	20 - 70	10 - 30
Vermicompost	227	1.2 - 2.1	0.2 - 0.4	0.4 - 0.9	1.7 - 3.6	0.3 - 0.6	0.2 - 0.3	2600 - 10500	160 - 470	90 - 230	20 - 50	10 - 30

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