Nutrient Concentrations in Compost
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 ranges of nutrients and other parameters for several compost types. Ranges were developed from compost samples submitted to and analyzed by NCDA&CS Agronomic Services.
All concentrations are reported on a DRY weight basis. Note that the NCDA&CS Waste Report provides nitrogen concentrations for manure and mortality compost on a WET 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 | Al mg/kg | Na mg/kg | pH | EC mS/cm | C:N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 - 14,800 | 200 - 470 | 80 - 160 | 20 - 40 | 10 - 50 | 5600 - 17,300 | 200 - 1700 | 6.3 - 7.4 | 1.0 - 4.0 | 12 - 19 |
| 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 | 700 - 5000 | 1700 - 4200 | 7.6 - 9.0 | 2.0 - 6.0 | 15 - 26 |
| 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 | 700 - 7400 | 500 - 1500 | 6.8 - 8.0 | 1.0 - 4.0 | 15 - 35 |
| 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 | 1300 - 5000 | 2800 - 8600 | 6.2 - 7.0 | 9.0 - 20.0 | 8 - 12 |
| 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 | 1900 - 4300 | 700 - 3200 | 5.9 - 6.5 | 3.0 - 7.0 | 8 - 16 |
| Mortality, Poultry | 457 | 2.6 - 4.6 | 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 | 1300 - 4300 | 3500 - 8900 | 6.2 - 7.3 | 7.0 - 18.0 | 8 - 12 |
| Mortality, Swine | 718 | 2.6 - 3.7 | 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 | 100 - 500 | 2600 - 4600 | 5.2 - 5.8 | 4.0 - 6.0 | 13 - 19 |
| 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 | 300 - 4900 | 200 - 1000 | 5.5 - 6.6 | 2.0 - 4.0 | 13 - 24 |
| 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 - 11,700 | 170 - 450 | 70 - 200 | 20 - 70 | 10 - 30 | 4500 - 13,400 | 300 - 1600 | 6.3 - 7.3 | 1.0 - 6.0 | 12 - 21 |
| 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 - 10,500 | 160 - 470 | 90 - 230 | 20 - 50 | 10 - 30 | 3100 - 12,600 | 400 - 1600 | 6.0 - 7.0 | 2.0 - 5.0 | 13 - 21 |
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