Composting of straw in small units

Summary Straw could be composted satisfactorily in 4 to 5 months in small concrete cells holding 30 lb. material (dry basis), providing the straw was thoroughly moistened and sufficient easily available nitrogeneous material added to give an initial carbon/nitrogen ratio of 40. During the composting process about half the dry matter was lost. Results were similar to those obtained using large cells holding 1500 lb. straw. Wire units holding 100 lb. straw were unsatisfactory. Changes in dry matter, carbon/nitrogen ratio, temperature, soluble inorganic nitrogen, and pH of composts prepared with various accelerators are reported.