[USCC] typical compost density

[Michael Nevin]

Hi - based on backyard and mid-scale aerobic composting, my finished compost product will have a density in the range of 30 lbs per cubic foot or roughly 1 lb per litre which would put it at about half the density of water which runs about 62.5 lbs per cu -ft. These figures are very rough and my density probably varies with moisture content which I have never measured.
  Cheers, Mike in Toronto

"Hoffman, Karen - Bozeman, MT" <Karen.Hoffman at mt.usda.gov> wrote:
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I am planning a bin system for composting cattle manure with a chopped
straw amendment. We planning a mix that will achieve a C:N ratio of 35
and moisture content of 60%. I am wondering if anyone has data
regarding what the density of this mix of material will be the first
bin? The bins are 12 ft wide by 8 ft high. 

The bin system we plan to use involves aerating with forced air and
moving the material from one bin to the next every 2 weeks. The
material will be held in the bin system a total of 12 weeks (est. 1
month active composting and 2 months curing). What would I expect the
density to be at the end of this 12 week process?


_________________________________________
Karen Hoffman, Civil Engineer
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Federal Building, Room 443
10 E. Babcock Street
Bozeman, MT 59715
karen.hoffman at mt.usda.gov
Phone: (406) 587-6824
Fax: (406) 587-6761

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