[USCC] Adding urea to land clearing vegetation

[Donald Lewis]

Hi, all,
 
I have two thoughts regarding the use of Urea to facilitate the composting of woody material. First, I think we can all agree that if there is an immediate and local use for the chipped woody material, then this is far preferable to adding a relatively energy inefficient chemical to facilitate the composting process. Second, there are neither pH nor odor problems associated with the use of urea as a source of nitrogen for enhancing the composting process. Urea is arguably not synthetic in the same sense as, say, nylon, in that it was the first naturally occurring organic chemical synthesized. As such, there are natural mechanisms for its use and recycling in the environment. The problems I have noted are those associated with a large pile of wood chips undergoing anaerobic decomposition because of a lack of sufficient nitrogen for the nourishment of thermophillic bacteria. Better urea than an inexcusable odor problem. 
 
Don Lewis
Compost Coordinator
State Chemist Section
MD Dept. of Agriculture
50 Harry S. truman parkway
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-841-2721
lewisdv at mda.state.md.us 

>>> "Tamara Thomas" <tnthomas at terre-source.com> 11/20/2008 1:50 PM >>>
Hi Craig,
At the risk of being mechanistic- urea is approximately 46% N - so
assuming a C:N of 400 and 0.1% N content of your woody debris about 58# urea
per ton should get you close to  C:N of 30.  
But on a more theoretical basis, isn't using chemical N defeating
some of the environmental benefits of composting?  Woody material has lately
(until the drop in oil price again) been in great demand as hogged fuel, as
well as to facilitate composting of higher nitrogen feedstocks - biosolids,
green grass, etc.  It seems a shame to force the degradation of this
material with chemicals when it has so many other beneficial uses.  
I also wonder whether the addition of urea would lower the pH of the
compost excessively?  Have you tried this?  What about odor related to
volatilization of ammonia?

Tamara Thomas, P.E.
Terre-SourceLLC
Helping Compost Happen!
360-336-3536 Office
360-336-3530 FAX
425-844-6068 Field

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Coker [mailto:cscoker at verizon.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 2:44 PM
To: USCC Listserv
Subject: [USCC] Adding urea to land clearing vegetation

Colleagues:



Does anyone have any good formulas for the amount of urea to add to woody
vegetative debris to adjust C:N ratio for composting? 



One OSU reference I found referring to BYC said 1 lb per CY of compost mix;
one yard waste facility I work with uses 50 lbs every 100' or so of 6' x 15'
windrow.  



Are there any other proven approaches you'd like to share?



Thanks,

Craig



Craig Coker

Coker Composting & Consulting

1213 Spradlin Rd.

Vinton, VA 24179

Tel.: (540) 890-1086

Fax: (540) 890-1087

Cell: (540) 874-5168

Email: cscoker at verizon.net 

Web: www.cokercompost.com 



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