Moisture and Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio Calculation Spreadsheet (updated March 2014)

Developed by Tom Richard, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Cornell University
Shamelessly modified by Jake Kruger, The Homestead Laboratory

To use this spreadsheet, select your ingredients in cells A16 to A18 (up to four ingredients).
The spreadsheet then calculates the mixture moisture content and C/N ratio.
Alternatively, the spreadsheet will calculate the proper proportions for moisture and/or C/N goals (see below).

For further explanations of the formulas embedded in this worksheet, see the Science and Engineering section of the
Cornell Composting web site: http://www.cals.cornell.edu/dept/compost/

NOTE - do not copy and paste the existing data out of the table, as the formulas may remain tied to the old data.
Input areas are shaded blue or purple. Formula results are in red cells.

Ingredient % Moisture % Carbon % Nitrogen Mass (lbs.)

Urine 94.5 0.7 0.9 175.68
Leaves, Loose and dry 15.0 48.6 0.9 162.22
Garbage (food waste) 69.0 36.0 2.4 137.70
Water 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.00

Calculated mixture moisture content: 60.0

Calculated mixture C/N ratio: 35.0
Calculated mixture volume: 202.0

The required mass of the third material can be determined given characteristics, the masses of the first two, and goals:
moisture goal: 60.0 (set these goals to match your requirements)
C/N ratio goal: 35.0
volume goal (gal): 202.0

Calculated mass of third ingredient:

To achieve moisture goal:

To achieve C/N goal:

For these same moisture and C/N goals, the required mass of the fourth material can be determined given
the masses of the first three:
Calculated mass of fourth ingredient:

To achieve moisture goal:

To achieve C/N goal:

Notes: negative numbers indicate that the characteristics of the added ingredient are not
on the opposite side of the goal from the initial mixture. A "divide by zero" error will
occur if you try to add water to balance the C/N ratio .
The simultaneous solution for moisture and C/N ratios (goals as above) for a three ingredient mixture,
given the mass of the first material, is:
Calculated mass of second ingredient:

Calculated mass of third ingredient:

Note: A negative number indicates that a simultaneous solution for these goals is not possible
with the mixture of ingredients selected. Try some different ingredients, re-evaluate your goals,
or add a fourth ingredient using the formula below.

You can check these solutions by plugging the calculated masses into the table at the top of this spreadsheet.

Similarly, the simultaneous solution for moisture and C/N ratios (goals as above) for a four ingredient mixture,
given the mass of the first and second materials, is:

Calculated mass of third ingredient:

Calculated mass of fourth ingredient:

Note: A negative number indicates that a simultaneous solution for these goals is not
possible with the mixture of ingredients selected. Try some different ingredients, or
re-evaluate your goals.

Again, you can check these solutions by plugging the calculated masses into the table at the top of this spreadsheet.
eet (updated March 2014)
ineering, Cornell University

four ingredients).

oisture and/or C/N goals (see below).

e the Science and Engineering section of the

p://www.cals.cornell.edu/dept/compost/

mulas may remain tied to the old data.

la results are in red cells.
gal/yd3
Volume (gal) 201.98
20.60
} Note: 163.83 Optimizer Error 0.00
} these masses are solved for in 17.55
} some of the equations below. 0.00

(masses as specified)
(masses as specified)
(gallons)

eristics, the masses of the first two, and goals:

o match your requirements)

Garbage (food waste)

137.70

137.70

material can be determined given

Water

0.00

#DIV/0!

aracteristics of the added ingredient are not

al mixture. A "divide by zero" error will
r a three ingredient mixture,

Leaves, Loose and dry

162.22

Garbage (food waste)

137.70

ultaneous solution for these goals is not possible

ome different ingredients, re-evaluate your goals,

table at the top of this spreadsheet.

above) for a four ingredient mixture,

Garbage (food waste)

137.70

Water
0.00

ultaneous solution for these goals is not

ed. Try some different ingredients, or

to the table at the top of this spreadsheet.

 <---------Use Excel's Solver function to
minimize this cell by changing cells
E16:E19. Check multiple starting points to
avoid local minima.
cube
cylinder

yes
no
Activated sludge
Apple filter cake
Apple pomace
Apple-processing sludge
Bark-hardwoods
Bark-softwoods
Blood wastes (slaughterhouse waste and dried blood)
Broiler litter
Cattle manure
Cocoa shells
Coffee grounds
Corn cobs
Corn silage
Corn stalks
Corrugated cardboard
Crab and lobster wastes
Cranberry filter cake with rice hulls
Cranberry plant (stems, leaves)
Dairy free stall manure
Dairy tie stall manure
Digested sludge
Fish wastes (gurry, racks, and so on)
Fish-breading crumbs
Fish-processing sludge
Fruit wastes
Garbage (food waste)
Grass clippings, Compacted
Grass clippings, Loose
Hardwood (chips, shavings, and so on)
Hay-general
Hay-legume
Hay-non-legume
Horse-general manure
Horse-race track manure
Laying hens manure
Leaves, Compacted and moist
Leaves, Loose and dry
Lumbermill waste
Mussel wastes
Newsprint
Olive husks
Paper from domestic refuse
Paper mill sludge
Paper pulp
Paunch manure
Potato-processing sludge
Poultry carcasses
Rice hulls
Sawdust
Seaweed
Sheep manure
Shrimp wastes
Shrub trimmings
Softwood (chips, shavings, and so on)
Straw-general
Straw-oat
Straw-wheat
Swine manure
Telephone books
Tomato-processing waste
Tree trimmings
Turkey litter
Urine
Water
 %N C:N ratio Moisture
Type of (dry (weight content %
(wet
Material value weight) to weight)
weight)
Crop residues and fruit/vegetable-processing wastes
Apple filter cake Typical 1.2 13 60
Apple pomace Typical 1.1 48 88
Apple-processing sludge Typical 2.8 7 59
Cocoa shells Typical 2.3 22 8
Coffee grounds Typical 2.28 20 75
Corn cobs Range Range 0.4-0.8 56-123 9-18
Corn cobs Average 0.6 98 15
Corn stalks Typical 0.7 66.5 12
Cottonseed meal Typical 7.7 7-
Cranberry filter cake Typical 2.8 31 50
Cranberry filter cake with rice hulls Typical 1.2 42 71
Cranberry plant (stems, leaves) Typical 0.9 61 61
Cull potatoes Typical - 18 78
Fruit wastes Range Range 0.9-2.6 20-49 62-88
Fruit wastes Average 1.4 40 80
Olive husks Typical 1.35 32.5 9.00
Potato-processing sludge Typical - 28 75
Potato tops Typical 1.5 25 -
Rice hulls Range Range 0-0.4 113-1120 7-12
Rice hulls Average 0.3 121 14
Soybean meal Typical 7.4 5.00 -
Tomato-processing waste Typical 4.5 11 62
Vegetable produce Typical 2.7 19 87
Vegetable wastes Typical 3.25 12.00 -

Fish and meat processing

Blood wastes (slaughterhouse waste and dried blood) Typical 13.5 3.25 44.00

Crab and lobster wastes range Range 4.6-8.2 4.0-5.4 35-61

Crab and lobster wastes Average 6.1 4.9 47
Fish-breading crumbs Typical 2 28 10
Fish-processing sludge Typical 6.8 5.2 94
Fish wastes (gurry, racks, and so on) range Range 6.5-14.2 2.6-5.0 50-81
Fish wastes (gurry, racks, and so on) Average 10.6 3.6 76
Mixed slaughterhouse waste Typical 8.50 3.00 -
Mussel wastes Typical 3.6 2.2 63
Poultry carcasses Typical 2.4 5 65
Paunch manure Typical 1.8 25 82.5
Shrimp wastes Typical 9.5 3.4 78

Manures
Broiler litter range Range 1.6-3.9 12-15 a 22-46
Broiler litter Average 2.7 14 37
Cattle range Range 1.5-4.2 11-30 67-87
Cattle manure Average 2.4 19 81
Dairy tie stall manure Typical 2.7 18 79
Dairy free stall manure Typical 3.7 13 83

Horse-general range Range 1.4-2.3 22-50 59-79

Horse-general manure Average 1.6 30 72

Horse-race track range Range 0.8-1.7 29-56 52-67

Horse-race track manure Average 1.2 41 63

Laying hens range Range 4-10 3-10 62-75

Laying hens manure Average 8 6 69

Sheep range Range 1.3-3.9 13-20 60-75

Sheep manure Average 2.7 16 69

Swine range Range 1.9-4.3 9-19 65-91

Swine manure Average 3.1 14 80

Turkey litter Average 2.6 16 26

Municipal wastes
Garbage (food waste) Typical 2.4 15 69

Night soil Typical 6 8.00 -

Paper from domestic refuse Typical 0.225 152.5 19

Pharmaceutical wastes Typical 2.6 19 -

Refuse (mixed food, paper, Typical 0.95 57 -

and so on)

Sewage sludge Range 2-6.9 5-16 72-84

Activated sludge Typical 5.6 6 78
Digested sludge Typical 1.9 16 78

Straw, hay, silage

Corn silage Typical 1.3 40.5 66.5

Hay-general range Range 0.7-3.6 15-32 8-10

Hay-general Average 2.1 23.5 9

Hay-legume range Range 1.8-3.6 15-19 -

Hay-legume Average 2.5 16 0

Hay-non-legume range Range 0.7-2.5 - -

Hay-non-legume Average 1.3 32 0

Straw-general range Range 0.3-1.1 48-150 4-27

Straw-general Average 0.7 80 12

Straw-oat range Range 0.6-1.1 48-98 -

Straw-oat Average 0.9 60 0

Straw-wheat range Range 0.3-0.5 100-150 -

Straw-wheat Average 0.4 127 0

Wood and paper

0.10-
Bark-hardwoods range Range 116-436 -
0.41
Bark-hardwoods Average 0.241 223 0
0.04-
Bark-softwoods range Range 131-1,285 -
0.39
Bark-softwoods Average 0.14 496 0
Corrugated cardboard Typical 0.1 563 8
Lumbermill waste Typical 0.13 170 0
Newsprint Typical 0.1 625 5.50
Paper fiber sludge Typical - 250 66
Paper mill sludge Typical 0.56 54 81
Paper pulp Typical 0.59 90 82
Sawdust range Range 0.06-0.8 200-750 19-65
Sawdust Average 0.24 442 39
Telephone books Typical 0.7 772 6
Wood chips Typical - - -
0.06-
Wood-hardwoods Range 451-819 -
0.11
Hardwood (chips, shavings, and so on) Average 0.09 560 0

0.04-
Wood-softwoods Range 212-1,313 -
0.23
Softwood (chips, shavings, and so on) Average 0.09 641 0

Yard wastes and other vegetation

Grass clippings range Range 2.0-6.0 9-25 -
Grass clippings Average 3.4 17 82
Grass clippings, Loose Typical 3.4 17 82
Grass clippings, Compacted Typical 3.4 17 82
Leaves range Range 0.5-1.3 40-80 -
Leaves Average 0.9 54 38
Leaves, Loose and dry Typical 0.9 54 15
Leaves, Compacted and moist Typical 0.9 54 38
Seaweed range Range 1.2-3.0 5-27 -
Seaweed Average 1.9 17 53
Shrub trimmings Typical 1 53 15
Tree trimmings Typical 3.1 16 70
Water hyacinth-fresh Typical - 25 93
Water Typical 0 0 100
Urine Typical 0.935 0.8 94.5
 Bulk
Most data from http://compost.css.cornell.edu/OnFarmHandbook/apa.taba1.html
density
(pounds
per
cubic yard)

1,197
1,559
1,411
798
- %N: http://www.sunset.com/garden/earth-friendly/starbucks-coffee-compost-test-00400000016986/; %Moistu
-
557
32
-
1,021
1,298
-
1,540
-
-
-
1,570
-
202
202
-
-
1,585
-

-
240
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,460
-

756-1,026
864
1,323-1,674
1,458
-
-

1,215-1,620
1,379

-
-

1,377-1,620
1,479

-
-

-
-

783

1585 *Bulk Density Assumed From Above

1,075-1,750
-
-

-
-

-
-

-
-

58-378
227

-
227

-
227

-
-
-
-
259
-
218.5
1140
-
1403
350-450
410
250
532.5
-
532.5

-
532.5

-
-
350
650
-
-
200 Moisture: http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/pdf_pubs/LEAFDISP.PDF
450
-
-
429
 1,296
405
1682.0
1722.3 http://www.jenkinspublishing.com/messages/messages/4/14.html?1136373979
apa.taba1.html

00400000016986/; %Moisture: http://www.google.com/patents/US3823487