Using Fall Leaves in the Compost Pile - Nutrients

**sanderson** Sat Jul 06, 2019 3:18 pm

This link was embedded in another thread, "Community Garden - Azure Standard in Dufur, Oregon." Mel recommended a variety of composts from different sources, and leaves may be an important source for home made compost. I think it is worth having its own thread. Thank you Dan in CT. thanks

https://sustainable-farming.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Municipal_Leaves_Plant_Nutrients_Available_FS824_1998.pdf

countrynaturals Sat Jul 06, 2019 4:40 pm

More than half the volume of my compost is oak leaves. Here's what one expert says about it:

When oak leaves are fresh, they possess a pH level of around 4.5 to 4.7, making them acidic. However, as they break down, they get much closer to neutral. The bottom line is that multiple studies have shown that oak leaves (even in large quantities) have no effect on the acidity of soil.
What oak leaves do have is nutritional value that will be transferred to your soil as the leaves decay. What kind of nutritional value? Well, for example, research has found that leaves can contain as much nitrogen as cow manure that has been composted for use as an organic fertilizer…and it smells a lot better, too!


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Using Fall Leaves in the Compost Pile - Nutrients

Using Fall Leaves in the Compost Pile - Nutrients

Re: Using Fall Leaves in the Compost Pile - Nutrients