31-12-2002, 07:15 PM
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Sawdust
(Nick Maclaren) wrote in message ...
In article ,
Warwick Michael Dumas wrote:
This is an interesting thought but I don't get it. Do we agree "high
in nitrogen" ought to mean having an amount which is going to be
useful for growing?? In that case, how can grass, young plants etc not
be high in nitrogen? I mean, how can you need it to make some but not
get it if you break some?
No. In this context, "high nitrogen" is where a very large amount
(or even the majority) of the energy is tied up in the form of
protein rather than carbohydrates. It needs a different set of
bacteria to decompose it, and does tend to produce an evil stench
while decomposing - e.g. rotting meat stinks, even if exposed to
plenty of air, but plant material stinks only if it does not get
anough air.
Growing plants (including grass) are low enough in protein that only
specialised mammals can get all of their protein requirements from
them. Even non-growing adult humans slowly succumb to protein
deficiency on a diet of unlimited green material, and children do
so rapidly. Depending on the circumstances, even cows, rabbits and
so on may need extra protein if fed entirely on grass.
Ah, now that makes sense, BUT, I don't care, because I'm not going to
try feeding any compost to children. 
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