Changes in the Distribution of Nitrogen during the Composting of Straw

DURING the decomposition of straw on composting with inorganic nitrogen, there is an increase of nitrogen in a water-insoluble form1,2. Earlier workers2 have estimated the amount of protein synthesized using the conventional factor ‘protein’ = 6.25 × N. This method of calculation, although useful in preliminary investigations, is open to criticism when non-protein nitrogen is present. Several other methods have been used for following changes on composting or storing manure. Russell and Richards3 showed that little change occurs in the amide nitrogen of farmyard manure on storage. Ashworth4 used the scheme of ‘proximate’ analysis of Waksman and Stevens5 to follow changes in the nitrogen compounds in straw composted with dried blood as a source of nitrogen. He did not determine changes in amide or amino nitrogen