Choose the pile size you want, enter every material you actually have, and see the balance, source-range sensitivity, shortfall, substitute choices, and additional amounts needed—then follow heat, probe coverage, turns, curing, and lessons in one numbered batch record.
Create or open a saved batch to begin its management log.
Record the pile temperature and probe position.
Select and save a batch to see method-specific guidance.
No observations recorded. A backyard log is not certification.
| Date | Temperature | Probe | Moisture | Odor | Action | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No observations recorded. | |||||||
Open, update, print, back up, restore, or remove a record. Clearing browser data or changing devices can remove records that were not downloaded.
The release compares international regulations, official guidance, landmark studies, recent trials, and prominent calculators. Regulations are shown as examples—not silently converted into a universal backyard rule.
Microbial activity produces heat, while the pile surface loses it. A roughly 3–5 ft pile commonly retains heat more efficiently than a small heap while remaining manageable and aerated. Smaller piles can still compost, but they may not sustain hot-pile temperatures.
Illinois Extension sourceMicrobes create heat while decomposing accessible ingredients. C:N is only one part of the process: moisture, oxygen-filled pore space, particle size, thorough contact between materials, pile mass, and weather also control whether production exceeds heat loss. Diagnose the whole system before adding more nitrogen.
Cornell moisture and mix sourceA center reading shows what happened at the probe, not throughout the entire pile. High-temperature sanitation claims require time, coverage, turning, and documentation. A backyard record should not be represented as regulatory certification.
Penn State sourceMany sanitation protocols begin at 55°C / 131°F, yet peer-reviewed studies found microbial activity or diversity declined substantially above about 55–60°C / 131–140°F. Productive decomposition and sanitation are related goals, not the same target.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology studyUS windrow rules commonly use 55°C / 131°F for 15 days with five turns. EU fertilising-product rules allow several time–temperature combinations and require all material to be moved or forced-ventilated. Neither can be proven from one probe reading.
EU regulation sourceTreated grass, hay, straw, and manure can carry aminopyralid, clopyralid, or picloram into compost and damage broadleaf plants. Know the source and use a pea or bean bioassay when uncertain.
US EPA sourceFungi help decompose resistant plant compounds and participate in aggregation and nutrient cycling. Woody habitat and curing can support fungal activity, but “fungal dominant” cannot be guaranteed from a recipe. Actual biomass requires suitable measurement.
Recent microbiome evidenceWhen turning no longer restores heat, decomposition continues at lower temperature. Curing allows unstable compounds to be transformed and reduces the risk of applying immature compost around roots.
Cornell compost stagesCompost can release nutrients gradually for years, but release varies widely and it is not automatically a complete fertilizer. Soil testing, compost analysis, crop demand, climate, and application rate still matter.
Colorado State source