MAINEGRO QUALITY DATA

TYPICAL MAINEGRO QUALITY DATA

(Biosolids Compost Analysis Data)

Nutrient Value:	MaineGro Compost	Typical Cow Manure	Typical Chicken Manure
Nitrogen (% as N)	1.61 (0.9-2.2)	1.5 to 2.5	4.0 to 7.5
Phosphorus (% as P₂O₅)	1.55 (0.8-2.5)	0.7 to 1.5	7.0 to 13
Potassium (%as K₂O)	0.62 (0.41-1.1)	1.3 to 2.0	2.8 to 5.5

All values on a dry wt basis, assumes manures at 30% solids.

MaineGro Compost can be compared to other agricultural products for macro nutrients as a 1.6-1.6-0.6 N-P-K product. Because it is an organic product, MaineGro also contains significant quantities of beneficial micro nutrients such as Boron, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Sulfur and Zinc that chemical fertilizers may not. Also, the nitrogen release rate of MaineGro is dependent primarily upon the needs of the plants being grown, and the humus in the compost builds the CEC value of the soil thus “nutrient wash off” or leaching of nutrients is less of a concern than with commercial chemical fertilizers.

Liming Value:

pH range 7.5 to 8.6

Total Calcium…........13,200 mg/kg equals 3.3% as CaCO₃

Total Magnesium....…1,767 mg/kg equals 0.73% as CaCO₃

Salt Concentration:

Sodium...............952 mg/kg Chloride.......920 mg/kg

Specific Conductance: 2.7 mmhos average (3.6 maximum of 9 samples) See discussion of compost uses on next page for discussion of salt content and compost suitability.

Metals Concentrations (EPA and DEP regulated metals):

Metal	Regulatory Limit EPA/DEP	MaineGro Compost	LAWPCA Biosolids	Average Soil	Cow Manure	Poultry Manure
Arsenic	41/10	4.5	2.8	7.0	no data	no data
Cadmium	39/10	<2.1 ⁽²⁾	<6.6 ⁽²⁾	0.4-1.2	1.0	1.9
Chromium	None/1000	29.3	20.8	30	53	135
Copper	1500/1000	104	137	23	42	485
Lead	300/300	29.9	21.5	17-27	14	26
Mercury	17/6	0.16	0.23 ⁽¹⁾	0.007	no data	no data
Molybdenum	75/75	3.9	5.7	0.32	no data	no data
Nickel	420/200	9.4 ⁽¹⁾	<26.5 ⁽²⁾	18-23	200	20
Selenium	None/100	1.6⁽¹⁾	<6.6 ⁽²⁾	0.3	no data	no data
Zinc	2800/2000	184	191	40-67	48	425

Notes: All values shown are mg/kg dry weight (equivalent to parts per million). EPA limit is for “exceptional quality biosolids” suitable for unrestricted use. DEP limit is the screening standard which is more stringent than the actual limit. All LAWPCA values are averages of eight compost samples or thirteen biosolids samples taken in 2007. ⁽¹⁾Number shown likely overestimates metal levels because more than half of all samples were below the detection limit. ⁽²⁾ All samples below detection highest detection limit shown.