Suppose we make a compost pile from newly fallen deciduous tree leaves. The leaves have a mass of 300 lbs (dry weight) and a carbon content of 50%. The C:N ratio of the leaves is 60, Under optimal conditions, 60% of the carbon in the leaves is transformed to CO2 during the first cycle of decomposition (from the readily decomposable portion). As the tree leaves are converted to compost (leftovers from the first cycle of decomposition), the C:N ratio will become about 15. Keep in mind that decomposition continues, but at a slower rate on the compost materials. What do we know about these leaves as a raw compost material? Use the given information above to determine the following quantities. (5 pts)
a. Total mass of raw material (Ibs of leaves)
b. Mass of carbon in the leaves (Ibs C)
c. C:N of raw leaf pile (lbs C/lbs N)
d. Mass of nitrogen in the leaf pile (lbs N)
e. Consider the C:N of these leaves; will decomposition be limited?