Your friend John is having trouble with his compost bin. The material in his compost pile doesn’t seem to be decomposing well. You take a sample of the pile and check for the presence of microorganisms under the microscope. You see that there are indeed microorganisms; however, they don’t appear to be growing very fast. John says that he regularly mixes his compost pile to expose it to oxygen but has noticed the pile feels cold. What is the most likely explanation for this problem?

Question

The compost pile contained incorrect amounts of "greens" and "browns".

The compost pile contained aerobic bacteria.

The compost pile was placed in the sunshine.

The compost pile was sufficiently moist.

Answer 1

The most likely explanation for John's compost pile not decomposing well and feeling cold is that the compost pile contained incorrect amounts of "greens" and "browns."

In composting, "greens" (nitrogen-rich materials) and "browns" (carbon-rich materials) need to be balanced for optimal microbial activity and decomposition. If there is too much of one and not enough of the other, it can lead to reduced microbial activity, resulting in slower decomposition and cooler temperatures within the pile. Proper mixing helps expose materials to oxygen, but if the balance of greens and browns is off, it can still hinder the composting process.