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? (1 point)

Question

• The compost pile was sufficiently moist.
• The compost pile contained incorrect amounts of "greens" and "browns".
• The compost pile contained aerobic bacteria.
• The compost pile was placed in the sunshine.

Answer 1

The most likely explanation for John's compost pile not decomposing well is that the compost pile contained incorrect amounts of "greens" and "browns". "Greens" are nitrogen-rich materials such as food scraps and grass clippings, while "browns" are carbon-rich materials like dried leaves and paper. The proper balance of greens and browns is essential for successful composting. If the ratio is off, the microorganisms responsible for decomposition may not be able to work efficiently, leading to a slow decomposition process.