Sciencemadness Discussion Board

KNO3 fert production (old school) urine + straw vs grass vs leaves

RogueRose - 20-10-2015 at 20:21

I've read a lot of threads about trying to isolate KNO3 from urine and most seem to say they use straw. Since I am not really trying to isolate the KNO3 but am more interested in making a natrual/organic fert, which would be better to use for the composting:
lawn grass clippings
chopped leaves
field of wild/mixed grasses/plants - cuttings (this can contain crown vetch, clover, blue grass, & small parts poison ivy, crab frass, etc)
branch chippings (mixed woods, oak, mulberry, maple, blk walnut, etc)

Since the K is known to leach out of compost piles (does N leach as well?) I was trying to figure out the best material to put the pile on. Plastic is obvious but I would rather use something like thick cardboard (think refrigerator box - 3-5 corregations thick). This cardboard should stop most of the water from leaking down and it can later be burn't and spread ashes or compost it as well.

So is there one of those clippings that would benefit most from urine or any which would not mix well?

karlosĀ³ - 20-10-2015 at 22:54

This is anorganic chemistry, also without references you should post in beginnings.