Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio

• One of the most important factors in composting quickly is establishing the carbon to nitrogen ratio of the composting pile. Carbon provides the food energy for the digesting enzymes; without sufficient nitrogen in the pile, the enzymes cannot use the proteins found in the carbon. Good sources of carbon in a compost pile are leaves, while grass clippings, weeds, food scraps and other sources of green vegetation provide nitrogen. The standard for the carbon and nitrogen ratio is three parts of carbon to one part of nitrogen. When nitrogen is lacking, the decomposition process slows, but if too much nitrogen is present, the compost pile may create unpleasant ammonia odors.
  
  

Moisture

• Keeping the compost pile moist helps the plant materials decompose more quickly. Without moisture, the decomposing process stalls because the microorganisms inside the pile cannot digest dry material. The moisture in the pile should fall between 40 percent and 60 percent for ideal composting. People who compost without a moisture meter can squeeze a sample from the compost pile, and when the material feels like a damp sponge, the water content is ideal.
  
  

Temperature

• Temperature has an impact on compost piles, especially in the winter in cold climates. Compost piles generate their own heat as the material decays, but the process slows substantially in subfreezing weather. People who use worm farms for composting can put the worm farms in a spot with temperatures between 50 degrees and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and the composting process continues, regardless of outside temperatures.
  
  

Aeration

• Compost piles need oxygen to thrive, and turning the pile using a shovel or a pitchfork increases the amount of oxygen inside the pile. Turning the pile also cools the temperatures of the material inside the pile if the temperatures rise close to 140 degrees F, which slows the decomposition process. Insufficient oxygen inside the pile often results in foul odors, indicating that the pile needs more oxygen. Some composting equipment has crank handles for easy turning.