Carbon and nitrogen are important chemical elements that are present in the organic matter. The ratio of mass of carbon to nitrogen is called C:N ratio. A C:N ratio of 10:1 means there are ten units of carbon (C) for each unit of nitrogen in the soil. This ratio plays an important role in the functioning of soil. C:N ratio helps in crop residue decomposition and crop nutrient cycling. Soils with a carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio of 24:1 have the optimum ratio for soil microorganism to stimulate release of nutrients like nitrogen , phosphorous and zinc to the crops. It is very important to understand C:N ratio while planting cash crops and cover crops. C:N important in composting because microbes need a good balance of carbon and nitrogen to stay active. High C:N ratio results in long duration for composting and enhanced nitrogen loss happens due to low C:N ratio.
What is C:N ratio of soil?
