Below 1.5 per cent nitrogen, DMR reports that the compost does not ferment properly, the heap may not pass 55 to 60 degrees Celsius, and moulds such as Stachybotrys move in.
Above 1.75 per cent the ratio is wrong, more nitrogen escapes as ammonia, and the yellow mould Sepedonium often follows and can cut yield badly. The method also shows in the finished nitrogen: DMR reports about 1.75 to 2.0 per cent for long method compost, 2.0 to 2.2 for the short method and 2.2 to 2.5 for indoor compost.