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Abstract: A decision on when peak-heating for horsemanure composts has to be stopped is often connected with difficulty and uncertainty. pH - readings to some extent give the answer (1 part compost to 1 1/4 distilled water by weight is used and the water drainage is used after about 10 minutes) but it is however only of value if the pH can be checked at short intervals, say 4-6 hours, thus following the movement of the pH during the sweating - out process. During the out-door composting, it is well known that the pH first rises and then falls, but at least in Denmark with 14-17 days of composting it is not unusual for the pH to start a rise again during the peakheating period, after different lengths of time, depending on the ammonia present, and then finally to fall to a constant. According to Sinden (1) the compost ought to be filled at pH 8.5; this is about the highest pH reached in the compost piles. In this case the pH will therefore only decrease during the sweating out process
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