​Carbon:Nitrogen
• See Total Nitrogen


Conductivity
• This is a measure of salts and other available minerals.
• The higher number for Ocala Organics (4.2) implies that it is still composting.
• Potting soils should have 1-2.
• Increasing water as well as a high water holding capacity neutrals out the higher salinity.

Density
​• The lower the density, the more oxygen that can move through the soil, which means more beneficial bacteria.​
• Ocala Organics density is 12 pounds per cubic foot , which is significantly better than Lambertt at 39 pounds per cubic foot, Scott’s Turf Builder at 46 pounds per cubic foot, and Black Kow at 73 pounds per cubic foot.


Estimated Water Holding Capacity
• The higher the number, the fresher the compost.


Free Carbonates​
• Ocala Organics measures 1, or none, while Black Kow has a 2, or a Med-High, meaning it would take significantly more lime to lower Black Kow’s pH than Ocala Organics.


Inert and Oversize Matter​
• This is trash in the compost, including plastics, rocks, metals, and other potentially harmful materials.​
• Black Kow measured an incredibly high 14.1%, meaning 14.1% of Black Kow’s compost, from the bag, could be harmful.  Lambertt has 6.74% and Scott’s Turf Builder has 6.92%.  Ocala Organics were immeasurable at 0%.


Maturity Index 
• A measure of compost maturity.
• Not significant enough to mention.

Organic Matter
​• This is a good way to measure the length of time a material was composted and how much more decomposition can take place.
​• With an overall dry basis of 91.2% organic matter, there is still a significant amount of time Ocala Organics will help aid the soil around it.
​• Black Kow has a dry basis of 15.1%, which is usually found in compost that is extremely old and approaching inert.
• Scott’s Turf Builder measured 54.5% and Lambertt had a high 80.3% due to their use of peat moss, a non-renewable resource.

pH
• This is very important for potting soils.
• At 8, Ocala Organics is only considered slightly high, which provides much more flexibility with the use of inexpensive lime.


Solids/Moisture​
• There is no ideal level, but optimal composting occurs anywhere from 60-80%, ours is at 73%.


Solvita CO3 Rate • An index to rate the maturity of the compost. • Ocala Organics has a 4, indicating that the compost is moderately active. • Not significant enough to mention. Solvita NH3 Rate • Another index to rate maturity, measures the amount of ammonia. • All tested products had slight to none, indicating very low loss of nitrogen through ammonia. • No significant enough to mention.

Total Nitrogen
• This is a measure of the percentage of total nitrogen usable as a fertilizer.  This is beneficial over C:N, which includes unusable nitrogen it its ratio.
• Ocala Organics has the highest percentage of total nitrogen present at 1.002%, Lambertt has .0124%, Scott’s Turf Builder has 0.181%, and Black Kow has 0.288%.


Comparative Analysis