High N to C compos=topdress AND fert.?

[lawngonewrong]

Thinking through my springtime seeding and feeding I thought, at least on paper, that compost with a high N to C ratio might be helpful as both a topdressing and a slow-release fertilizer. Do folks with more knowledge of lawns, hort, biochem, microbio, etc. think that a high N:C compost might do double-duty (topdress+fert) with cool season grasses?

[bpgreen]

I kind of doubt it. If it's finished compost, it's going to be pretty much broken down organic matter. If it had too much N during the composting process, excess N just went into the air (and smelled bad). If it had too much C, it likely just took longer to break down. The end result is probably pretty similar.

[lawngonewrong]

Thanks, bpgreen.

The local municipal more-or-less monopoly leaf compost product has a C:N of 23 and the small private firms, who start with more food products, have published lab results of C:N at 13 or so. And the lab results claim the food-based, higher nitrogen stuff is actually more mature in that it produces less CO2.

I'm a little cautious on making big inferences on things I don't understand, but especially noting that some folks here have pushed food compost as more nutrient rich than leafgro, I thought that maybe the 'better' compost was a nice way to get a slow (hopefully very slow) N feed along with my topdress.

This might just be one to roll on the dice on and see what happens! But low expectations are always best!