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Compost and Mulch

Mulch Moisture Retention Calculator

The calculation of retention relative to baseline depends on water retained with mulch and water retained without mulch. This page shows the relationship and a worked starting case.

Enter values for retention relative to baseline

Mulch Moisture Retention needs water retained with mulch and water retained without mulch from one case.

in

Enter a measured value for water retained with mulch.

in

Enter a measured value for water retained without mulch.

Retention relative to baseline: practical constraint

Use equal soil depth, timing, and weather exposure.

A zero Water retained without mulch leaves retention relative to baseline undefined in Mulch Moisture Retention.

Worked retention relative to baseline example

retention relative to baseline = water retained with mulch ÷ water retained without mulch × 100

Mulch Moisture Retention compares Water retained with mulch and Water retained without mulch and reports the relationship as a percentage. A separate estimate of compost-to-water rate comes from Compost Extract Concentration Calculator.

The starting case sets water retained with mulch at 0.82 in and water retained without mulch at 0.62 in. Its retention relative to baseline is 132.26%.

Interpreting this retention relative to baseline value

Retention relative to baseline belongs to the Mulch Moisture Retention scenario. Recalculate retention relative to baseline for another case. The related Compost Carbon Nitrogen Ratio Calculator finds carbon-to-nitrogen ratio.

Purpose of the retention relative to baseline estimate

Compare retained water under mulched and unmulched conditions. Mulch Moisture Retention limits that task to Water retained with mulch and Water retained without mulch.

Save Retention relative to baseline with the Mulch Moisture Retention units and scenario name.

Before entering water retained with mulch

Mulch Moisture Retention uses Water retained with mulch and Water retained without mulch. The Mulch Moisture Retention entries share one scope.

  • Water retained with mulch. Default in Mulch Moisture Retention: 0.82 in.
  • Water retained without mulch. Default in Mulch Moisture Retention: 0.62 in.

After calculating retention relative to baseline

Store the Mulch Moisture Retention date, Water retained with mulch and Water retained without mulch, and Retention relative to baseline.

Separate measured water retained with mulch from an assumed value so a later user can reconstruct the case.

Add the garden outcome as a new entry, using the same units and definition as retention relative to baseline.

What changes when water retained with mulch changes

In the Mulch Moisture Retention example, changing Water retained with mulch from 0.82 in to 0.902 in produces 145.48% rather than 132.26%. Projected worm biomass? See Worm Population Growth Calculator.

Use water retained with mulch only to compare retention relative to baseline.

Pair water retained with mulch with Mulch Moisture Retention site observations.