RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ORGANIC-MATTER AND CARBON CONTENTS OF ORGANIC WASTES

The values of organic matter of 38 organic wastes obtained by the loss-on-ignition method at 430-degrees-C have been correlated with both total organic carbon measured by elemental microanalysis and oxidable organic carbon determined by the traditional method of Walkley and Black, duly adapted to organic materials. Calcination at 430-degrees-C for 24 h is the most suitable method for determining the organic-matter content of organic wastes. Linear and quadratic equations for the correlations between organic matter and carbon were tested, and high values of r, significant at the 99.9% probability level, were found. The use of the linear equations is recommended to transform either carbon content into organic matter or vice-versa easily.