temperature required for compost
For example, if your compost heats up to 40 or 50C, you can deduce that the ingredients contained adequate nitrogen and moisture for rapid microbial growth. To take your temperature readings, make sure to use a probe that reaches deep into the compost.
By graphing compost temperature over time, you can tell how far along the decomposition has progressed. A well constructed compost system will heat up to 40 or 50C within two to three days. As readily decomposable organic matter becomes depleted, the temperature begins to drop and the process slows considerably.