Compost Maturity Assessment Using Calorimetry,Spectroscopy and Chemical Analysis

This work is aimed at characterizing compost maturity and, organic matter transformation during this process, by the use of nondestructive spectroscopic and thermal techniques, together with some chemical analysis. Composting was conducted in a laboratory over a period of one year using the organic fraction of domestic wastes, fresh farmyard manure, spent coffee and sawdust as the raw materials. Samples were retired after different periods of composting and were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as well as by routine chemical parameters including temperature, pH, C/N, ash content and humic-like substances content. Results showed that in case of domestic wastes, spent coffee and farmyard manure, the C/N ratios, ash and humic acid content showed a typical high rate of change during the first 197 days of composting and tended to stabilize thereafter, probably as a result of the maturity of the produced composts. In contrast, sawdust underwent only a very limited transformation even after one year of composting. Thermoanalytical and spectroscopic data confirms these finding and gives useful and complementary information with respect to the structure, the heterogeneity and the relative stability of the compost products. In particular, as the decomposition proceeded, there was an increase in aromatic to aliphatic structure ratio and a decrease in the importance of peptide structures of composts. Besides, both the spectroscopic and the thermal behavior of compost samples, retired beyond 197 days of composting, tended to be regular, less dependent on the raw material and close to that characterizing mature composts, with the exception of sawdust samples. We concluded that the spectroscopic and thermal techniques used are complementary to one another and to chemical tests and could be a powerful and fast approach for the study of compost maturity.     

Relating Compost Measures of Stability And Maturity to Plant Growth

Assessment of compost maturity is important for successful use of composts in agricultural and horticultural production. We assessed the “maturity” of four different sawdust-based composts. We composted sawdust with either cannery waste (CW), duck manure (DM), dairy (heifer) manure (HM) or potato culls (PC) for approximately one year. Windrows were turned weekly for the first 60 days of composting, covered for four winter months and then turned monthly for six more months. We measured compost microbial respiration (CO₂ loss), total C and N, C:N ratio, water soluble NO₃-N and NH₄-N, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), pH and electrical conductivity at selected dates over 370 days. Compost effects on ryegrass biomass and N uptake were evaluated in a greenhouse study. We related compost variables to ryegrass growth and N uptake using regression analysis. All composts maintained high respiration rates during the first 60 days of composting. Ammonium-N concentrations declined within the first 60 days of composting, while NO₃-N concentrations did not increase until 200+ days. After 250+ days, DM and PC composts produced significantly more ryegrass biomass than either CW or HM composts. Total C, microbial respiration and water-extractable NO₃-N were good predictors of compost stability/maturity, or compost resistance to change, while dissolved organic carbon, C:N ratio and EC were not. The compost NO₃-N/CO₂-C ratio was calculated as a parameter reflecting the increase in net N mineralization and the decrease in respiration rate. At ratio values >8 mg NO₃-N/mg CO₂-C/day, ryegrass growth and N uptake were at their maximum for three of the four composts, suggesting the ratio has potential as a useful index of compost maturity.     

Evaluation of sewage sludge-based compost by FT-IR spectroscopy

The aerobic batch composting fermentations of sewage sludge with wood chips and maturity compost as co-composting additives were carried out in an open type lab-scale reactor. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to monitor the composting process, evaluate the degradation rate and thus determine the maturity. Although the composition of the input mixture strongly affects the shape of the infrared (IR) spectra, typical bands of components can be selected and used to follow the composting process.

The appearance, shape and intensity of the nitrate band at 1384 cm^− 1 was well pronounced and evident for a sewage sludge-based compost maturity. An increase of the peak ratio 1384 / 2925 and decrease of 2925 / 1034, 1034 / 1384 correlated with the degree of decomposition. For the composting mixture under study the peak ratios 1034 / 1384 and 1384 / 2925 were more demonstrative. Considering the influence of the composting mixture (components and their ratio) on the shape of the FT-IR spectra the nitrate band at 1384 cm^− 1 can be overlapped by other absorption bands (e.g. lignin bands in 1300–1400 cm^− 1 region) thus appearing in the spectra as a shoulder, and therefore the ratios 1384 / 2925 and 1034 / 1384 become unusable to evaluate the maturity.

FT-IR spectroscopy is a quick and useful method to monitor the composting process; however any particular composting mixture needs preliminary studies of the spectra. Consequently, the most appropriate criteria describing the process (e.g. band ratios, shape and intensity of nitrate band) should be selected and the time / peak ratio curves recorded for a compost mixture under study. Afterwards monitoring of the composting process can be based on the comparison of the controls and definite samples.     

Changes in maturity indicators during the degradation of organic wastes subjected to simple composting procedures

Selected maturity indicators were monitored over a period of 335 days during the degradation of organic wastes subjected to four simple composting procedures, which varied in raw material (garden refuse with and without market refuse) and turning frequency (0×, 6×). All procedures produced mature composts. The inclusion of market refuse and frequent turning generally increased the cation exchange capacity of compost on an ash-free basis. Until day 118 of the composting process, compost samples which contained market refuse in their raw material mixture had the lowest redox potentials after anaerobic incubation. Cress grown on these composts also produced the lowest fresh mass. At a later stage of the composting process, the same composts displayed increased cellulolytic activity. Frequent turning of the compost heaps resulted in greater fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, a greater occurrence of low-molecular-weight humic compounds and, occasionally, an inhibition of cellulolytic activity. The arginine ammonification assay gave information on the N-status of the composts, rather than on the compost maturity, and suggested that all the composts could be safely applied to soil with no risk of microbial immobilisation of soil N.     

Molecular characterization of compost at increasing stages of maturity. 2. Thermochemolysis-GC-MS and 13C-CPMAS-NMR spectroscopy

Off-line pyrolysis TMAH-GC-MS (thermochemolysis) and solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy were applied for the direct molecular characterization of composted organic biomasses after 60, 90, and 150 days of maturity. Off-line thermochemolysis of both fresh and mature composts released various lignin-derived molecules, the quantitative measurement of which was used to calculate structural indices related to compost maturity. These indicated that most of the molecular transformation occurred within the first 60 days of the composting process, whereas slighter molecular variations were observed thereafter. Both 13C NMR spectra and offline programs suggested that the process of compost maturity was characterized by a progressive decrease of alkyl components, whereas cellulose polysaccharides appeared to be more resistant and began to be transformed at a later composting period. The main components of the final mature compost were lignocellulosic material and hydrophobic alkyl moieties, in as much as that commonly found in well-humidified organic matter of soils and sediments. The persistence of untransformed lignin-derived products and di- and triterpenoids throughout the maturity period suggested that these molecules are useful markers to both evaluate compost origin and trace its fate in the environment. Thermochemolysis provided the same characterization of molecules either unbound or bound to the compost matrix as that reached by a previously applied sequential chemical fractionation of the same compost materials, thereby indicating that thermochemolysis is a more rapid and equally efficient tool to assess compost molecular quality.     

倒仓破碎对缩短发酵周期后生活垃圾堆肥腐熟度的影响

为了满足日益增长的垃圾处理发展的需要,解决城市生活垃圾产生与消纳、处理之间的矛盾,以北京市南宫堆肥厂垃圾堆肥工艺和密闭隧道发酵仓为研究对象,以马家楼转运站筛分出的15-80mm粒径垃圾作为堆肥原料,以14d高温隧道发酵（不倒仓不破碎）→21d后熟化发酵→21d最终熟化发酵工艺为对照,以8d高温隧道发酵（不倒仓不破碎）→12d后熟化发酵→12d最终熟化发酵工艺为处理1,8d高温隧道发酵（第3d倒仓破碎1次）→12d后熟化发酵→12d最终熟化发酵工艺为处理2。通过不同发酵阶段采样和各类指标的测定,探求缩短堆肥发酵周期后倒仓破碎工艺对于生活垃圾堆肥腐熟度的影响。结果表明,处理1产品的腐熟度较差,处理2与对照处理的堆肥产品腐熟度差异不明显。将高温隧道发酵时间由14d缩短为8d,并且第3d倒仓破碎1次,后熟化与最终熟化时间分别由21d缩短为12d,可以在保证堆肥产品品质的基础上显著提高堆肥效率,使南宫堆肥厂的垃圾处理能力得到大幅提高,该成果为南宫堆肥工艺优化的实施和改进及其推广应用提供了技术支持。     

采用EEM-FRI方法研究黑曲霉对牛粪堆肥腐熟及纤维素降解影响

为了优化堆肥工艺,提高堆肥产品质量,研究黑曲霉对牛粪堆肥腐熟度和纤维素降解的影响.该研究以牛粪为原料,小麦秸秆为辅料,以不添加黑曲霉为对照,分别添加1％、2％和3％的黑曲霉进行好氧堆肥,研究了黑曲霉不同添加量对腐熟度指标、养分含量、腐殖质组成以及纤维素组分的影响,并采用激发发射荧光光谱结合荧光区域积分(Excitati...     

Chemical and microbiological parameters for the characterization of maturity of composts made from farm and agro-industrial wastes

Bioconversion of farm wastes with agro-industrial wastes into enriched compost is an important possibility in need of research. In this article, changes in chemical and microbiological parameters were evaluated to determine the maturity of composts prepared from mixture of farm and agro-industrial wastes over a period of 150 days. Seven different composts were prepared by using a mixture of different farm wastes with or without enrichment with rock phosphate (RP), agro-industrial wastes and the inoculation of microorganisms. As composting proceeded, the organic C, water-soluble C (WSC), bacterial and fungal counts decreased, whereas total N, P, electrical conductivity (EC) and actinomycetes count increased gradually. Our results suggest that WSC <1%, C:N ratio < 20, neutral pH and a decrease in bacteria and fungal counts, along with an increase in actinomycetes count and stability at the end of composting, may be accepted as an indicator of compost maturity. Changes in organic C, EC, total N and P concentrations over time also proved to be reliable indicators of the progress of the composting process for establishing stability and compost maturity. Addition of RP, agro-industrial wastes and inoculation of microorganisms showed potential in improving the N and P contents of the composts.     

Abstracts of nippon Dojyohiryogaku Zasshi

Color change of city refuse during composting process was investigated according to the methods of measurement for color of materials based on the CIE 1931 Standard Colorimetric System. Stimulus value Y (the degree of lightness) and chromaticity coordinates (x, y) were determined with Color Analyzer by measuring relative spectral reflectance. Stimulus value Y of city refuse decreased during composting process, but chromaticity coordinates (x, y) scarcely changed.

Color of various composts, which were produced from city refuse, straw, hog fecal wastes, tree bark, and tree bark mixed with activated sludge, were also investigated by measuring relative spectral reflectance. The shapes of the reflection spectra of city refuse were different from those of the other composts. Colors of the various composts were similar to each other when specified according to their three attributes: value, hue, and chroma (Munsell renotation).

While city refuse was rotting and maturing, stimulus value Yand C/N ratio equally decreased. A positive correlation was found between stimulus value Y and C/N ratio. It was concluded that stimulus value Y can be used as a criterion for determining the degree of maturity of city refuse compost.

The correlation between stimulus value Y and C/N ratio of various composts was also investigated. According to the position on the two coordinates having stimulus value Y and C/N ratio as axe s, various composts were classified into three groups: (i) city refuse compost group, (ii) straw compost group, and (iii) tree bark compost group.     

畜禽粪便堆肥溶解态有机质三维荧光光谱特征及Cu络合

畜禽粪便中溶解态有机质（DOM）易与Cu发生络合,从而促进其向土壤溶液和地表水体中迁移。该文对比分析堆肥前后猪粪和牛粪DOM三维荧光光谱特征变化,并通过荧光猝灭滴定法研究了堆肥对猪粪和牛粪中DOM与Cu络合的影响。研究发现,未经堆腐的猪粪和牛粪DOM中均存在较强的类蛋白荧光峰,包括类酪氨酸峰和类色氨酸峰;除了类蛋白峰,牛粪DOM中还出现了类腐殖质荧光峰。经过堆肥后,猪粪DOM中类酪氨酸峰和类色氨酸峰强度显著减弱,并在可见光激发区域出现类腐殖质峰;与猪粪堆肥类似,牛粪堆肥后类酪氨酸峰和类色氨酸峰也隐没不现,在紫外激发区域出现类腐殖质峰,同时可见光激发区的类腐殖质峰荧光强度减弱,位置发生红移。荧光猝灭试验结果显示,猪粪和牛粪堆肥后与Cu络合容量显著降低。因此,堆肥后改变了畜禽粪便DOM组成,生成大量胡敏酸和富里酸物质,从而降低畜禽粪便中DOM-Cu络合物的迁移性和生物可利用性。     

Thermal and Spectroscopic Characterization Of Composts From Municipal Solid Wastes

Six composts from municipal solid wastes (MSW) were sampled after composting times of 3, 7, 15, 45, 60 and 350 days and analyzed by chemical analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy in emission, excitation and synchronous scan modes, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, without carrying out any organic matter extraction. Thermal and spectroscopic techniques appeared to be powerful tools to investigate the evolution of MSW organic matter during composting, and provided evidence that the chemical transformations occurring in these heterogeneous materials yield products with molecular complexity and stability, similar to humic substances.     

Maturity Tests for Composts — Verification Of a Test Scheme for Assessing Maturity

Increased recycling of organic wastes has raised concern about the quality of compost end products. In addition to the limit values for heavy metals and impurities including weeds and pathogens, the quality criteria for compost products should also include criteria for maturity. There is a tremendous number of maturity assays, developed earlier by several authors, and recommended to be used to evaluate maturity of composts. Because no such single test alone reliably demonstrates the complex properties occurring during maturization of compost, we developed a fast and easy-to-use two-phase test scheme for the assessment of maturity. In the first phase the degradation phase e.g. stability of compost samples is evaluated by using a carbon dioxide evolution test and/or determination of the NO₃-N/NH₄-N ratio by simple test strips. In the second phase, the toxicity of the compost is evaluated by a plant growth test, germination tests and/or the Flash bioluminescence test. Eleven plants composting sewage sludge, source-separated biowaste, manure or a combination of these raw materials were sampled after 1-3 weeks of composting and when the compost was considered “ready for use”. Chemical and physical analyses were considered useful as additional information when evaluating maturity especially when the results were not conclusively clear. This fast and easy-to-use test scheme was designed especially for the composting plant operators and official laboratories responsible for evaluating compost quality.     

基于卷积神经网络的堆肥腐熟度预测

【目的】目前堆肥腐熟度主要采用复杂的化学、生物学方法进行判断,操作繁琐且效率低。卷积神经网络 (convolutional neural network,CNN) 模拟人类视觉,既可保留堆肥图像的颜色信息,也提取了轮廓、线条、粒度等更加具有代表性的特征,从而避免了因光照条件不同对堆肥腐熟度预测识别效果的影响。本文提出了通过堆肥图像判断堆肥腐熟度的方法,构建基于卷积神经网络的堆肥腐熟度预测模型,并验证了该模型进行堆肥腐熟度判断的准确度。【方法】供试堆肥样本采集自江苏、山东、浙江三省,堆肥原料分别为秸秆、尾菜和畜禽粪便,堆肥周期依次为50 d、45 d和60 d。在厂棚内的堆肥槽中,用海康威视摄像头 (型号为C3W,焦段为广角,焦距2.8 mm,清晰度1080 p,夜间自动补光,摄像头距堆肥表面约1 m) 拍摄不同腐熟时期的堆肥图像,图像格式为JPEG。分别取三种不同原料的堆肥图像样本构成三组图像数据集,将三种原料的图像按照尾菜∶秸秆∶畜禽粪便原料1∶1∶1构成第四组图像数据集。每组数据集中,80%的图像数据用于训练基于卷积神经网络模型,并建立预测模型参数。剩余20%的图像用于测试,验证模型的腐熟度预测效果。【结果】搭建的堆肥腐熟度预测模型由输入层、3层卷积层、3层池化层、2层全连接层和输出层构成。构建的腐熟度预测模型在秸秆、尾菜、畜禽粪便及三者堆肥混合图像数据集上的腐熟度预测平均准确率分别为98.7%、98.7%、98.8%和98.2%。与几种经典高效的图像特征提取、分类方法相比,较每个数据集上最优经典算法的平均准确率提升了3～14个百分点。通过CNN方法判断堆肥腐熟度,纹理特征比颜色特征更加有效。【结论】采用卷积神经网络的堆肥腐熟度预测模型能够提取堆肥图像外观特征,实现在可见光条件下直接通过堆肥图像准确、快速地识别堆肥腐熟度,可为堆肥企业生产实践提供指导。     

Spectroscopic and Thermal Investigation Of Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Fractions Of Dissolved Organic Matter

Hydrophobic (HO) and hydrophilic (HI) fractions of dissolved organic matter (DOM) isolated from several substrates including a source separated urban waste compost, a mechanically separated urban waste compost, an anaerobically digested municipal sewage sludge, a composted sewage sludge and a cow slurry were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), monodimensional fluorescence spectroscopy in the emission, excitation and synchronous scan modes, tridimensional excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The FT-IR spectra indicated that the HI fractions were rich in both aromatic and aliphatic structures, whereas the HO fractions were rich in carboxylic groups and polysaccharides. The synchronous scan spectra of HO fractions showed the main peak at a wavelength much longer than that of the HI fractions, which indicated a greater molecular complexity of the HO fractions with respect to HI fractions. The ¹H-NMR data indicated a great percentage of aliphatic structures in all samples, whereas the HO samples were also characterised by the presence of aromatic structures. The DSC curves confirmed the more distinct aromatic nature of HO fractions, as compared to the corresponding HI fractions.     

Evaluation of the maturity of municipal waste compost using simple chemical parameters

Abstract

Changes in different chemical parameters of the mixtures of several organic residues during composting were studied in order to establish simple parameters that can be useful as indices of compost maturity. Circular chromatography test and the study of the colour in solid samples of compost cannot be considered sufficiently reliable for determining the degree of maturity in composts. Similarly, parameters such as ash, C/N ratio, CEC, total organic carbon (TOC), and total nitrogen (TN) must be ruled out. Other parameters such as water soluble carbon (WSC), water soluble carbohydrates, the C/N ratio of the water soluble extract, and the ratios WSC/TN and CEC/TOC, can be used as indices of compost maturity.     

Effects of aeration and moisture during windrow composting on the nitrogen fertilizer values of dairy waste composts

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of turning and moisture addition during windrow composting on the N fertilizer values of dairy waste composts. Composted-dairy wastes were sampled from windrow piles, which received four treatments in a 2×2 factorial of turning (turning vs. no turning) and moisture addition (watering vs. no watering) at two stages of maturity (mature vs. immature). Composts were characterized for their chemical properties. An 84-day laboratory incubation of soils with addition of the composts at two levels was conducted to evaluate the inorganic N accumulation patterns from the variously treated composts. Chemical analyses of variously treated composts did not differ between compost treatments or maturity. In contrast, the inorganic N accumulation patterns differed between soils that received immature versus mature turned composted-dairy wastes. The results suggested that turning was a more important factor than moisture addition affecting the composting process. There was no significant difference in inorganic N accumulation patterns among soils that received different immature composts, while the N accumulation patterns observed for soils that received different mature composts depended on compost treatments. Soils amended with mature composts treated by frequent turning had higher N mineralization potentials (N₀), mineralization rate constants (K), and initial potential rates (N₀K) in comparison to soils with composts that had not been turned. Soils with mature composts treated by watering had a higher N₀, lower K, and therefore similar N₀K when compared to soils with composts that had not been watered. Soils that received mature composts treated by watering and frequent turning had higher N mineralization potentials and N₀ to total organic N ratios than soil alone, which suggested that intensive management of composting would ensure positive N fertilizer values of dairy waste composts, if the appropriate composting duration is completed.     

添加酸解氨基酸对植物源废弃物好氧堆肥品质及其应用效果的影响

  【目的】  探究添加酸解氨基酸 (AA) 对不同植物源废弃物堆肥进程、氮素损失阻控、堆肥品质和产品效果的影响。  【方法】  分别向3种含碳量不同的植物源废弃物 (中药渣、木薯渣和蘑菇渣) 中添加5%、10%和15% (体积质量比) 的酸解氨基酸,以不添加酸解氨基酸处理作为对照,监测堆肥过程中的温度和理化指标。堆肥结束后,以辣椒和茄子作为供试作物进行盆栽和大田试验。盆栽试验以不施肥和施化肥为对照,试验处理包括9个堆肥产品及其添加促生菌 (解淀粉芽孢杆菌SQR9) 制备的生物有机肥产品,共24个,调查了不同处理辣椒和茄子的生物量和生理指标。田间试验以不施肥和施化肥为对照,以盆栽效果最佳的堆肥产品及其制备的生物有机肥单施、两个产品分别与化肥配合,共14个处理,调查了辣椒和茄子的生长状况。  【结果】  添加酸解氨基酸延长了中药渣和木薯渣堆肥的高温期持续时间,而蘑菇渣堆肥的高温期持续时间随酸解氨基酸添加量的增加而减少。酸解氨基酸加入后,3种原料堆体的pH均有所下降,且整体上酸解氨基酸添加量越多,pH下降越显著。酸解氨基酸明显促进了3种原料堆肥中纤维素、半纤维素和总碳的分解,且促进效果和氮磷钾养分积累量随着酸解氨基酸添加量的增加而提高。此外,酸解氨基酸加入后由于引入H+,使堆体的电导率有小幅上升。盆栽试验表明,3种有机物料堆肥均以添加10% AA制成的有机肥最佳,且能显著提高辣椒植株的鲜重、干重、株高、茎粗和叶绿素含量,添加促生菌后进一步提高了堆肥的效果。以10% AA处理的有机肥及其生物有机肥进行大田试验,中药渣有机肥中,生物有机肥处理为辣椒田间处理最佳,生物有机肥加化肥处理为茄子田间处理最佳;木薯渣有机肥处理中,生物有机肥处理在辣椒和茄子田间试验中均为最佳处理;蘑菇渣有机肥处理,生物有机肥加化肥处理在辣椒和茄子大田试验中各项指标均为最优;表明10% AA处理的有机肥配合功能菌株施用能促进作物生长、提高作物产量,整体效果显著优于空白和化肥处理。  【结论】  添加酸解氨基酸能够降低堆肥pH,减少堆肥过程中的氮素损失,延长堆肥高温期的持续时间,提高有机碳降解效率及氮磷钾相对含量;该堆肥与功能菌株配伍制成的生物有机肥,与等养分化肥处理相比,可以显著提高作物的生物量和产量。     

Determining Optimal Maturity of Compost Used for Land Application

A stable compost is needed in plant growth media. However, when compost is land applied, its effect is through the initiation and acceleration of microbial processes leading to the production of soil stabilizing agents.

It was proposed that there is an optimum degree of maturity of compost used for land application, a degree characterized by the reduction of the labile organic matter to a point when the material is relatively stable yet is still active enough to support an increased microbial activity in the soil.

The effect of composting time on the efficiency of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) to improve soil structural properties, evaluated through laboratory indexes, is presented in this work. MSWC was sampled immediately following 24 hours precomposting in a Dano drum. Samples were taken throughout 60 days of windrow composting. The compost samples were mixed with a structure-impaired loess soil and incubated aerobically for 21 days. Hydraulic conductivity and residual turbidity, a measure of microaggregate stability, were measured in solutions of two SAR levels, five and 20. Compost application had a positive effect on these soil structural properties. The optimal activity was obtained for the compost sampled following seven to 14 days of windrow composting. Polysaccharide concentrations also followed a similar optimum curve. The peak concentration was found following 14 to 30 days old compost application.

The determination of the optimal maturity of composted municipal solid wastes is essential toward an efficient utilization of the compost, toward satisfaction of environmental constraints and for a cost-efficient operation of composting plants. The present preliminary study calls for more research in this field.     

Spectroscopic and thermal investigations on compost improved by iron salt addition

A quality compost obtained from sewage sludge (one part in weight) and yard trimmings and sawdust (two parts) has been investigated as a potential carrier of iron to plants. At the end of the thermophilic phase, the composting materials were added with crystalline FeSO4.7H2O (97%). Chemical properties, respiratory indices, and seed germination tests proved the compost to be suitable as an iron carrier in agriculture. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and fluorescence spectroscopy provided evidence of the effective linking of the iron ion to the organic molecule functional groups, thus preventing the loss of iron ion by leaching and precipitation phenomena and allowing the metal ion to be available to plants as both mineral and organic species. The thermogram obtained on compost without iron was similar to that previously obtained for composted materials of different origins, whereas samples with added iron ion exhibited in addition an exotherm in the medium-temperature region. FT-IR spectra carried out on samples heated at different temperatures indicated a loss of iron ion linked to carboxyl groups.     

End Product Quality and Agronomic Performance of Compost

Washington State University produces a manure-based compost of high pH (>8) and low N content (1 percent) by windrow composting campus wastes. Annual production at the four-acre facility is 18-20,000 cubic yards. In the interest of producing compost of higher N content and lower pH, ten experimental piles were constructed to investigate the effects of different feedstocks on the composting process, end quality and agronomic performance. Biosolids and manure were compared at two rates of bedding both with and without coal ash. Compost temperature and inorganic N content during 96 days of active composting are reported along with end product nutrient analysis and metal concentration. The composts behaved differently based on the N feedstock and level of bedding in the mix. Compost quality was influenced by the characteristics of the feedstocks. Applying the composts to an eroded hilltop (50 Mg/ha) increased winter wheat yield, but there were no differences among the ten composts.