A comparison of the properties of manufactured soils produced from composting municipal green waste alone or with poultry manure or grease trap/septage waste

Manufactured soil for landscaping purposes was produced by composting for 6 weeks (1) municipal green waste alone, (2) green waste amended with 25% v/v poultry manure, or (3) green waste immersed in, and then removed from, a mixture of liquid grease trap waste/septage. Composting temperatures increased most rapidly and reached highest values (78oC) in the grease trap/septage-amended green waste. In comparison with green waste alone, addition of poultry manure prolonged the period of elevated temperatures and increased the maximum temperature attained from 52oC to 61oC. Following composting, each of the materials was split into (1) 100% compost, (2) 80% compost plus 20% v/v soil, and (3) 70% compost plus 20% soil plus 10% coal fly ash. Addition of poultry manure or grease trap/septage to green waste prior to composting increased bulk density and reduced total porosity of the composted product. Addition of soil, or soil and ash, to composts increased bulk density, reduced total porosity, decreased percentage macropores, and increased percentage mesopores and available water-holding capacity. Bicarbonate-extractable P, exchangeable NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻, electrical conductivity (EC), soluble C, soluble C as a percentage of organic C, basal respiration, and metabolic quotient were all markedly greater in the grease trap/septage-amended than poultry manure-amended or green waste alone treatments. Values for extractable P and EC were considered large enough to be damaging to plant growth and germination index (GI) of watercress was less than 60% for all grease trap/septage composts. Extractable P and EC were also high, and GI was <100%, in the green waste alone and poultry manure-amended green waste alone treatments. Addition of soil or soil and ash to these composts resulted in GI values >100%.     

The Maturity and CH4, N2O,NH3 Emissions from Vermicomposting with Agricultural Waste

This study investigated the maturity and gaseous emissions from vermicomposing with agricultural waste. A vermicomposting treatment (inoculated Eisenia fetida) was conducted over a 50-day period, taking tomato stems as the processing object and using cow dung as the nutrient substrate. A thermophilic composting treatment without earthworm inoculation was operated as a control treatment. During the experiment, maturity indexes such as temperature, pH, C/N ratio, and germination index (GI) were determined and continuous measurements of earthworm biomass and CH₄, N₂O, and NH₃ emissions were carried out. The results showed that the temperature during vermicomposting was suitable for earthworm survival, and the earthworm biomass increased from 10.0 to 63.1 kg m^?3. Vermicomposting took less time on average to reach the compost maturity standard (GI 80%), and reached a higher GI (132%) in the compost product compared with the thermophilic composting treatment. Moreover, the decrease of the C/N ratio in vermicompost indicated stabilization of the waste. The activities of earthworms played a positive role in reducing gaseous emissions in vermicompost, resulting in less emissions of NH₃ (12.3% NH₃-N of initial nitrogen) and total greenhouse gases (8.1 kg CO₂-eq/t DM) than those from thermophilic compost (24.9% NH₃-N of initial nitrogen, 22.8 kg CO₂-eq/t DM). Therefore, it can be concluded that vermicomposting can shorten the period required to reach compost maturity, can obtain better maturity compost, and at the same time reduce gaseous emissions. As an added advantage, the earthworms after processing could have commercial uses.     

Chemical Amendments and Process Controls To Reduce Ammonia Volatilization During In-House Composting

Composting inside high-rise, caged layer facilities can produce atmospheric ammonia (NH₃) concentrations exceeding standards for human and poultry health. Control measures that reduce NH₃ volatilization are necessary for in-house composting to be sustainable. Due to differences specific to in-house composting — low carbon to nitrogen ratios of composting material, continuous manure addition, and frequent turning — it is not known whether NH₃ control measures used previously for poultry manure will work. The objectives of this study were to evaluate various amendment and process controls on NH₃ produced during simulated in-house composting in the lab, and to evaluate select chemical control measures during composting inside a high-rise layer facility. Ten amendments (aluminum sulfate; chloride salts of aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and potassium; gypsum; sodium bisulfate; zeolite (clinoptilolite); straw; and cellulose) and four process controls (moisture; temperature; turning frequency; and particle size) were evaluated in lab incubations in 1 L vessels wherein samples of poultry manure compost were incubated to simulate composting. Vials of boric acid solution were used to capture NH₃ evolved during incubations. With the exception of zeolite and cellulose, all amendments reduced NH₃ capture. Low moisture and temperature also reduced NH₃ capture, although managing temperature and moisture to achieve low NH_g would adversely impact microbial activity and other desired benefits of composting. When evaluated inhouse, aluminum sulfate, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride did not reduce NH evolution from compost measured on three different dates with a gas sensor. Spatial variability along treated segments of windrow apparently masked amendment effects. At the end of a six-week composting cycle, total nitrogen content was higher in compost treated with aluminum sulfate than control or chloride salt treatments. Aluminum sulfate and process controls such as moisture content, carbon source and particle size have potential to reduce NH₃ loss from poultry manure composted inside high-rise layer structures. In-house compost management to reduce NH₃ volatilization must consider the cost of amendments, effectiveness, and impacts on the composting process.     

Effect of nitrite accumulation on nitrous oxide emission and total nitrogen loss during swine manure composting

Abstract

The present study investigated the nitrogen balance in swine manure composting to evaluate the effect of nitrite (NO^? ₂) accumulation, which induces nitrogenous emissions, such as N₂O, during compost maturation. During active composting, most N losses result from NH₃ emission, which was 9.5% of the initial total nitrogen (TN_initial), after which, NO^? ₂ began to accumulate as only ammonia-oxidizing bacteria proliferated. After active composting, the addition of mature swine compost (MSC), including nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), could prevent NO^? ₂ accumulation and reduce N₂O emission by 70% compared with the control in which NO^? ₂ accumulated as a result of delayed growth of indigenous NOB. Total N₂O emissions in the control and in the treatment of MSC addition (MA) were 9.3% and 3.0% of TN_initial, respectively, whereas N losses as the sum total of NH₃ and N₂O over the whole period were 19.0% (control) and 12.8% (MA) of TN_initial, respectively. However, the difference in total N losses was markedly greater than that measured as NH₃ and N₂O, which were 27.8% (control) and 13.3% (MA) of TN_initial, respectively. These results demonstrated that the magnitude of nitrogen losses induced by NO^? ₂ accumulation is too large to ignore in the composting of swine manure.     

蜉金龟堆肥和自然堆肥类胡敏酸的表征及特性研究

分别用焦磷酸钠和氢氧化钠浸提新鲜牛粪、蜉金龟堆肥(APCM)和自然堆肥(腐熟牛粪)产物中的类胡敏酸,采用元素组成、红外光谱及差热分析研究了其结构特征。元素分析结果表明,蜉金龟堆肥焦磷酸钠浸提物——类胡敏酸(NaHLA)的芳香性低于新鲜牛粪和自然堆肥,而碳水化合物及氮元素含量增加。蜉金龟堆肥氢氧化钠浸提物——类胡敏酸(PAHLA)的碳水化合物和氮元素含量也高于新鲜牛粪和自然堆肥,而自然堆肥PAHLA的芳香性略低于新鲜牛粪和蜉金龟堆肥。红外光谱分析结果表明,与自然堆肥NaHLA相比,蜉金龟堆肥NaHLA中羧酸脂类化合物、酮类化合物、脂肪族化合物及碳水化合物有所增加。与新鲜牛粪PAHLA相比,蜉金龟堆肥和自然堆肥PAHLA的碳水化合物、脂肪族化合物、酚类化合物及纤维素酯类减少,同时蜉金龟堆肥PAHLA的酰胺化合物在蜉金龟消化过程中被其吸收。差热分析结果表明,自然堆肥NaHLA的热稳定性高于新鲜牛粪和蜉金龟堆肥,而蜉金龟堆肥NaHLA的脂族化合物、外围官能团和分子内部芳香结构含量较高,分子结构较复杂。蜉金龟堆肥PAHLA存在两个放热峰,而新鲜牛粪和自然堆肥的中温放热峰消失。综上,蜉金龟堆肥和自然堆肥采用两种提取液浸提出类胡敏酸的结构特征存在差异性。     

Effect of Woody Peat as an Additive on Maturity and Gaseous Emissions During Pig Manure Composting

Woody peat was used as an additive to compost with pig manure in 1.2 m³ composting reactors under aerobic conditions for a 77?days period to estimate the effect on the compost maturity and gaseous emissions (NH₃, N₂O, and CH₄). Pig manure was also composted with cornstalks (the traditional method) as a control treatment. The results showed that both cornstalks and woody peat composts reached the required maturity standard. Composting with woody peat as a bulking agent was found to reduced NH₃ emissions by 36% than the cornstalks amended treatment. Although CH₄ emission increased by adding woody peat, N₂O emission was considerably reduced, resulting in a slight decrease in total greenhouse gas emissions. More importantly, woody peat could reduce the losses of total carbon and total nitrogen, improve the compost quality as fertilizer.     

Evolution of organic matter and nitrogen during co-composting of olive mill wastewater with solid organic wastes

 Four olive mill wastewater (OMW) composts, prepared with three N-rich organic wastes and two different bulking agents, were studied in a pilot plant using the Rutgers system. Organic matter (OM) losses during composting followed a first-order kinetic equation in all the piles, the slowest being the OM mineralisation rate in the pile using maize straw (MS). The highest N losses through NH₃ volatilisation occurred in the mixtures which had a low initial C/N ratio and high pH values during the process. Such losses were reduced considerably when MS was used as the bulking agent instead of cotton waste (CW). N fixation activity increased during the bio-oxidative phase before falling during maturation. This N fixation capacity was higher in piles with a lower NH₄ ⁺-N concentration. Only the composts prepared with OMW, CW and poultry manure or sewage sludge reached water-soluble organic C (C_W) and NH₄ ⁺-N concentrations and C_W/N_org and NH₄ ⁺/NO₃ ^– ratios within the established limits which indicate a good degree of compost maturity. Increases in the cation-exchange capacity, the percentage of humic acid-like C and the polymerisation ratio revealed that the OM had been humified during composting. The germination index indicated the reduction of phytotoxicity during composting. Received: 14 June 1999     

Use of 13C and 15N natural abundance techniques to characterize carbon and nitrogen dynamics in composting and in compost-amended soils

Isotope fractionation during composting may produce organic materials with a more homogenous δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N signature allowing study of their fate in soil. To verify this, C, N, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N content were monitored during nine months covered (thermophilic; >40 °C) composting of corn silage (CSC). The C concentration reduced from 10.34 to 1.73 g C (g ash)⁻¹, or 83.3%, during composting. Nitrogen losses comprised 28.4% of initial N content. Compost δ¹³C values became slightly depleted and increasingly uniform (from −12.8±0.6‰ to −14.1±0.0‰) with composting. Compost δ¹⁵N values (0.3±1.3 to 8.2±0.4‰) increased with a similar reduced isotope variability.The fate of C and N of diverse composts in soil was subsequently examined. C, N, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N content of whole soil (0-5 cm), light (<1.7 g cm⁻³) and heavy (>1.7 g cm⁻³) fraction, and (250-2000 μm; 53-250 μm and <53 μm) size separates, were characterized. Measurements took place one and two years following surface application of CSC, dairy manure compost (DMC), sewage sludge compost (SSLC), and liquid dairy manure (DM) to a temperate (C₃) grassland soil. The δ¹³C values and total C applied (Mg C ha⁻¹) were DM (−27.3‰; 2.9); DMC (−26.6‰; 10.0); SSLC (−25.9‰; 10.9) and CSC (−14.0‰; 4.6 and 9.2). The δ¹³C of un-amended soil exhibited low spatial (−28.0‰±0.2; n=96) and temporal (±0.1‰) variability. All C₄ (CSC) and C₃ (DMC; SSLC) composts, except C₃ manure (DM), significantly modified bulk soil δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N. Estimates of retention of compost C in soil by carbon balance were less sensitive than those calculated by C isotope techniques. One and two years after application, 95 and 89% (CSC), 75 and 63% (SSLC) and 88 and 42% (DMC) of applied compost C remained in the soil, with the majority (80-90%) found in particulate (>53 μm) and light fractions. However, C₄ compost (CSC) was readily detectable (12% of compost C remaining) in mineral (<53 μm) fractions. The δ¹⁵N-enriched N of compost supported interpretation of δ¹³C data. We can conclude that composts are highly recalcitrant with prolonged C storage in non-mineral soil fractions. The sensitivity of the natural abundance tracer technique to characterize their fate in soil improves during composting, as a more homogeneous C isotope signature develops, in addition to the relatively large amounts of stable C applied in composts.     

Changes in Properties of Composting Rice Husk and Their Effects on Soil and Cocoa Growth

The worldwide production of rice husk, a by‐product and agrowaste that causes serious environmental problems, may reach 116 million t y^?1. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine the physicochemical changes of rice husk and its structural chemistry during composting using ¹³carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR) and (ii) to determine the effect of the composted rice husk (CRH) on the properties of Oxisol and cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) growth under glasshouse conditions. Results showed an active composting phase occurred at the first 53 days as revealed by high carbon dioxide (CO₂)‐C (40–71 µg g^?1 h^?1) production, followed by a matured composting phase occurring at 54–116 days as revealed by decreasing in CO₂‐C production (10 µg g^?1 h^?1). The active composting was accompanied by increases in electrical conductivity (EC), pH, ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), and nitrate (NO₃), whereas during the matured composting phase, the EC and cation exchange capacity increased but pH, NH₄ ⁺, and NO₃ ^?1 decreased. The ash of the produced compost contains mainly calcium (Ca), potassium (K), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), and phosphorus (P) as essential nutrients. The CP/MAS ¹³C NMR spectra before and after various composting times indicated the dominance of sharp and well‐resolved signal peaks at O‐alkyl C and di‐O‐alkyl C regions (67–73%), which are characteristic of cellulose. The percentage of N‐alky/methoxyl was 23–26% whereas phenolic, carboxyl, and alkyl C types were less than 3% each. The application of the CRH to an Oxisol significantly increased soil pH and Ca, Mg, K, sodium (Na), and silicon (Si) ions of in situ soil solution but decreased the amounts of toxic ions [aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe)]. The CRH was found to increase cocoa growth up to 37%.     

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.     

NH3 Volatilization,N2O Emission and Microbial Biomass Turnover from 15N-Labeled Manure Under Laboratory Conditions

On irrigated agricultural soils from semi-arid and arid regions, ammonia (NH₃) volatilization and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission can be a considerable source of N losses. This study was designed to test the capture of ¹⁵N loss as NH₃ and N₂O from previous and recent manure application using a sandy, calcareous soil from Oman amended one or two times with ¹⁵N labeled manure to elucidate microbial turnover processes under laboratory conditions. The system allowed to detect ¹⁵N enrichments in evolved N₂O-N and NH₃-N of up to 17% and 9%, respectively, and total N, K₂SO₄ extractable N and microbial N pools from previous and recent ¹⁵N labeled manure applications of up to 7%, 8%, and 15%. One time manured soil had higher cumulative N₂O-N emissions (141 µg kg^?1) than repeatedly manured soil with 43 µg kg^?1 of which only 22% derived from recent manure application indicating a priming effect.     

Changes in natural 15N abundance in paddy soils under different,long-term soil management regimes in the Tohoku region of Japan

Abstract

Long-term temporal changes in natural ¹⁵N abundance (δ¹⁵N value) in paddy soils from long-term field experiments with livestock manure and rice straw composts, and in the composts used for the experiments, were investigated. These field experiments using livestock manure and rice straw composts had been conducted since 1973 and 1968, respectively. In both experiments, control plots to which no compost had been applied were also maintained. The δ¹⁵N values of livestock manure compost reflected the composting method. Composting period had no significant effect on the δ¹⁵N value of rice straw compost. The δ¹⁵N values increased in soils to which livestock manure compost was successively applied, and tended to decrease in soils without compost. In soils to which rice straw compost was successively applied, the δ¹⁵N values of the soils remained constant. Conversely, δ¹⁵N values in soils without rice straw compost decreased. The downward trend in δ¹⁵N values observed in soils to which compost and chemical N fertilizer were not applied could be attributed to the natural input of N, which had a lower δ¹⁵N value than the soils. Thus, the transition of the δ¹⁵N values in soils observed in long-term paddy field experiments indicated that the δ¹⁵N values of paddy soils could be affected by natural N input in addition to extraneous N that was applied in the form of chemical N fertilizers and organic materials.     

Application rate and composting method affect the immediate and residual manure fertilizer value in a maize–rice–rice–maize cropping sequence on a degraded soil in northern Vietnam

A field experiment was carried out in northern Vietnam to investigate the effects of adding different additives [rice (Oriza sativa L.) straw only, or rice straw with added lime, superphosphate (SSP), urea or a mixture of selected microorganism species] on nitrogen (N) losses and nutrient concentrations in manure composts. The composts and fresh manure were applied to a three-crop per year sequence (maize–rice–rice) on a degraded soil (Plinthic Acrisol/Plinthaquult) to investigate the effects of manure type on crop yield, N uptake and fertilizer value. Total N losses during composting with SSP were 20% of initial total N, while with other additives they were 30–35%. With SSP as a compost additive, 65–85% of the initial ammonium-N (NH₄-N) in the manure remained in the compost compared with 25% for microorganisms and 30% for lime. Nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUE) of fresh manure was lower than that of composted manure when applied to maize (Zea mays L.), but higher when applied to rice (Oriza sativa L.). The NUE of compost with SSP was generally higher than that of compost with straw only and lime. The mineral fertilizer equivalent (MFE) of manure types for maize decreased in the order: manure composted with SSP?>?manure composted with straw only and fresh manure?>?manure composted with lime. For rice, the corresponding order was: fresh manure?>?manure composted with SSP/microorganisms/urea?>?manure composted with lime/with straw alone. The MFE was higher when 5 tons manure ha^?1 were applied than when 10 tons manure ha^?1 were applied throughout the crop sequence. The residual effect of composted manures (determined in a fourth crop, with no manure applied) was generally 50% higher than that of fresh manure after one year of manure and compost application. Thus, addition of SSP during composting improved the field fertilizer value of composted pig manure the most.     

Feedstock Carbon Influence on Compost Biochemical Stability and Maturity

Quantity and quality of readily degradable carbon influences the composting process especially for compost mixture high in lignocellulotic material. Effects of carbon source on stability and maturity of compost from in-vessel systems are poorly understood. Research was conducted to investigate the effects of carbon composition of feedstock on the evolution of stability indices and reliability of maturity tests for accelerated vessel composting systems. Rice straw, sugarcane bagasse, and coffee hulls were composted in a modified rotary in-vessel composter amended with either cattle or sheep manure. Distinct evolution patterns were observed across carbon sources for temperature, with the sugarcane compost never attaining thermophilic temperatures. Time to peak temperature and return to ambient were significantly different between the rice and coffee compost. Comparatively, organic matter degradation followed a similar pattern for all carbon sources, although rice straw showed the faster degradative rate and coffee hulls the greatest overall loss. Both pH and electrical conductivity were inappropriate stability indices across carbon sources, while the NH₄⁺/NO₃^? ratio was lower than the threshold from week 1. The Solvita® maturity test was the best suited quality indicator and was related to compost respiration. The rice compost at week 12 was the only mature compost with an index value of 7. However, the coffee compost was in the curing stage with a value of 6. In vitro phytotoxicity assays on hot pepper contrasted the Sovita® interpretation for rice compost, which showed the lowest germination index. All compost had a stimulatory effect on cucumber seeds. In vivo seeding assays corroborated in vitro results with rice compost showing the greatest negative effect, augmented at 100% compost inclusion. Carbon source significantly influenced compost stability and maturity indices, which suggests that greater attention should be directed to quality indices in relation to feedstock composition.     

Effect of lignite amendment on carbon and nitrogen mineralization from raw and composted manure during incubation with soil

The application of animal manure as a source of plant nutrients requires the determination of the amount and pattern of nutrient mineralization from manure.A laboratory incubation study was conducted to investigate the influence of lignite amendment and lignite type on carbon(C) and nitrogen(N)mineralization in raw(feedstock) and composted cattle manure following application to soil at 30 and 60 t ha^-1.The mineralization of C and N was determined by measuring changes in CO2 evolution ...     

促腐剂在鸡粪堆肥发酵中的应用研究

选用鸡粪和小麦秸秆为原料进行高温好氧堆肥,研究促腐剂在鸡粪堆肥发酵中的应用。结果表明,接种促腐剂可迅速提高堆肥初期的发酵温度,最高温度超过70℃,但发酵后期降温快,高温加快了堆肥的发酵。发酵20d种子发芽指数达到80%以上;发酵30d含氮量比对照高4.3%,含水量降低3个百分点。综合堆温、C/N、种子发芽指数各项腐熟度指标,接种促腐剂可使鸡粪堆肥腐熟时间比对照提前5d以上。接种促腐剂可降低物料对种子发芽指数的影响,显著缩短发酵时间,加快堆肥物料的水分挥发,使堆肥中的无机营养成分含量相对增加,从而提高鸡粪堆肥的质量。     

Mineralization of carbon and nitrogen from fresh and anaerobically stored sheep manure in soils of different texture

A sandy loam soil was mixed with three different amounts of quartz sand and incubated with (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ (60 g N g^-1 soil) and fresh or anaerobically stored sheep manure (60 g g^-1 soil). The mineralization-immobilization of N and the mineralization of C were studied during 84 days of incubation at 20°C. After 7 days, the amount of unlabelled inorganic N in the manure-treated soils was 6–10 g N g^-1 soil higher than in soils amended with only (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄. However, due to immobilization of labelled inorganic N, the resulting net mineralization of N from manure was insignificant or slightly negative in the three soil-sand mixtures (100% soil+0% quartz sand; 50% soil+50% quartz sand; 25% soil+75% quartz sand). After 84 days, the cumulative CO₂ evolution and the net mineralization of N from the fresh manure were highest in the soil-sand mixutre with the lowest clay content (4% clay); 28% fo the manure C and 18% of the manure N were net mineralized. There was no significant difference between the soil-sand mixtures containing 8% and 16% clay, in which 24% of the manure C and -1% to 4% of the manure N were net mineralized. The higher net mineralization of N in the soil-sand mixture with the lowest clay content was probably caused by a higher remineralization of immobilized N in this soil-sand mixture. Anaerobic storage of the manure reduced the CO₂ evolution rates from the manure C in the three soil-sand mixtures during the initial weeks of decomposition. However, there was no effect of storage on net mineralization of N at the end of the incubation period. Hence, there was no apparent relationship between net mineralization of manure N and C.     

Recycling of Two-Phase Olive-Mill Cake “Alperujo” by Co-composting with Animal Manures

The use of poultry manure or goat/sheep manure in the co-composting of the two-phase olive-mill cake “alperujo” (ALP) with olive leaf (OL) is compared by studying organic-matter mineralization and humification processes during composting and the characteristics of the end products. For this, two different piles (P1 and P2) were prepared using ALP with OL mixed with poultry manure (PM) and goat/sheep manure (GSM), respectively, and composted by the turned windrow composting system. Throughout the composting process, a number of parameters were monitored, such as temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), OM losses, total organic carbon (C_org), total nitrogen (N_t), C_org/N_t ratio, and the germination index (GI). In both piles, the temperature exceeded 55 °C for more than 2 weeks, which ensured maximum pathogen reduction. Organic-matter losses followed a first-order kinetic equation in both piles. The final composts presented a stabilized OM and absence of phytotoxins, as observed in the evolution and final values of the C_org/N_t ratio (C_org/N_t < 20) and the germination index (GI > 50 percent). Therefore, composting can be considered as an efficient treatment to recycle this type of waste, obtaining composts with suitable properties that can be safely used in agriculture.     

Estimation of the amount of nutrients in livestock manure

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci.Plant Nutr., 77, 283–291, 2006)

Nutrient amounts in livestock manure management, including manure treatment and use, were estimated using published statistical data and other information. The eight categories for manure treatment were defined in this study as composting at facility, composting at stockyard, raw feces, dried feces, urine, slurry, purification and other. The three categories for use of manure were defined as application to farmland, sale and exchange and other.

The regional daily excretion units per head of dairy and beef cattle, including the amount of excreta, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), were calculated based on the quantities and qualities of feed in each region. There was found to be a difference in the values for Hokkaido and other regions.

Concerning manure treatment methods in the dairy sector, the sum of the proportion of raw feces and compost at stockyard was high in Hokkaido. On the other hand, the sum of the proportion of composting at facility and dried feces was high in Hokuriku, Tokai, Kinki and Shikoku. In Kyushu, the proportion of slurry production was higher than in any other region.

The amounts of N, P, and K in compost estimated in this study were compared with those calculated from published statistics. The results were as follows. The amounts of N, P, and K in dairy cattle compost, N and K in beef cattle compost, and N in poultry compost in this study were similar to the amounts cited in reported statistics. The amounts of P in beef cattle, swine, and poultry compost in this study were lower than those cited in reported statistics.

As for the use of manure, application to farmland is the most common use of manure in the dairy and beef cattle sector. The proportions of purification, and sale and exchange were high for the swine and poultry sectors, respectively.

Large amounts of liquid manure, such as urine and slurry, are applied to farmland. To clarify the nutrient load resulting from liquid manure, the usable amount of dairy slurry was calculated based on both the standard application rate of fertilizer and the area of grassland and forage crops. As a result, the amount of usable N was lower than the amount of liquid manure N in the Kanto-Tosan, Tokai and Kinki regions.