Impact of Composting Food Waste with Green Waste on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Compost Windrows

Windrow composting of green waste as an alternative to green waste disposal in landfills requires an understanding of the impacts on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the development of effective and efficient management strategies to reduce these emissions. The addition of food waste to green waste compost operations is becoming more common, but its effect on GHG emissions is less understood. As more food waste diversion occurs as a result of recent implementation of climate smart policies in California, more information is needed to address the sustainability of composting different combinations of waste types. We monitored GHG emissions from compost windrows comprised of green waste alone and a green/food waste mixture (green waste : food waste = 9:1, by wet weight) at the University of California, Davis Student Farm in 2016 using a modified, open, flow-through chamber technique. When comparing total emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄), the green/food waste mixture produced 110?kg CO₂ eq./ton DM (dry matter, std error = 12.2), which were slightly lower than emissions produced by the green waste alone (152?kg CO₂ eq./ton DM, std error = 15.9). Methane was a large contributor to global warming potential (GWP) of both composting treatments, suggesting that management practices that optimize porosity and air flow in compost piles are promising in reducing emissions from both green waste and green/food waste mixtures.     

Cocomposting of Crawfish and Agricultural Processing By-Products

Disposal of crawfish processing residuals (hereinafter, referred to as crawfish residuals) poses a challenging problem to the rapidly expanding crawfish industry. Cocomposting is examined as a waste management alternative to landfill disposal. Four agricultural processing by-products were evaluated for use as bulking agents in composting crawfish residuals: wood chips, rice hulls, bagasse, and bark. Approximately 5 to 6.5 volumes of each bulking agents were mixed with one volume of crawfish residuals in 0.3-m³ composting reactors. Compost temperature was continuously monitored, and moisture content was maintained within a desirable range. Samples were collected twice weekly throughout the 50-d composting process. Use of bagasse as a bulking agent led to the largest reduction in volatile solids (27.6 percent), organic C (55.3 percent), particle size (64.7 percent), and compost volume (52.8 percent). Finished compost using bagasse contained the greatest concentration of N (18.4 g N/kg and 160 mg NH₄-N/kg). Self-heating patterns and decomposition of crawfish residuals were satisfactory using all four bulking agents, and no odor, insect or other nuisance problems were detected. The finished products of all compost mixtures were suitable for use as mulch or reuse as bulking agents.     

Wood Ash as an Amendment in Municipal Sludge And Yard Waste Composting Processes

Wood ash from a wood-fired, electrical generating plant was examined as a potential amendment in municipal biosolids and yard waste composting applications. The rate of composting and the final compost quality (chemical, physical, and plant growth characteristics) were examined. Yard waste (leaves, grass, and wood chips) and a municipal biosolids-chip mixture were either not amended or amended with wood ash at eight percent or five percent by weight, respectively, and then composted outdoors in insulated, 1700L, aerated reactors. Yard waste piles heated rapidly to 60°C within six to seven days, whereas biosolid piles heated more slowly to a maximum of 52 to 57°C within nine to 11 days. Ash had little, if any, effect on the time-temperature response. In general, ash-amended compost had higher pi I, plant nutrient, and salt contents. Tomato plants (Lycopersicum esculentum) produced 100 percent more shoot biomass in biosolids than in yard waste compost media. Poor plant growth in the yard waste compost was likely due to the high initial pH and salt content of the growth medium. In yard waste media, tomato plants germinated and produced more shoot biomass in the control compost than in the ash-amended compost.

A pH neutralization study indicated that wood fly ash could be used as an economical substitute for lime which is commonly used to stabilize municipal biosolids prior to land filling or land application. Wood fly ash (pH = 13.2-13.4), when added to biosolids at a 2 to 1 ratio by weight, raised the pH of the mixture to 12.0.     

Changes in Availability of Plant Nutrients during Composting of Cow Manure with Poplar Leaf Litter

Safe management of animal and plant waste is one of the world's most important environmental challenges. Composting has been proposed as a useful technique for beneficially recycling wastes. This study showed that significant temporal changes in the nutrient availability occurred during the composting of cow manure with poplar leaf litter within 120 days. In particular, total C in the final compost was directly related to the addition of tree litter and inversely related to the time of composting, whereas extractable P and NO₃ increased with increasing amounts of tree litter and ammonium showed the opposite trend. During the later stages of the composting process higher concentrations of water soluble K, Ca, Mg, and Na were observed. The major benefit observed was that heavy metal concentrations initially present in the manure were significantly reduced during composting. Heavy metals in the final compost decreased in the order: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cd. The increased availability of plant nutrients following composting coupled with the lower extractability of heavy metals indicates that composting may be a sustainable option for agricultural waste recycling and increased productivity.     

MSW Compost Reduces Nitrogen Volatilization During Dairy Manure Composting

Manures lose N through volatilization almost immediately after deposit. Attempts to control losses include the addition of a C source to stimulate nitrogen immobilization. Composting is a treatment process that recommends the addition of carbonaceous materials to achieve a C:N ratio of 30:1 to stimulate degradation and immobilize nitrogen. Dairies near cities may be able to reduce N loss from manures by composting with urban carbonaceous residues such as municipal solid waste (MSW) or MSW compost that, by themselves, have little agronomic value. Studies were conducted using a self-heating laboratory composter where dairy solids were mixed with MSW compost to determine the reduction of N loss during composting. One-to-one mixtures (v/v) of dairy manure solids and MSW compost were composted and NH₃ volatilization, CO₂ evolution and temperatures were compared to composting of manure alone. Addition of MSW compost resulted in increased CO₂ evolution and reduced N loss. Nitrogen loss from composting dairy manure alone was four to ten times greater than that from composting dairy manure mixed with MSW compost. Adjustment of the C:N ratio to 25 by adding MSW compost to manure appeared to be the major factor in reducing N losses.     

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Availability in Groundfish Waste and Chitin-Sludge Cocomposts

Seafood processing generates a substantial volume of wastes. This study examined the feasibility of converting the fish waste into useful fertilizer by composting. Groundfish waste and chitin sludge generated from the production of chitin were composted with red alder or a mixture of western hemlock and Douglas-fir sawdust to produce four composts: alder with groundfish waste (AGF); hemlock/fir with groundfish waste (HGF); alder with chitin sludge (ACS); and hemlock/fir with chitin sludge (HCS). The resulting AGF had a higher total N and a lower C:N ratio than the other three composts. A large portion of the total N in the AGF, HGF, and HCS composts was in inorganic forms (NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^?-N), as opposed to only two percent in the ACS compost. Alder sawdust is more quickly decomposed, which favored N retention and limited nitrification during the composting period. It was less favorable than the hemlock/Douglas fir sawdust for composting with chitin sludge. Corn growth on soil amended with compost was dependent upon both compost type and rate. Nitrogen and P availabilities in all composts except the ACS were high and compost addition enhanced corn yields, tissue N and P concentrations, and N and P up-take. Neither the total N concentration nor the C:N ratio of the composts was an effective measure of compost N availability in the soil. Because soil inorganic N test levels correlated well with the corn biomass, tissue N and N uptake, they should be an effective measure of the overall compost effects on soil N availability and corn growth response. Phosphorus concentration, which increased linearly with increasing compost rates, was related to soil P availability from compost additions and correlated well with corn biomass, tissue P concentration and P uptake under uniform treatments of N and K fertilizers. Composting groundfish waste with alder or hemlock/Douglas-fir sawdust can produce composts with sufficient amounts of available N and P to promote plant growth and is considered to be a viable approach for recycling and utilizing groundfish waste.     

Effect of Treated Wood on Biosolids Composting

The possibility of using construction and demolition (C&;D) waste wood as a bulking material in biosolids composting was investigated. Potential contaminants in C&;D waste wood include arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), and copper (Cu) from treated wood, and lead (Pb) from paints. Untreated and treated woodchips from C&;D wood were mixed with biosolids, composted using an aerated static pile process, and cured. There were no significant differences between untreated and treated woodchips with respect to composting process, time to stability, or product quality. Composting parameters monitored included moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter degradation, fecal coliform levels, and stability by respirometry. Finished compost quality was evaluated in terms of potential toxic elements (PTE) levels. PTE values in treated woodchips (26 ± 35, 29 ± 41, 56 ± 46, and 5 ± 5 µg·g^?1 for As, Cr, Cu, and Pb, respectively) were higher and more variable than those in the untreated woodchips (3 ± 3, 17 ± 8, 13 ± 2, and 0.5 ± 0.0 µg·g^?1). However, both untreated and treated wood compost products met Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Category B values for PTE. In addition, and only molybdenum (Mo) and Cu exceeded Category A thresholds. Biosolids were the most significant contributor of Mo, while Cu contributions came from both biosolids and wood chips; some samples of pressure-treated wood showed concentrations of Cu in the range of 765 to 8,455 µg·g^?1. The results of this study suggest that treated wood from C&;D recycling facilities will not significantly degrade the quality of biosolids compost products.     

Stability Evaluation of Mixed Food Waste Composts

As interest in food waste composting grows, so does the need for proven composting methods. Stability testing has been proposed as a compost quality assurance tool. We conducted this study to: (i) to evaluate the efficacy of simple outdoor composting methods in producing a compost with a low, stable decomposition rate, and (ii) to determine the reliability of simple, 4-h compost stability evaluation methods. Composting was conducted outdoors in winter and spring in Eugene, Oregon without moisture addition. Mixed food waste was combined with screened dairy solids and ground yard trimmings. Sawdust was used to cover windrows for the first 27 d of composting. Compost windrow temperatures remained above 55°C for 30+ d. Carbon dioxide evolved with several 4-h test methods was strongly correlated (r² > 0.7) with CO₂ evolved using a 48-h test. A limited-turn windrow (LTW) composting system produced compost with slightly greater stability than a passively aerated windrow (PAW) composting system. Food waste compost samples had a low CO₂ evolution rate after 71 to 99 d using either composting system. Compost CO₂ evolution rate at 25°C decreased with composting time, reaching approximately 1 to 4 mg CO₂-C g compost C^?1 d^?1 for the PAW method and 0.5 to 2 mg CO₂-C g compost C^?1 d^?1 for the LTW method. Putrescible organic matter in food waste was effectively decomposed in outdoor windrows using composting methods that did not employ forced aeration, self-propelled windrow turners, or manufactured composting vessels. Several 4-h stability tests showed promise for implementation as quality assurance tools.     

两种微生物菌剂对烟草废弃物高温堆肥腐熟进程的影响

以烟草废弃物为主要原料,添加合适比例猪粪进行高温堆肥试验,研究了烟草废弃物堆肥体系中加入两种微生物菌剂（NNY、FB）后的温度、总氮（T-N）、NH4＋-N、C/N、种子发芽指数（GI）的动态变化及其对烟草废弃物堆肥产品品质的影响。结果表明,添加微生物菌剂缩短了烟草废弃物堆肥达到高温的时间,延长了高温分解持续时间,增加全氮含量,加快物料NH4＋-N和C/N比的降低速率,提高种子发芽指数（GI）,加快了烟草废弃物堆肥腐熟化进程。纯烟草废弃物单独堆肥,最高温度为43℃,GI最高为78.4%。添加微生物菌剂NNY、FB的堆肥处理都在堆肥2d后进入高温分解阶段（〉50℃）,高温持续时间分别为15、12d,较仅添加合适猪粪比例处理进入高温分解阶段时间提前2d,高温持续时间分别延长5、2d。至堆肥11d,添加微生物菌剂NNY和FB的堆肥处理种子发芽指数较纯烟草废弃物处理分别增加了185.5%和117.7%,较仅添加合适比例猪粪处理分别增加了41.4%和7.6%。添加NNY、FB微生物菌剂的处理可以显著增加烟草废弃物堆肥产品的N、P、K养分含量,降低堆肥容重,提高堆肥总孔隙度和持水孔隙度,改善了堆肥产品的品质。两种微生物菌剂对烟草废弃物高温腐熟效果较优。     

添加木炭改善猪粪稻壳好氧堆肥工艺及质量

为促进农业废弃物的资源化利用,试验以猪粪和稻壳为原料,用化学分析和仪器分析相结合的方法,研究了添加不同质量分数（0、2.5%、5.0%、7.5% 和10.0%）的木炭对60 d猪粪好氧堆肥过程的影响。结果表明：在堆肥有机质的降解过程中,含-OH、-CH3和-CH2基团的化合物的质量分数逐渐减少,含-C=O、C-O-C、-COO基团和含芳香环类物质的质量分数逐渐增加。添加木炭能促使堆肥物料的降解,随着木炭添加量的增加,在60 d的堆肥过程中,各处理有机碳的质量分数分别降低了12.23%、13.77%、14.88%、15.36%和15.86%,碳氮比分别下降了47.80%、54.98%、56.97%、60.03%和65.73%。与对照相比,添加木炭可延长堆肥高温期的停留时间3～ 5 d,增加堆肥物料的持水能力并降低堆肥产品的电导率;同时,添加木炭还能减少堆肥初期氨气的挥发,提高铵态氮的质量分数,促使堆肥后期硝态氮的转化。堆肥结束时,添加木炭可使硝态氮的质量分数提高55.86%～89.32%,总氮的质量分数提高20.55%～53.07%,雪里蕻种子发芽率提高17.6%～41.2%,萌发指数达1.02～1.44。研究表明,添加木炭能促进堆肥有机物料的降解,加快堆肥腐熟脱毒,增加堆肥产品总氮的质量分数,提高产品质量。木炭作为一种潜在的猪粪堆肥添加剂,在促进农业废弃物资源化利用方面具有广阔的应用前景。     

Urban Waste Management and Potential Agricultural Use in South American Developing Countries: A Case Study of Chimborazo Region (Ecuador)

In South America, a high percentage of urban waste streams are not well managed, implying associated health and environmental risks. In Ecuador, around 2.7 million tons of municipal solid wastes (MSW) are generated annually, with 80 percent located in urban areas. Correct management and hygienic and ecological issues from these increased quantities of waste is the responsibility of municipalities that must provide sewerage, wastewater treatment, and solid waste management, according to the Constitution of the Republic (Art 264). With only seven licensed landfill areas out of thirty-one in total (66 percent mechanized and 34 percent manually sorted), a sustainable waste management model must be developed to reduce environmental hazards and also to obtain new bioproducts such as compost or fertilizers. Agricultural utilization of MSW compost is the most cost-effective management option compared to traditional means such as landfilling or incineration, and this option also enables the recycling of potential plant nutrients. In this work, the problem we addressed was to obtain analytical information about representative MSW samples from different origins and locations within the Chimborazo region in order to establish its potential for composting. In the studied MSW samples (which included sludge from aerobic wastewater treatment plants), high nutrient contents and low concentrations of heavy metals were observed, showing great potential to develop high-quality compost. In addition, improvement of separate collections of food market and/or municipal gardening wastes can provide specific clean waste streams of degradable materials to be managed separately from not separately collected MSW.     

不同材料覆盖对城市裸露土壤理化性质的影响

[目的]研究不同材料覆盖城市裸露土壤的效果,为城市裸露土壤处理及生态美化提供理论指导和依据。[方法]以裸露土壤为对照,设置木片、园林废弃物、鹅卵石、陶粒、有机覆盖垫、分层覆盖(上层园林废弃物,下层园林废弃物堆肥)处理。[结果]不同材料覆盖均能影响土壤性质,但随着时间增长,效果减弱,0—10cm土层较10—20cm土层易受覆盖影响;鹅卵石、陶粒处理显著提高土壤含水量;木片、分层覆盖显著降低土壤容重,提高土壤孔隙度;分层覆盖和园林废弃物覆盖显著降低土壤pH值。有机材料覆盖均能提高土壤有机质和速效养分:其中分层覆盖和园林废弃物覆盖效果较明显,分别可提高土壤碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾含量56.63%,85.73%,85.52%和48.66%,63.11%,25%,而养分供应持续性是分层覆盖和有机覆盖垫覆盖更好。[总结]分层覆盖效果最佳,在海绵城市与绿色化城市建设中具有现实推广意义。     

Forging a Link between Composting and Sustainable Agriculture

? The concept of composting has always been rooted in a soil conservation philosophy that recognizes the role of organic matter in agriculture. The paradox has been that the recent rise in composting interest has come from the need for waste management solutions which emphasize economical and environmental alternatives, not the need for soil improvement and nutrient recycling. This review traces some early researches on the link between compost application and crop productivity and urges greater support for research that shows how compost can reduce pesticide use, improve farm economics and, in general, support the goals of sustainable agriculture.     

Unbalanced nutrient ratios in pelleted compound recycling fertilizers

The aim of this study was to contribute to the development of pelleted compound recycling fertilizers with favourable handling and spreading characteristics and balanced nutrient ratios by combining nitrogen (N)‐ and phosphorus (P)‐rich waste resources (meat bone meal, fish sludge or food waste) with potassium (K)‐rich bottom wood ash. Pelleted compound recycling fertilizers with good durability and low dusting tendency were produced by roll‐pelleting preheated waste resources at a suitable moisture content. However, the nutrient ratios in the final products were insufficiently balanced, with too low N concentrations relative to P and K to meet crop demands. In a bioassay using barley (Hordeum vulgare ) and a nutrient‐deficient sand/peat mixture, the relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE ) of pelleted compound recycling fertilizers and reference recycling fertilizers was 22–42% of that of mineral compound fertilizer. Growth limitation was due to reduced N availability (mineral fertilizer equivalent ‐ MFE = 35–57%) or reduced P availability (MFE  = 20–115%), with the greatest P fertilizer value obtained for digestate based on dairy manure and fish sludge. Availability of K in bottom wood ash was masked by the experimental soil.     

Cocomposting biosolids and municipal organic waste: effects of process management on stabilization and quality

The quality of compost made from the organic fraction of municipal organic waste (MOW), in terms of organic matter and nutrient concentrations, is inferior to that of compost from other feedstocks. The aim of this work was to improve the quality of MOW compost by means of cocomposting with biosolids (at ratios of 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 MOW/biosolids) and vermicomposting. Vermicomposting (ground beds with worms) treatments were prepared from traditional pile material after 40 composting days; ground beds without worms were also included. Several parameters, including pH, electrical conductivity, carbon dioxide production, organic matter, total nitrogen, water-soluble carbon, nitrate, ammonium, and extractable phosphorus, were measured throughout the process. Organic matter in the products at 120 days ranged between 39 and 45%, whereas total nitrogen was between 1.7 and 2%. Considering these parameters, the quality of MOW and biosolids cocompost was better than that of MOW composted alone in a previous study (18% organic matter and 0.7% total nitrogen concentration). Extractable phosphorus was also greatly increased from 128 mg/kg in MOW compost to 542–722 mg/kg in the cocompost. Of the three MOW/biosolids ratios employed, only the 2:1 and 3:1 mixtures were adequate for composting and produced similar product qualities. However, the 2:1 mixture required more turnings and exhibited higher N losses. The improvement of quality by vermicomposting was limited. Compared to traditional piles, it did not affect concentrations of organic matter or total nitrogen. The direct action of worms, measured by comparing ground beds with and without worms, increased nitrate concentrations for mixtures 2:1 and 3:1 and extractable phosphorus concentrations for mixture 3:1.     

Compost Recycling of Wood Fiber Waste Produced by Paper Manufacture

The composting of wood fiber waste from the manufacture of newsprint is described, with a mixture of wood fiber waste:sewage sludge at a ratio of 1:1 giving best results in a trial of shoot growth of Pinus radiata. An alternative chemical nutrient amendment (initial C:N ratio of 60:1) gave a plant response which was not significantly different to that of sewage sludge. Over a five month period volume reductions of up to 39 percent were observed in the composts, providing potential savings in subsequent transport operations. Use of uncomposted materials or addition of fly- or screen-ash compost amendment (12.5 percent or 25 percent v /v) was inhibitory to plant growth. Concentrations of some heavy metals in Hobart city sewage (particularly of chromium) were high, precluding its long-term use as a soil nutrient supplement. In view of the high heavy metal content of sewage sludge and its high volume to nutrient ratio, it was concluded that composting with chemical amendment was the preferred option for future investigation. Such composts would require ash amendment (or lime equivalent) at concentrations lower than those used in this study to counter acidity produced during composting.     

Wood Chip Biofilter Performance of Ammonia Gas From Composting Manure

This study was carried out to investigate the influence of wood chip biofilter properties and the depth of biofilter media, on ammonia emissions during high rate composting of dairy manure mixed with bulking agents. The composting and biofiltration process consisted of two series of tests. Experimental trials lasted three weeks and were composted in a 605 L pilot-scale reactor vessel. Initial conditions of composting and biofiltration process between each of two sets appeared to be similar. The experimental design used replication of three biofilter vessels of wood chips in two series of biofilter medium(total of six tests). The ammonia laden emissions from the composting mixture were passed through biofilter media and collected in the boric acid trap from the compost reactor and biofilter vessels. Temperatures in the compost and biofilter, ammonia emissions, and pressure drop across the biofilter media were monitored throughout all runs. Material masses, moisture contents, pH and various chemical properties were determined for initial and final samples from all runs. Results indicated that ammonia emission was influenced by the depth of biofilter media. Optimum biofilter media depth in a closed wood chip biofilter was 40 cm for the ammonia concentration of allowable condition of less than 50 ppm.     

调节C/N及添加菌剂与木酢液对园林绿化废弃物堆肥效果的影响

为探究C/N、菌剂、木酢液3因子及菌剂与木酢液交互作用对堆肥腐熟效果的影响,寻求最佳堆肥效果的因子水平组合。本研究以园林绿化废弃物为主要原料,通过L9（34）正交设计以鸡粪为C/N调理剂,菌剂和木酢液为添加剂进行堆肥试验。分析比较了各处理堆肥过程中温度、总有机碳、全氮、C/N、pH值、EC值、堆体体积等指标的变化情况,并以种子发芽率试验测定堆肥效果。结果表明,调节C/N比和添加适量菌剂与木酢液均能促使堆肥初温上升,高温期提前并延长,堆肥积温提高,发酵周期缩短,总有机碳降解量和总氮相对含量增加。适当调节C/N和添加适量菌剂均有利于堆肥pH值升高,防止EC值过高,而添加木酢液能明显降低堆肥pH与EC值。C/N、菌剂、木酢液、菌剂与木酢液交互作用对堆肥发芽指数的影响均达极显著水平,且影响效果表现为C/N菌剂木酢液。因素效应的差异显著性检验结果表明,C/N为30效果最好,0.4%菌剂与稀释500倍木酢液的交互作用最大,稀释50倍的木酢液对堆肥微生物活性存在一定的抑制作用。可见,基于种子发芽指数的园林绿化废物堆肥适宜参数组合为C/N30+0.4%菌剂+稀释500倍木酢液。     

膨松剂对厨余垃圾堆肥CH4、N2O和NH3排放的影响

厨余垃圾有别于混合生活垃圾,具有高有机质含量和高含水率等特点,单独堆肥会产生大量CH4、N2O、NH3和渗滤液,为减少厨余垃圾堆肥过程污染物的排放,该文以居民小区产生的经大类粗分后的厨余垃圾为研究对象,以菌糠为膨松剂,设置15%、25%、35% 3个添加质量比（湿基）的堆肥处理,以纯厨余垃圾单独堆肥为对照处理,研究菌糠作为膨松剂对厨余垃圾堆肥过程中CH4、N2O、NH3和渗滤液排放的影响及其最佳添加比例。结果表明,堆肥过程中,添加菌糠可以完全避免厨余垃圾堆肥过程中渗滤液的产生;堆肥结束时,添加15%和25%菌糠的处理堆肥达到腐熟标准,但添加35%的菌糠使堆肥高温期缩短,不利于有机质分解;与对照处理相比,添加15%、25%和35%比例的菌糠均可以减少堆肥过程中CH4和NH3的累计排放量,且减排量与添加比例正相关,但只有添加15%菌糠的堆肥处理明显降低了N2O的排放量;添加质量比为15%和25%菌糠的堆肥处理,CH4和N2O排放总量比厨余垃圾单独堆肥分别减少45.8%、19.6%,而添加质量比为35%的菌糠使CH4和N2O排放总量为厨余垃圾单独堆肥的1.14倍（每t物料,干基）。综上,菌糠作为食用菌种植废弃物,可用作厨余垃圾堆肥膨松剂,在适宜的添加比例条件下,能够在避免堆肥过程中渗滤液产生的同时,减少CH4、N2O和NH3的排放量。研究结果可为厨余垃圾堆肥过程温室气体减排、氮素损失控制和工艺改进提供理论依据和试验基础。     

Cocomposting of Cattle Manure and Hydrocarbon Contaminated Flare Pit Soils

The potential of using composting technology to remediate clayey soils with high levels of crude oil contamination was evaluated. An open air windrow comprised of flare pit soil, manure and wood chips was constructed at Olds College, Composting Technology Centre. Aeration and mixing were carried out by a skid steer loader and composting parameters were monitored for ten months. Temperature profile of this windrow gave cyclic patterns of high and low temperature recordings corresponded to the turning events. Most of the microbial metabolic activity occurred within the mesophilic temperature range and the hydrocarbon degrading microorganism populations remained high throughout the trial. Complete removal of BTEX compounds was achieved within six months and extractable carbons from C₅ to C₁₀ were reduced by 98.7% compared to the initial contaminated soil. Vegetative growth on the composted soil was also evaluated. Barley and timothy plants grown in the composted soil were compared to the control off-lease soil, contaminated soil, and other treatments of varying salinity and organic matter levels. Plant germination, survival, and biomass production was significantly better in the composted soil than in the contaminated soil. Furthermore, barley plants grown in the composted soil were more resilient than those grown in the control off-lease soil.