Structural Influence on Photooxidative Degradation of Halogenated Phenols

The influence of structure on degradation of five halogenated phenols (XPs) by UV/H₂O₂ process was investigated. The combined influence of type or number of substituents and UV/H₂O₂ process parameters (pH and [H₂O₂]) on the degradation kinetics of 2-fluorophenol (2-FP), 2-chlorophenol (2-CP), 2-bromophenol (2-BP), 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) was studied using modified miscellaneous 3³ full factorial design and response surface modeling (RSM). Studied XPs obey first-order degradation kinetics within the investigated range of process parameters. Determined degradation rate constants (k _obs) were correlated with process and structural parameters by the quadratic polynomial models. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated RSM models’ accuracy and showed that, in addition to pH and [H₂O₂], model terms related with the pollutant structure are highly influential. k _obs of mono-XPs follow the decreasing order 2-FP, 2-CP, and 2-BP, while CPs follow the decreasing order 2-CP, 2,4-DCP, and 2,4,6-TCP. Biodegradability (biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)₅/chemical oxygen demand (COD)) and toxicity (TU) were evaluated prior to the treatment and at the reference time intervals. The observed differences are correlated with the structural characteristics of studied XPs.     

Biochemical Oxygen Demand Relationships in Typical Agricultural Effluents

Understanding the variables controlling biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of effluents from agricultural systems is essential for predicting and managing the water quality risks associated with agricultural production. In this study, short- and long-term oxygen demand behaviors of waters from primarily agricultural sources and their relationships with other parameters were evaluated. A total of 46 water samples were generated from diverse organic sources commonly associated with agricultural activities and analyzed for BOD and other various water quality parameters. Short-term BOD (BOD₂ and BOD₅) were significantly correlated with total organic carbon (TOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) (R ²?=?0.62–0.77, p?<?0.001), likewise to total nitrogen, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and nitrite–nitrogen (NO₂–N) (R ²?=?0.40–0.55, p?<?0.001). Long-term BOD (BOD₆₀) was generally poorly correlated with these C and N fractions. Phosphate (PO₄–P) exhibited a positive and linear relationship with both short- and long-term BOD, whereas chloride (Cl) tended to inhibit oxygen demand. Multivariate combinations of each of TOC, POC, and DOC with NO₂–N, and Cl or PO₄–P improved the predictions of both short- and long-term BOD. The ultimate BOD (BOD_u) derived from the first-order kinetics was highly correlated with BOD₆₀ (R ²?=?0.81, p?<?0.001) whereas BOD₆₀ was correlated with BOD₅ (R ²?=?0.60, p?<?0.001). Overall the results indicated that C and N forms along with PO₄–P and Cl were the dominant factors controlling the oxygen demand behaviors of agricultural effluents.     

Development of QSAR's in soil ecotoxicology: Earthworm toxicity and soil sorption of chlorophenols,chlorobenzenes and chloroanilines

Soil adsorption and the toxicity of four chloroanilines for earthworms were investigated in two soil types. The toxicity tests were carried out with two earthworm species, Eisenia andrei and Lumbricus rubellus. LC₅₀ values in mg kg^?1 dry soil were recalculated towards molar concentrations in pore water using data from soil adsorption experiments. An attempt has been made to develop Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships (QSAR's) using these results and data on five chlorophenols and dichloroaniline in four soils and five chlorobenzenes in two soils published previously (Van Gestel and Ma, 1988, 1990; Van Gestel et al., 1991). Significant QSAR relationships were obtained between 1) adsorption coefficients (log K _om ) and the octanol/water partition coefficient (log k _ow ), and 2) LC₅₀ values (in itμmol L^?1 soil pore water) and log K _ow . It can be concluded that both earthworm species tested are equally sensitive to chlorobenzenes and chloroanilines, E. andrei is more sensitive than L. rubellus to chlorophenols.     

BOD,COD and TOC studies of petroleum base cutting fluids

The biological oxidation criteria of 21 oil-in-water metal working lubricants have been examined using classical Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyses. The O₂ required by unacclimated sewage microorganisms ranged from 14 000 to 297 000 mg O₂ l^?1 lubricant. Based on the initial COD and/or TOC, the extent of biological oxidation ranged from 1.6 to 35.0% over the five day test period.     

Waste loadings from two freshwater Atlantic Salmon Juvenile farms in Scotland

Studies of waste generation from the freshwater phase of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) production have not been substantially updated since the mid 1980's, and advances in husbandry prectices designed to reduce wastage which have taken place in that period therefore remain unconsidered. In order to determine if reductions have been achieved, two Scottish fish farms were visited on a number of occasions during one year, and outputs of suspended solids (SS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) (NH₃+NH₄ ⁺), dissolved reactive and total phosphorus (DRP, TP) were monitored. The range of waste loadings obtained were 9.1–10.0 kg TP t fish^?2 yr^?1, 410 kg BOD₅ t fish^?1 yr^?1, 191–606 kg SS t fish^?1 y^?1, and 20.3–39.3 kg TAN-N t fish^?1 yr^?1. Compared to existing data, a greater range of daily waste loadings were observed, suggesting that more frequent monitoring is required to reduce variations observed in the data set, and to obtain accurate information on waste outputs from such operations. Modifications of feeding methods remains a route through which further reductions in waste outputs may be made.     

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%.     

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.     

The Influence of Humification Degree of Humic Acid on Its Sorption of Norfloxacin During Sewage Sludge Composting

Norfloxacin (NOR), an antibiotic widely used in livestock and poultry production, has become ubiquitous in the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems as a result of veterinary excretion of the parent compound or its active metabolites. The sorption of NOR onto humic acid (HA) may influence the fate of NOR in the environment. In the present study, HA was extracted from sewage sludge in different composting stages of days 0, 10, 30, and 70 to investigate the sorption of NOR onto HA as affected by the humification degree of HA. The results of elemental and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum analyses showed that the contents of aromatic and carboxylic groups in HA increased with composting time, indicating an increase of humification degree. The result of sorption experiments demonstrated that the HA had a high sorption capacity for NOR with strong nonlinearity. A two-stage sorption was observed in the sorption process with an equilibration time of 48 h. Both the Freundlich model (Adj. R² range 0.988–0.994) and Langmuir model (Adj. R ² range 0.917–0.928) fitted well with all sorption isotherms of the HA samples of different humification degrees. Moreover, the increase of sorption distribution coefficient (K _d ) value with composting time indicated that the sorption affinity of HA for NOR increased with increasing humification degree of HA. The major sorption mechanism was the interaction between NOR and rich aromatic moieties and carboxylic group in the HA.     

Aluminium speciation: Variations caused by the choice of analytical method and by sample storage

We have compared a new FIA method (M1) for aluminium speciation in natural waters and a manual one based on one of Driscoll's proposals (M2). In synthetic solutions, aluminium's fluoro complexes were measured as ‘labile monomeric AP (Al _i ) by M2, but not as ‘quickly reacting Al’ (Al _qr ) by M1. Aluminium's complexes with Nordic Reference Humic Acid were measured neither as Al _i nor as Al _qr , and the same result was obtained for Al's citrato complexes. After excluding aluminium's fluoro complexes from Al _i , the results of the two methods agreed well for soil leaching samples and fairly well for natural water samples. Detection limits: 10μg L^?1 (ca. 0.4 μM) for both methods. Sample throughputs: M1∶66 injections h^?1; M2∶5 samples h^?1. Repeatabilities (RSD) on natural water samples: M1∶0.6–5.8% and M2 0.7–4.6%. Sample storage studies on soil solutions (FIA method) indicated that storage effects were ‘sample type specific’. A sample with a low level of Al _qr and a high DOC level (P2A) was more sensitive to storage than one with a high [Al] _qr and a low [DOC] (P2B^*). The decrease in [Al] _qr was statistically significant after 10 h (P2A) and 24 h (P2B^*), respectively. After 3 days' storage, [Al] _qr had decreased by some 40% in P2A, while the decrease in P2B^* was less than 10% after 8 days. The results of this part of the study also emphasize the importance of careful method standardization in sample storage studies.     

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     

Chemical and microbiological parameters for the characterisation of the stability and maturity of pruning waste compost

Composting of pruning waste, leaves and grass clippings was monitored by different parameters. A windrow composting pile, having the dimensions 2.5 m (height) x 30 m (length) was establish. The maturation of pruning waste compost was accompanied by a decline in NH₄ ⁺-N concentration, water soluble C (WSC) and an increase in NO₃ ^–-N content. Both organic matter (OM) content and total N (TN) losses during composting followed a first-order kinetic equation. These results were in agreement with the microbiological activity measured either by the CO₂ respiration or dehydrogenase (DH-ase) activity during the process. Statistically significant correlations were found between DH-ase activity, easily biodegradable organic C forms, NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N concentrations and organic matter content and N losses. For this reason, DH-ase activity and the CO₂ evolution could be used as good indicators of pruning waste compost maturity. In contrast, humification parameters data from the organic matter fractionation did not agree with the initially expected values and did not contribute to the assessment of compost maturity. Neither the cation exchange capacity nor the germination index showed a clear tendency during the composting time, suggesting that these parameters are not suitable for evaluating the dynamics of the process.     

Assessment of Luffa cylindrica as Support in Biofilms Reactors for the Biological Treatment of Domestic Wastewater

A simultaneous treatment of BOD, phosphorous and ammonia in artificial wastewater was carried out in biofilm reactors with Luffa cylíndrica as organic support and compared with PVC's support under variations of dissolved oxygen of 1.5 a 3.0 mg l^?1 in the same reactor. During semicontinous treatment, the removal of BOD (92.5%) with Luffa cilíndrica was higher than PVC support (80%). Nitrification only existed at levels of oxygen of 3 mg l^?1, showed in the effluent a final concentration of ammonium of 17 and 19 mg l^?1 for Luffa cilíndrica and PVC support, respectively. In reactors with Luffa cilíndrica a higher percentage of P removal (40%) was reached, while no elimination in reactors with PVC was observed. The formation of anaerobic-aerobic zones inside the natural support probably allowed the increase in the efficiency of removal of phosphorous. Oxidation of organic matter, P removal and nitrification can be achieved with the variation of oxygen inside of the same biofilm reactor using L. cylindrical as support material.     

Copper Release, Speciation, and Toxicity Following Multiple Floodings of Copper Enriched Agriculture Soils: Implications in Everglades Restoration

This study characterizes the effects of water–soil flooding volume ratio and flooding time on copper (Cu) desorption and toxicity following multiple floodings of field-collected soils from agricultural sites acquired under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) in south Florida. Soils from four field sites were flooded with three water–soil ratios (2, 4, and 6 [water] to 1 [soil]) and held for 14 days to characterize the effects of volume ratio and flooding duration on Cu desorption (volume ratio and flooding duration study). Desorption of Cu was also characterized by flooding soils four times from seven field sites with a volume ratio of 2 (water) to 1 (soil) (multiple flooding study). Acute toxicity tests were also conducted using overlying waters from the first flooding event to characterize the effects of Cu on the survival of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), cladocerans (Daphnia magna), amphipods (Hyalella azteca), midges (Chironomus tentans), duckweed (Lemna minor), and Florida apple snails (Pomacea paludosa). Acute tests were also conducted with D. magna exposed to overlying water from the second and third flooding events. Results indicate that dissolved Cu concentrations in overlying water increased with flooding duration and decreased with volume ratio. In the multiple flooding study, initial Cu concentrations in soils ranged from 5 to 223 mg/kg (dw) and were similar to Cu concentration after four flooding events, indicating retention of Cu in soils. Copper desorption was dependent on soil Cu content and soil characteristics. Total Cu concentration in overlying water (Cu_w) was a function of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), alkalinity, and soil Cu concentration (Cu_s): log(Cu_w)?=?1.2909?+?0.0279 (DOC)?+?0.0026 (Cu_s)???0.0038 (alkalinity). The model was validated and highly predictive. Most of the desorbed Cu in the water column complexed with organic matter in the soils and accounted for 99% of the total dissolved Cu. Although total dissolved Cu concentrations in overlying water did not significantly decrease with number of flooding events, concentrations of free Cu²⁺ increased with the number of flooding events, due to a decrease in DOC concentrations. The fraction of bioavailable Cu species (Cu²⁺, CuOH⁺, CuCO₃) was also less than 1% of the total Cu. Overlying water from the first flooding event was only acutely toxic to the Florida apple snail from one site. However, overlying water from the third flooding of six out of seven soils was acutely toxic to D. magna. The decrease in DOC concentrations and increase in bioavailable Cu²⁺ species may explain the changes in acute toxicity to D. magna. Results of this study reveal potential for high Cu bioavailability (Cu²⁺) and toxicity to aquatic biota overtime in inundated agricultural lands acquired under the CERP.     

Bioconversion of Sewage Sludge and Industrially Produced Woodchips

Platinum mines produce large amounts (750 m³ per month) of woodchips as by-product during ore extraction, posing environmental hazards but also a possible source of organic material to be applied in revegetating tailing dams. The aims of this study were to assess the effectiveness of different bioconversion strategies viz. composting, vermicomposting and a commercial micro-organism inoculant (EM). Woodchips (WC) and sewage sludge (SS) with a mixing ratio of 3:1 were composted and vermicomposted for 112 days and the generated products evaluated in terms of their chemical and physical characteristics. Despite low temperatures (33 °C) in all the treatments, no Escherichia coli or Salmonella was detected in any of the end-products. No significant (P ≥ 0.05) difference in the mean percentage change of C in the different bioconversion strategies was observed and it was only in the SS+WC and SS+WC+EM groups that the soil available P (P-Bray 1) increase was statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05). Treatments containing SS showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) decreases in NH₄ ⁺, whereas NO₂ ^- and NO₃ ^-increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05). The NH₄ ⁺:NO₃ ^- ratios in the treatments containing SS were lower than 0.16, ranging from 0.011-0.0016, which is an indication of the maturity of the compost. Total solids and ash contents showed an increase, while the volatile solids and the lignin decreased, but it was only in the vermicomposted treatments that these changes were statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05). The percentage neutral detergent fibre (%NDF) and %cellulose decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in all the treatments containing SS and particle size analysis indicated higher reductions in the vermicomposted treatments. It is concluded that vermicomposting of industrially produced woodchips and sewage sludge is more effective than composting and that the addition of a microbial inoculant did not have a significant effect on the decomposition process.     

Physicochemical,including spectroscopic,and biological analyses during composting of green tea waste and rice bran

The aims of this study were to monitor the changes in physicochemical, including spectroscopic, and biological characteristics during composting of green tea waste–rice bran compost (GRC) and to define parameters suitable for evaluating the stability of GRC. Compost pile temperature reflected the initiation and stabilization of the composting process. The pH, electrical conductivity, NO₃ ⁻-N content, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio were measured as chemical properties of the compost. The color (CIELAB variables), humification index (the absorption ratio Q _4/6 = A ₄₇₂ / A ₆₆₄ of 0.5 M NaOH extracts), absorption at 665 nm of acetone extracts, and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra were measured to evaluate the organic matter transformation; germination of komatsuna or tomato seeds was measured to assess the potential phytotoxicity of composting materials during composting. No single parameter was capable of giving substantial information on the composting process, the nutrient balance, phytotoxicity, and organic matter decomposition. The FT-IR spectra at 3,300, 2,930, 2,852, and 1,065 cm⁻¹ provided information on the molecular transformation of GRC during composting and they decreased over the composting. Most of the assayed parameters showed no further change after about 90 days of composting suggesting that GRC can be used for agricultural purposes after this period.     

Local variation in climate and land use during the time of the major kingdoms of the Tigray Plateau in Ethiopia and Eritrea

The Tigray Plateau of Ethiopia and Eritrea is vulnerable to environmental change, yet environmental influences on the rise and fall of the civilizations that once existed there are almost unexplored. We sampled sections of gully walls for palaeoenvironmental proxies from two sites: 1) Adi Kolen on the southern outskirts of the Plateau's most developed former empire, the Aksumite, and 2) Adigrat near polities dating to at least ca. 3000 cal yr BP. A multi-proxy approach for examining local variation in palaeoenvironments was evaluated that included stable isotopic and elemental analyses (δ¹³C_SOM, δ¹⁵N, %TOC, and %TN) of soil, and charcoal identification. An increase in δ¹⁵N values from older soils in Adi Kolen (4400 cal yr BP) and Adigrat (2900 cal yr BP) until 1200 cal yr BP is not explained by changes in δ¹⁵N that occur with time in an unchanging environment. It may instead indicate an overall decrease in rainfall from the earlier times until 1200 cal yr BP. In one Adigrat section, the decreases in organic δ¹³C and increases in C/N molar ratios from older to younger soil could have resulted from changes that occur over time, per se. In the remaining sections, however, δ¹³C_SOM trends more likely reflect changes in the biomass of C₄ relative to C₃ plants (% C₄ biomass). Changes in% C₄ biomass may reflect climate and/or land use. Deciphering which may be aided by analyses of the other proxies. Identified charcoal suggests that both sites supported some juniper forest types until very recently but that forests may have been a more important and dynamic component of Adigrat's vegetation history than Adi Kolen's. If environment affected the trajectories of the kingdoms of the Tigray Plateau, these results suggest that the exact nature of the changes in climate differed among kingdoms. The kingdoms prior to 1200 cal yr BP may have been exposed to increasing aridity punctuated with relatively wetter intervals. Thereafter, general changes in climate are not apparent. Land clearing dynamics are likely to have had a more consistent effect on the trajectories of kingdoms than climate changes.     

Evaluation of Changes in CEC During Composting

Changes in cation exchange capacity (CEC) during composting were evaluated with respect to compost amending, and compost processing. CEC_dm (CEC on dry matter basis), CEC_om (CEC on organic matter basis), and CEC_C (CEC on carbon basis) are parameters used for describing properties of composts. In this study effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) was determined during drum composting; sampling from the infeed (FM) and the outfeed (DC0), and during curing in experimental heaps; sampling when the compost was turned first time (DC1), second time (DC2), and third time (DC3). The ECEC_dm was 18.1 (cmol+/kg) in FM, 35.5 in DC0 and 70.5 in DC3; this rise in ECEC_dm being beneficial from compost amendment standpoint. The ECEC_om was 20.6 (cmol+/kg) in FM, 41.5 in DCO and 89.8 in DC3, whereas ECEC_C was 39.3 (cmol+/kg) in FM, 77.2 in DCO and 183.1 in DC3. When ECEC was expressed on carbon mole basis (ECEC_molC), it was c. 0.5 (cmol+/Cmol) in FM, c. 0.9 in DC0 and c. 2.2 in DC3. These changes in ECEC_om, ECEC_C and ECEC_molC are valuable from the compost quality standpoint. Because the basis of CECdm, as well as, of CEC_om and CEC_C, is affected by composting, they can not be used in determining the effects of composting on the actual number of CEC sites. The amount of ash is not affected by composting, and thus ash basis can be used for determining the effects of composting on the actual number of cation sites. It was shown in this study, that during composting of manure the actual number of effective cation exchange sites increased from DC1 to DC3 by 34 percent, whereas at the same time ECEC_dm, ECEC_om and ECEC_C increased by 99 percent, 116 percent, and 137 percent, respectively. Based on CEC data reported in this paper and in compost literature, it was concluded, that changes in the number of CEC sites due to composting is overemphasized, when unanchored CEC_dm, CEC_om or CEC_C is used.     

Composting of Tropical Toxic Weed Lantana camera L. Biomass and Its Suitability for Agronomic Applications

ABSTRACT

Lantana camara is an evergreen, which is the most notorious toxic weed of the terrestrial ecosystem. It is native to subtropical and tropical America, but a few taxa are indigenous to tropical Asia and Africa. An enormous quantity of green foliage is produced by this weed, which cannot be used as livestock feed due to its toxic properties. Management through utilization seems the only sustainable option for this problem. In this study, the composting of Lantana biomass was done and changes in chemical characteristics of waste biomass were measured. The composting caused decreases in pH, organic carbon, C:N ratio _totK and _totC by 2.0-, 1.25-, 1.66-, and 19-fold, respectively, but increases in electrical conductivity (EC), ash content, _totN, _totP, _totZn, and _totMg of 2.0-, 1.11-, 3.36-, 1.76-, 1.28-, and 1.70-fold, respectively. The C/N ratio (20.1) and soil respiration rate (47.12–66.20 mg CO₂-C/100 g) suggested the compost maturity at 52 days. The high bacterial (38.67 CFU × 10^?7 g^?1), fungal (30.0 CFU × 10^?3 g^?1), and actinomycetes (32.0 CFU × 10^?5 g^?1) population in composted material suggested the suitability of compost for agronomic purposes. Phytotoxity measured through compost:water extract and compost pot trial suggested the germination index (GI) in the ranges of 52.3%–122.3% and 74.5%–166.9%, respectively. The high ranges of chlorophyll, protein, and carotenoids in seedling than control suggested the non-toxicity of ready materials. Results suggested that composting can be a potential technology to manage Lantana biomass for sustainable land fertility management programs.     

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.     

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.