TY - JOUR
T1 - Maturity indices in co-composting of chicken manure and sawdust with biochar
AU - Khan, Naser
AU - Clark, Ian
AU - Sánchez-Monedero, Miguel A.
AU - Shea, Syd
AU - Meier, Sebastian
AU - Bolan, Nanthi
PY - 2014/9
Y1 - 2014/9
N2 - Several maturity indices were evaluated for in-vessel co-composting of chicken manure and pine sawdust with three different biochars. All the seven mixtures (piles) contained chicken manure and sawdust. Six of these piles contained biochar; each biochar was added at two rates, 5% and 10% wet weight. The maturity of composts was assessed by C/N, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), seed germination, NO3--N/NH4+-N, and the Solvita test. The C/N values of finished composts were from 31.5 to 35.7, which were much higher than the optimum value of 21 for matured compost. Nevertheless, the rest of the parameters indicated that the composts were matured. The C/N values were high because of the high amount of recalcitrant carbon present in the feedstocks: biochar and sawdust. Biochar treated piles showed higher respiration as well as decomposition of DOC indicating higher microbial activity. Use of biochar in composting may reduce NH3 emission and nitrate leaching.
AB - Several maturity indices were evaluated for in-vessel co-composting of chicken manure and pine sawdust with three different biochars. All the seven mixtures (piles) contained chicken manure and sawdust. Six of these piles contained biochar; each biochar was added at two rates, 5% and 10% wet weight. The maturity of composts was assessed by C/N, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), seed germination, NO3--N/NH4+-N, and the Solvita test. The C/N values of finished composts were from 31.5 to 35.7, which were much higher than the optimum value of 21 for matured compost. Nevertheless, the rest of the parameters indicated that the composts were matured. The C/N values were high because of the high amount of recalcitrant carbon present in the feedstocks: biochar and sawdust. Biochar treated piles showed higher respiration as well as decomposition of DOC indicating higher microbial activity. Use of biochar in composting may reduce NH3 emission and nitrate leaching.
KW - Ammonia
KW - DOC
KW - Manure
KW - Nitrate
KW - Seed germination
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84905017266&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.02.123
DO - 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.02.123
M3 - Article
C2 - 24666624
AN - SCOPUS:84905017266
SN - 0960-8524
VL - 168
SP - 245
EP - 251
JO - Bioresource Technology
JF - Bioresource Technology
ER -