Maturity indices in co-composting of chicken manure and sawdust with biochar

Naser Khan; Ian Clark; Miguel A Sánchez-Monedero; Syd Shea; Sebastian Meier; Nanthi Bolan

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2014.02.123

Maturity indices in co-composting of chicken manure and sawdust with biochar

Bioresour Technol. 2014 Sep:168:245-51. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.02.123. Epub 2014 Mar 6.

Authors

Naser Khan¹, Ian Clark², Miguel A Sánchez-Monedero³, Syd Shea⁴, Sebastian Meier⁵, Nanthi Bolan⁶

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation (CERAR), Building X, University Blvd., University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contaminants Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), Building X, University Blvd., University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia; School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Building P, Materials Lane, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia. Electronic address: naser.khan@mymail.unisa.edu.au.
² School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Building P, Materials Lane, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
³ Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), Department of Soil Conservation and Waste Management, Campus Universitario de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
⁴ Environmental and Natural Resource Management Consultants Pty Ltd, 59 Solomon St., Fremantle, WA 6160, Australia.
⁵ Scientific and Technological Bio-recourse Nucleus, BIOREN-UFRO, Universidad de la Frontera, P.O. 54-D, Temuco, Chile.
⁶ Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation (CERAR), Building X, University Blvd., University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contaminants Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), Building X, University Blvd., University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.

PMID: 24666624
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.02.123

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Ammonia; DOC; Manure; Nitrate; Seed germination.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Ammonium Compounds / analysis
Animals
Carbon / analysis
Carbon Dioxide / analysis
Charcoal / chemistry*
Chickens
Germination
Lepidium / growth & development
Manure / analysis*
Nitrates / analysis
Nitrogen / analysis
Soil*
Temperature
Wood / chemistry*

Substances

Ammonium Compounds
Manure
Nitrates
Soil
biochar
Carbon Dioxide
Charcoal
Carbon
Nitrogen