Collection of ear corn residue and its utilization as a bulking agent for cow manure composting

Abstract

This study examined the collection, storage, and utilization of ear corn residue as a bulking agent for composting. Ear corn residue left in fields was collected by a sequence of windrowing and round baling operations, which showed a collection efficiency of 53%-56%. More than 70% of the corn stalks had lengths shorter than 15 cm. The moisture content of corn residue collected in late October was approximately 58%; it decreased to 23% during storage. Dried corn residue was mixed with raw manure in two different ways, namely using complete mixing (CM) treatment or creating a bottom layer of residue, and a total of 3.4 t of the manure and ear corn residue mixture were composted using a pilot-scale composting apparatus. The results showed that the CM treatment resulted in higher temperature generation and produced less odorous and well-degraded compost after 2 months of composting, while the odorous compounds in the compost with corn residue as the bottom layer remained similar to those of the initial compost. To sufficiently utilize the advantages of the ear corn residue, thorough mixing of the corn residue with raw manure is preferable; this procedure produced well-degraded and safety compost in a shorter time period.

Keywords: compost; ear corn residue; moisture content; roll bales; volatile fatty acids.