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Comparison of Maturity Indices for Composting Different Organic Waste

Dr. Md. Kamrul Islam
Senior Sceintific Officer (SSO)
Cotton Research, Training and Seed Multiplication Farm, Sreepur, Gazipur, Bangladesh.

Dr. Donato Mondelli
Researcher
Dipartimento di Biologia e Chimica Agro-Forestale ed Ambientale, Università degli Studi di Bari,Italy

Dr. Ziad Al Chami
Researcher
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari – CIHEAM, Via Ceglie 9, 70010 Valenzano, Italy

Dr. Giancarlo Mimiola
Research Supervisor
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari – CIHEAM, Via Ceglie 9, 70010 Valenzano, Italy

Dr. Stefano Dumontet
Professor
Dipartimento di Scienze per l’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Parthenope”. Via F. Acton, 38, 80133 Napoli, Italy

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Among several methods used to assess maturity of compost, determination of diethyl ether and choloroform extractable lipids seems to be a promising technique as lipids are an important portion of all organic wastes. The aim of this paper was to monitor maturity parameters of compost piles made from different organic sources (cow manure, poultry slaughterhouse, and dairy industry) using different methods. Diethyl ether (DEE) and chloroform (CHCl₃) extractable lipids have been measured during composting and compared to other parameters commonly utilized to study compost stability and maturity (organic carbon, total and inorganic N, CO2 evolution rate, microbial biomass C, and phytotoxicity test). Results suggested none of these parameters may exhaustively describe maturity of composts studied.

Keywords: Maturity indicators, Carbon and Nitrogen evolution, Microbial biomass, Metabolic quotient, Extractable lipids, Phytotoxicity test

Location: Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (Apulia region, Southern Italy)

Start Date: 00-00-2009

End Date: 00-00-2011

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Fertilizer

Objectives:

To monitor maturity parameters for compost piles made from different organic sources .

Methodology:

Three windrows of compost were prepared in a store house of the mediterranean agronomic Institute of Bari (Apulia region, Southern Italy) by mixing 34% of vineyard pruning waste with 66% cattle manure (P₁), 74% of vineyard pruning waste with 26% of poultry slaughterhouse waste (P₂), and 35% of vineyard pruning waste with 65% dairy industry waste (P₃). A C/N ratio of 28 (P₁ and P₂) and 32 (P3) was obtained, respectively. Organic carbon was measured by dry combustion using an automatic analyzer (Thermo Scientific, Flash 2000). Total N was determined according to the Kjeldahl method [38] whereas inorganic N forms (NO3, NO₂ and NH4− ) were determined according to Mulvaney. CO2 evolution rate was measured by incubating 50 g of samples on a dry weight basis (i.e., 60% of moisture) in 1,000 mL air tight containers in presence of an alkaline trap (50 mL of 1 M NaOH) at 25°C for 5 days. Daily respiration was estimated by sampling piles at 25, 94, and 120 days of composting. Samples were incubated as previously described for 10 days. CO2 evolution was monitored daily and cumulated CO2 production was calculated. Linear equations were fitted to data and their angular coefficient was assumed as daily CO₂ production. Metabolic quotient (qCO₂) was calculated as amount of C–CO₂ produced by unit of biomass-C per day. Sequential extraction of lipids was firstly done with diethyl ether (DEE) and successively with chloroform (CHCl₃) using a Soxhlet apparatus on 5 g (d.w.) of samples.The phytotoxicity test was carried out according to Zucconi et al.

Source of Information: Journal of Residuals Science & Technology, 9 (2):55-64. 2012

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.	Budget:
2.	Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Compost maturity should assure suitability of compost for plant growth. The study revealed that none of the single parameters are applicable to identify compost maturity for the cases of organic wastes used here. Although, the process was managed in the same way for all piles. In order to come to an unambiguous maturity index a careful selection of parameters is necessary based on the characteristics of wastes used.

Knowledge Management: Journal