Abstract
Effect of material temperatures on decomposition and nitrogen conversion during compost maturing was investigated using a commercial compost made of dairy caw manure and shredding bark. After adjustment of cornpost moisture at 50%w.b., maturing process was carried out in 4L of crossed reactor with a small airflow for 8 weeks.HomePage
The oxygen consumption rate became maximum 0.3 day after the start of incubation, and the maximum values were higher in due order of the temperature of 60oC, 40oC, 25oC. Cumulative oxygen consumption and decomposition rate of volatile matter became larger as the higher temperature. Total nitrogen in the initial compost was 12.8 gN¥kg-1, and it consisted 99% of organic nitrogen. During this maturing process, ammoniacal nitrogen increased at 60oC, and nitric nitrogen increased at 40oC and 25oC. Nitric nitrogen in the matured compost at 40oC was 1.44gN¥kg-1, and it formed 10% of total nitrogen. As the results, the convertibility of organic nitrogen into inorganic nitrogen was also affected by temperature during compost maturing.Keywords: livestock manure, composting, composting facility, compost maturing, temperature, decomposition, nitrite, ammoniacal nitrogen