Pedosphere 11(3): 243--250, 2001
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2001 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Chemical and biological evaluation of maturity of pig manure compost at different C/N ratios |
| HUANG Guo-Feng1, WU Qi-Tang1, LI Fang-Bai1 and J. W. C. WONG2 |
1 College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642 (China)
2 Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong (China) |
| ABSTRACT |
| Aerobic static pile composting (mechanical turning every 3 days) of pig manure was prepared at 8 m3 windrow heaps. Sawdust was used as the bulking agent to provide additional carbon and to increase the porosity of the substrate. Two treatments at initial C/N ratios of 30 and 15, respectively, were designed in the study. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC), soluble NH4+-N, C/N ratios in solid and aqueous phases, E4/E6 ratios, and seed germination index (GI) were determined to evaluate the maturity of the co-composts. Seed germination index, a biological parameter, was suggested as one of the most reliable maturity indicators for organic compost. The results showed that the treatment at the initial C/N ratio of 30 reached maturity after 49 days of composting; however, the treatment at the initial C/N ratio of 15 should require composting time of longer than 63 days to obtain maturation. Chemical multi-indicator evaluation was necessary, and the GI measurement was the recommended approach for maturity evaluation in the study. |
| Key Words: C/N ratio, composting, maturity, pig manure |
| Citation: Huang, G. F., Wu, Q. T., Li, F. B. and Wong, W. C. 2001. Chemical and biological evaluation of maturity of pig manure compost at different C/N ratios. Pedosphere. 11(3): 243-250. |
| |
|
View Full Text
|
|
|
|
