In this study, we demonstrate that the addition of earthworm castings (EC) in kitchen waste composting reduces ammonia and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improves compost maturity. Kitchen waste (KW) was mixed with sawdust at a ratio of 7:3 as the compost stock. Four treatments with different proportions of EC added (0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, and 7.5% on the basis of the initial kitchen waste mass) were designed and utilized in a composting process lasting 85 days. The results showed that the GHG and ammonia emissions were considerably reduced in the treatments with EC added. In addition, EC amendment prolonged the thermophilic stage and shortened the composting period. The addition of EC reduced ammonia, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions by 61%, 48%, and 94%, respectively, also indicating that nitrogen in the compost was conserved. Nitrogen and major nutrients were best preserved in the EC 7.5% treatment, which produced a compost product with a better nutrient profile. Furthermore, the total global warming potential of the KW composting process was reduced by 74% by using the mixture with EC. An effective reduction in GHG emissions was observed already with the addition of 2.5% EC, but a significant reduction in ammonia emissions was observed for the EC 7.5% treatment. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that EC is an effective additive in KW composting. More specifically, addition of EC at 7.5% of the initial KW mass was most recommendable for mitigating potential global warming effects and improving compost quality.

中文翻译：

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添加蚯蚓铸件可减少气体排放并提高厨余堆肥的堆肥质量

在这项研究中，我们证明在厨余堆肥中添加蚯蚓铸件 (EC) 可减少氨和温室气体 (GHG) 排放并提高堆肥成熟度。厨余 (KW) 与锯末以 7:3 的比例混合作为堆肥原料。在持续 85 天的堆肥过程中设计并使用了四种添加不同比例的 EC（基于初始厨余垃圾质量的 0%、2.5%、5.0% 和 7.5%）的处理。结果表明，在添加 EC 的处理中，温室气体和氨的排放量显着降低。此外，EC的修正延长了嗜热期，缩短了堆肥期。添加 EC 将氨、甲烷和一氧化二氮的排放量分别减少了 61%、48% 和 94%，这也表明堆肥中的氮得到了保护。氮和主要营养物质在 EC 7.5% 处理中得到最好的保存，产生的堆肥产品具有更好的营养成分。此外，通过使用与 EC 的混合物，KW 堆肥过程的总全球变暖潜势降低了 74%。通过添加 2.5% EC 已经观察到温室气体排放量的有效减少，但在 EC 7.5% 处理中观察到氨排放量显着减少。因此，本研究结果表明，EC 是 KW 堆肥中的有效添加剂。更具体地说，最推荐在初始 KW 质量的 7.5% 处添加 EC，以减轻潜在的全球变暖效应和提高堆肥质量。通过使用与 EC 的混合物，KW 堆肥过程的总全球变暖潜势降低了 74%。通过添加 2.5% EC 已经观察到温室气体排放量的有效减少，但在 EC 7.5% 处理中观察到氨排放量显着减少。因此，本研究结果表明，EC 是 KW 堆肥中的有效添加剂。更具体地说，最推荐在初始 KW 质量的 7.5% 处添加 EC，以减轻潜在的全球变暖效应和提高堆肥质量。通过使用与 EC 的混合物，KW 堆肥过程的总全球变暖潜势降低了 74%。通过添加 2.5% EC 已经观察到温室气体排放量的有效减少，但在 EC 7.5% 处理中观察到氨排放量显着减少。因此，本研究结果表明，EC 是 KW 堆肥中的有效添加剂。更具体地说，最推荐在初始 KW 质量的 7.5% 处添加 EC，以减轻潜在的全球变暖效应和提高堆肥质量。这项研究的结果表明，EC 是 KW 堆肥中的有效添加剂。更具体地说，最推荐在初始 KW 质量的 7.5% 处添加 EC，以减轻潜在的全球变暖效应和提高堆肥质量。这项研究的结果表明，EC 是 KW 堆肥中的有效添加剂。更具体地说，最推荐在初始 KW 质量的 7.5% 处添加 EC，以减轻潜在的全球变暖效应和提高堆肥质量。