Abstract As a by-product of municipal sewage treatment, sewage sludge must be properly treated to avoid secondary pollution to the environment. Aerobic composting is one of the mainstream technologies in sludge treatment, but nitrogen loss in composting process usually reaches more than 40%, which seriously reduces the fertilizer efficiency of composting products, and at the same time, a large amount

Abstract This study aimed at measuring the effect of vermicompost on soil physical and chemical properties and runoff quality and quantity in agro-ecosystems in Northern Iran. Thus, runoff measurement plots of 1 × 5 m were set up in sloping lands under natural rainfall during 5 months. Runoff quality and quantity, soil properties, and plant growth were measured. This study shows that the amount of

Abstract This study aims to investigate the characteristics of night soil/horse manure with leaf co-composting using aerobic static composting method. Two influencing factors, including composting materials and aeration pattern, were investigated by determining the change in the principal physicochemical properties, i.e. temperature, volatile solid, carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio

Abstract Degradation rate of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a compostable plastic, is affected by its physical properties and environmental conditions. Since PLA with different physical properties enter composting systems, investigation of degradation of PLA with strong physical properties in compost at different temperatures and its influence on compost fungal community structure are the main concerns of

Abstract The effect of organic fertilizers was evaluated on the nutritional parameters of Moringa oleifera in the field at a year after transplantation. The study was conducted in a completely randomized block design comprising six treatments each of which was replicated four times. Physicochemical properties of leaves and seeds sampled from treatments (cow dung compost, goat manure compost, poultry

Abstract Bacterial species of the genus Acidithiobacillus have been proved to reduce soil salinity, but their chemical impact on a saline compost has not been reported. This work is aimed to evaluate the effects of A. thiooxidans on the chemical properties of a saline compost formulation. When added to a microcosm under nonsterile conditions, a sulfur-supplemented A. thiooxidans inoculum lowered pH

Abstract The goal of this article is the evaluation of the compost quality from Kraft mill organic matter by germination Raphanus sativus and Lepidium sativum. The evaluation of compost was measured in terms of stability, maturity and phytotoxicity. Two compost piles were elaborated, one with a ratio of C/N = 23.67 and the other with C/N = 18.67. Each pile was divided into 2 sections, pile 1 (compost

Abstract The chemical, physical, and biological conditions of soil and growing media can be substantively improved by the addition of compost. Compost contains many plant essential nutrients (e.g. N, P, and K) and can also be a source of organic matter. However, concerns persist over composts with a high concentration of soluble salts and their effects on soil fertility, plant growth, and yields. Soluble

The behaviors of bioactive compounds treating gaseous pollutants in biofilters and in the compost used as soil amendment and in green roof buildings are controlled by their thermal properties. Ther...

Abstract To meet the challenge of increased sludge generation, shortening of biodrying periods are required. This study assesses a shortened sewage sludge biodrying period of 15 days. The fundamental physicochemical properties of samples from different phases were determined, the functional groups were identified using infrared spectroscopy and the biodrying associated microbial functions were annotated

Abstract A farm scale composting drum was used to study exhaust gases from horse manure, and from horse manure mixed with tomato plant residues (TPR) with a lower C/N ratio. To study whether this addition increased gaseous losses of nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S), selected gas compounds of carbon (C) and N, and sulphur dioxide (SO2), were measured on three dates by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy

Abstract The chemical, physical, and biological conditions of soil and growing media can be substantively improved by the addition of compost. Compost contains many plant essential nutrients (e.g. N, P, and K) and can also be a source of organic matter. However, concerns persist over composts with a high concentration of soluble salts and their effects on soil fertility, plant growth, and yields. Soluble

Abstract The objective of this study was to examine the influence of vermicompost (VC) as a soil conditioner in alleviating adverse effects of sodium in Na salt-effected soils. Therefore, the role of VC for reducing the adverse effects of Na salt on physicochemical properties of soil was investigated. Experiments were conducted with different doses of VC (0, 2.5 and 5% VC (w/w) and three different

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare and model the thermal inactivation of bacteriophages as surrogates for pathogenic viruses, such as avian influenza virus, in chicken litter compost. Three bacteriophages [ø6, MS2, and Felix O1 (FO)] were inoculated separately into aged chicken litter compost with various moisture contents (MCs), and then exposed to 75 and 85 °C for up to 3 h. The bacteriophage

Abstract Commercial mushroom producers are continually looking for new substrate raw material sources and pathways to dispose of mushroom compost (formerly called “spent mushroom substrate”) after crop completion. A relatively new material used in the mushroom industry is corn stover, but supplies are somewhat limited. Corn farmers are often reluctant to remove stover from fields because of nutrient

Abstract Detergent fiber analysis was used to fractionate carbon (C) into hemicellulose (degradable carbon) and cellulose and lignin (recalcitrant carbon) for cattle manure (CM), neem leaves (NL), corn stover (CS), and lawn clipping (LC) to investigate the effects of C quality on vermicomposting. A factorial design having five C sources (CM, CM + NL, CS, CS + NL, and LC) and two earthworm species (Eudrilus

Abstract Solid waste management and soil degradation are the two main issues faced by the developing countries. The present study is the first effort to use bio-municipal solid waste (MSW) for the amelioration of saline-sodic soils of Pakistan. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of MSW, farm yard manure (FM) and gypsum application on nitrate leaching, soil physicochemical characteristics

Abstract Recent studies by these authors have shown that the toxic and allalopathic weed ipomoea (Ipomoea carnea), gets transformed into benign organic fertilizer when subjected to vermicomposting. To derive benefit from this finding, it is necessary that a process should be made available for uninterrupted and efficient conversion of ipomoea into vermicompost. The present study has been done toward

Abstract Developing biosolids-based composts or soil blends suitable for use in urban areas is increasingly common. End uses for compost vary and can include use as a soil conditioner for existing turf, to establish new turf, for tree planting, in urban agriculture, and for use along highway right-of-ways. The carbon benefits/costs of biosolids compost were modeled for King County, Washington. Soil

Abstract The need for renewable sources of energy has fueled interest in harvesting the heat produced by composting. Pilot-scale compost reactors were built with in-vessel heat exchangers to test the effect of heat extraction on the composting process. Water was passed through copper tubes embedded in the compost-filled barrels and the temperatures of the compost and the inlet and outlet water were

Abstract Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the utilization of compost derived from grape fruit waste (GFW) as an ingredient in nursery substrates for germination and development of cucumber. A randomized complete block design was used with thirteen treatments (S1-S13) encompassing 100% composted GFW, 60% GFW + 40% poultry manure including hardwood sawdust, 80% GFW + 20% broad bean straw

Abstract Composts especially spent mushroom composts (SMC) have been used for their ability to degrade toxic organic pollutants. Due to extreme toxicity, endosulfan (C9H6Cl6O3S) is categorized as a Category 1 pollutant by the U.S. EPA because of its well-reported carcinogenicity. This study was done to monitor the biodegradation potential of SMC against this pesticide. For this purpose, bioreactors

Abstract In order to evaluate the effect of different fertilizers’ sources on micronutrients’ content and sugar quality of sugar beet, three fertilizers’ sources include spent mushroom compost (SMC) (29 t/ha), sheep manure (23 t/ha), chemical fertilizer including zinc sulfate (10 kg/ha), copper sulfate (10 kg/ha), iron sulfate (30 kg/ha), manganese sulfate (15 kg/ha) and no fertilizer (control) were

Abstract The possible application of Pulsed Fast/Thermal Neutron Analysis (PFTNA) for determining the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N) of compost will be discussed. This analysis method has several advantages over traditional chemical analysis, including that it is a nondestructive in situ method that does not require extensive sample collection and it analyzes much larger volumes of material (∼1 m3)

Abstract Leaf composting is an essential technique in organic farming; it improves the physicochemical properties of soil such as texture, structure, water-holding capacity, and nutrient content. However, the use of leaf compost is prohibited in the Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures because large areas of the Fukushima and Ibaraki forests were contaminated by radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) after the

Abstract Container technology can effectively control soil environment and nutrient status to obtain the optimal plant growth condition. Peat, green waste compost (GWC), soil and perlite were used as substrate materials to study the effects of different substrate ratios on growth and physiology of 1.5-year-old Sequoia sempervirens container seedlings. The optimal substrate ratio of S. sempervirens

Abstract Pathogen inactivation due to temperature exposure was studied in full-scale covered aerated static piles (CASP) treating municipal biosolids. The objectives of the study were to assess the impact of the temperature contact time on pathogen inactivation and to analyze whether the gradual increase in temperature, as occurs in compost piles, trigger a viable-but-non-culturable (VBNC) state. Twenty-two

Abstract Boxwood (Buxus spp.) blight is a devastating disease caused by the Ascomycete fungus Calonectria pseudonaviculata in the U.S. and Europe. A second Calonectria species, C. henricotiae, is also pathogenic on boxwood in Europe, but is not present in the U.S. where it is classified as a quarantine pathogen. Composting can eradicate various plant pathogens and high temperature is likely the most

Abstract Woody peat was used as an additive to compost with pig manure in 1.2 m3 composting reactors under aerobic conditions for a 77 days period to estimate the effect on the compost maturity and gaseous emissions (NH3, N2O, and CH4). Pig manure was also composted with cornstalks (the traditional method) as a control treatment. The results showed that both cornstalks and woody peat composts reached

Abstract This study investigated the performance of composting cornstalks after used as the filtering materials for the pretreatment of anaerobically digested manure centrate. Results show that cornstalks could effectively remove suspended solids and organic matter in digested centrate. Direct composting of the used cornstalks could be achieved. The composting temperature increased rapidly and maintained

Abstract Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are produced during the composting process, but few studies have measured emissions from a full-scale windrow of composting green-waste. This is important for evaluating composting as a waste management option and for understanding how changes to current composting management practices could help reduce emissions. This study uses micrometeorological mass balance (MMB)

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate changes in P-fractions, bio-available P (CAL-P), citric acid extractable P, acid phosphatase activity and microbial biomass C and N during incubation of mature biogenic compost (MBC), immature biogenic compost (IBC) or immature sheep manure compost (ISC) not amended with P or amended with rock phosphate (RP, 7.6% P) or triple-superphosphate (TSP, 19

Abstract Boxwood blight, caused by Calonectria pseudonaviculata, is a devastating fungal disease of Buxus spp., first observed in the United States in 2011. Due to the persistent nature of the produced microsclerotia, concern arose over the potential for compost to serve as a disease vector. Previous work demonstrated that C. pseudonaviculata is very stable at mesophilic temperatures, however, no previous

Abstract This study was carried out to evaluate the impact of irrigation regime and potting media on morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics of pot marigold. The experiment was arranged factorially based on a completely randomized design. The first factor was irrigation regime in three levels of 80, 60 and 40% available water content and the second factor was potting media in five levels

Abstract This research determined whether addition of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD; 0, 0.15, or 0.25%) improved the two-stage composting of green waste (GW). The following parameters were measured during composting or in the final product: moisture content; volume; biochemical and chemical oxygen demand; humic substances; C/Nsolid and C/Nsoluble; microbial numbers (culturable bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi);

Abstract Windrow composting of green waste as an alternative to green waste disposal in landfills requires an understanding of the impacts on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the development of effective and efficient management strategies to reduce these emissions. The addition of food waste to green waste compost operations is becoming more common, but its effect on GHG emissions is less understood

Abstract In Tunisia, on‐site co‐composting of oil mill waste would overcome environmental issues and valorize renewable resources. The authors' goal was to determine the physic‐chemical and microbiological properties and nutrient supply characteristics of mixed oil mill waste and green waste compost. Two piles of the same raw materials (2/3 oil mill waste–1/3 green waste, w/w) were moistened with two

Abstract Organic wastes can be usefully recovered to produce organic amendments, for example, compost, to be used for crop production, thus reducing impacts through efficient waste management. The aim of this work was to study the effects of compost obtained from municipal waste in combination with poultry manure on plant growth, nitrate reductase (NR) activity and absorption and distribution of heavy

Abstract Compost tea has been used throughout the world to control diseases and promote the growth of plants. The microbial community is the main factor involved both in the antagonistic effect against relevant phytopathogens and as a stimulator of plant growth. The objective of this research is to determine the bacterial diversity present in four types of compost as well as some of the mechanisms

Abstract The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of vermicompost (V) and phosphate rock (PR) on blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L. agg.) plants inoculated with Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe (AMF). Plant growth parameters, total phenol compounds and total flavonoids were evaluated on leaves. Anthocyanin contents, soluble solids (SS), pH, titratable acidity (TA) and

Abstract Compost is a valuable organic amendment which affords substantive fertility to soils where applied. A common component of compost fertility is cation exchange capacity (CEC), which has traditionally been determined via standard wet chemistry laboratory methods. This research utilized portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometry to evaluate 74 compost samples from the USA and Canada. PXRF

Abstract This study investigated the effect of vermicompost tea (VCT) as a natural foliar fertilizer in faba bean. To determine the effect of VCT at different doses on the growth and reproduction of faba bean, VCT was produced and three different concentrations (0, 10, and 20% VCT) were applied as a foliar fertilizer to faba bean plants. Plant height, number of flowers, and pods per plant as well as

Abstract Rockwool is an inert growing media popular in the hydroponics industry. Eventually the rockwool fills with plant material and must be replaced and the residuals are disposed. Composting of this material will conserve landfill space. Although the rockwool itself is stable, roots and other plant materials remaining after harvest can decompose. We studied the effect of composting greenwaste feedstock

Abstract Preplant soil incorporation of compost has previously shown potential to suppress Pratylenchus penetrans populations and improve replant establishment of newly planted fruit trees at old orchard sites. Using a greenhouse experiment, we evaluated the effects of preplant incorporation of three compost amendments (agricultural waste compost, yard trimmings compost, and municipal waste compost)

Abstract Exceptional Quality (EQ) biosolids may be developed into products that can rehabilitate disturbed urban soils for the production of garden vegetables. The objectives of this study were to compare newly developed EQ biosolids products specially tailored for urban soil use with those of established products for the purpose of identifying their capability to support germination and plant growth

Abstract The potential risk of increased metal concentrations through the application of composted wastewater sludge (CWS) is of concern. In particular, the high affinity of composted wastewater sludge for metals such as Pb, may influence the extent of metal uptake by plants. In this study, a sequential extraction protocol was employed to determine the fractionation and bioavailability of Pb, Cu, Cr

ABSTRACT Compost is commonly used in agriculture to improve soil quality and enhance plant growth, which is considered to be related to microbial communities in compost. However, effects of microbial communities in compost on infecting microorganisms have remained underexplored. In this study, cucumber seedlings were grown in sterilized potting mix amended with sterilized straw composts inoculated

ABSTRACT The use of organic compost in pasture fertilization is a form of recycling nutrients contained in waste and reducing chemical fertilizer use. To perform pasture fertilization, however, grass responses to doses of organic composts must be known. Thus, the objective of this study was to find the best dose of laying hen organic compost to maximize the productive, morphogenetic, structural, and

ABSTRACT Vermicomposting is the processing of organic substrates through digestion by worms, usually Eisenia foetida. The physico-chemical characteristics of the substrates and health of the worms are important parameter for effective vermicomposting. This study assessed reproduction efficiency and reproductive rate of E. foetida and changes in EC, pH, organic C, total Nitrogen and C:N ratio by vermicomposting

ABSTRACT The most frequent way to survey green waste composts is to monitor the temperature during the composting process. However, if the temperature is a good index for global biological processes, it is not for the chemical stability. In order to identify a reliable index, this work investigates water extraction coupled to spectroscopic indexes such as E2/E3, E4/E6, and SUVA254 ratios, and fluorescence

ABSTRACT Organic amendments have been shown to improve the quality of agricultural soils. Thus, the use of sewage sludge compost tea as a fertilizer can be considered a worthy and environmentally friendly alternative as it also offers the option of recycling sludge at the same time. However, an in-depth knowledge of how the addition of this product affects soil microbial diversity is still necessary

ABSTRACT Soilborne diseases result in major economic losses for potato producers. Compost application can reduce soilborne diseases, however the effects of compost products on potato disease severity and incidence are still unclear. Diverse compost products were compared for their effects on soilborne diseases of potato in New Brunswick, Canada using field and growth room experiments. In the field

ABSTRACT Vermicompost is becoming an important substitute for peat in horticulture due to the negative consequences of peat depletion. There is no aerobic fermentation pretreatment in the process of direct digestion of fresh cow manure by earthworms, which resulted in different properties of vermicompost compared with traditional treatment methods. However, there is limited knowledge on the properties

ABSTRACT Cornell University Farm Services collects recyclable organics from various locations around the University including the dining halls and other food service establishments, the veterinary hospital, satellite dairy cattle, horse and chicken farms, cropping operations, and greenhouses. In 2013, they diverted approximately 6714 metric tons of organic residuals to the compost facility. A questionnaire

ABSTRACT Poultry litter (PL) is a significant source of nutrients, but a suitable amount of carbon needs to be added as a bulking agent during its composting to a stable nutrient source. Here, we characterized the transformation of phosphorus and other plant nutrients during aerobic composting of PL with sugarcane (SW) and cabbage waste (CW) for 120 d. Periodic samples were collected during composting

ABSTRACT Sewage sludge management is a major challenge in environmental protection. Composting is an organic waste treatment method that is cost effective and leads to resource recovery. Composting is considered an environmentally and agriculturally friendly method of sewage sludge utilisation. The objective of this study was to evaluate maturity of three composts prepared on the basis of sewage sludge

ABSTRACT Several composts were tested for their capacity to moderate the effect of Verticillium dahliae Kleb. (VCG B4, VD) on eggplant (Solanum melongena) under greenhouse conditions. Eggplants plantlets were inoculated by immersing their roots in conidial suspension and then planted in pots filled with mixtures of compost or peat moss, mixed with perlite. Six composts and peat moss mixtures were tested

ABSTRACT For 22 years, plots were amended annually with oak (Quercus velutina Lam.) or sugar maple leaves (Acer saccharum Marsh.) in Mt. Carmel, CT on a loamy upland soil. Leaves were incorporated into the soil immediately after application in the fall. Yields of 12 different vegetable crops (lettuce, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, edamame, delicata squash, spaghetti squash, onions, leeks, rutabaga,

ABSTRACT The different organic matter fractions of residues significantly impact the degradability of organic material in composting windrows. Based on that, this study aimed to find out the organic matter fractions that most impact the breakdown rate during composting, besides proposing models to estimate the solids reductions in sheep bedding composting windrows. To that end, 24 sheep beddings from

ABSTRACT About 7 million beef cattle are raised annually in the Texas High Plains, producing 16 million Mg of manure, which is land-applied as raw manure (RM) to crops. An interest in aerobic composting prompted a 2-year field study with the primary objective of evaluating corn (Zea mays L.) yield and soil fertility for RM as compared to composted manure (CM). The four treatments (TRT) consisted of