TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of turning frequency on composting of spent pig-manure sawdust litter
AU - Tiquia, S. M.
AU - Tam, N. F.Y.
AU - Hodgkiss, I. J.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors express their thanks to Mrs. Christina Lo and all the staff of Ta Kwu Ling Pig Breeding Centre, Agriculture and Fisheries Department, Hong Kong Government for their technical assistance. This work was funded by the Research Committee of the City University of Hong Kong and the University Grants Committee.
PY - 1997/10
Y1 - 1997/10
N2 - Spent pig-manure sawdust litter (spent litter) disposed of from the pig-on-litter (POL) system was collected to investigate the effects of turning frequency on composting. Three heaps of the spent litter were piled up coinciding with the three turning frequency treatments: Pile A = turned every 2 days; Pile B = turned every 4 days; Pile C = turned every 7 days. Turning frequency appeared to affect a number of important composting parameters; temperature, pH, NH+4-N, humic acid and ATP content, and germination index. On the whole, piles A and B had a faster rate of composting and took a shorter time (two months) to reach maturity than did pile C. The phytotoxicity in piles A and B was also eliminated more efficiently than in pile C. These results suggest that turning every 2 or 4 days is the more suitable turning frequency for composting of spent litter. At this turning frequency, composting of spent litter will proceed at a faster rate, thus reaching maturity quicker (74 days). Furthermore, this turning frequency will help eliminate the phytotoxins in the spent litter much faster than turning every 7 days. However, since turning the piles every 2 days is more labour intensive, it is suggested that turning every 4 days be the practical turning frequency for composting of spent litter.
AB - Spent pig-manure sawdust litter (spent litter) disposed of from the pig-on-litter (POL) system was collected to investigate the effects of turning frequency on composting. Three heaps of the spent litter were piled up coinciding with the three turning frequency treatments: Pile A = turned every 2 days; Pile B = turned every 4 days; Pile C = turned every 7 days. Turning frequency appeared to affect a number of important composting parameters; temperature, pH, NH+4-N, humic acid and ATP content, and germination index. On the whole, piles A and B had a faster rate of composting and took a shorter time (two months) to reach maturity than did pile C. The phytotoxicity in piles A and B was also eliminated more efficiently than in pile C. These results suggest that turning every 2 or 4 days is the more suitable turning frequency for composting of spent litter. At this turning frequency, composting of spent litter will proceed at a faster rate, thus reaching maturity quicker (74 days). Furthermore, this turning frequency will help eliminate the phytotoxins in the spent litter much faster than turning every 7 days. However, since turning the piles every 2 days is more labour intensive, it is suggested that turning every 4 days be the practical turning frequency for composting of spent litter.
KW - Composting
KW - Phytotoxicity
KW - Pig manure
KW - Temperature,
KW - Turning frequency
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0031256030&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0960-8524(97)00080-1
DO - 10.1016/S0960-8524(97)00080-1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0031256030
SN - 0960-8524
VL - 62
SP - 37
EP - 42
JO - Bioresource Technology
JF - Bioresource Technology
IS - 1-2
ER -