A study of a pine bark humification process

Abstract

A study of the biodegradation process of pine bark under natural and laboratory conditions was carried out. It was found that humification of bark under natural conditions with a high degree of fragmentation is characterised by a more favourable C:N. After 18 months of the composting process, there was a reduction in organic matter content to 56.0%. In the pine bark composted under natural conditions, the heavy metals Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cr were present in trace amounts, with concentrations many times below the level of allowable contaminants. The composting process of pine bark with urea and ammonia water, carried out under laboratory conditions, had a positive effect on lowering the C:N ratio, while significantly shortening the humification process.