Assessment of physicochemical changes during composting rice straw with chicken and donkey manure

Anncarol W Karanja,John M Maingi,Ezekiel M Njeru

doi:10.1007/s40093-019-0270-x

Anncarol W Karanja, John M Maingi + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40093-019-0270-x

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Abstract

PurposeTraditional methods of composting are limited in timely production of good-quality compost due to recalcitrant nature of materials of plant origin. This study focused on evaluating the use chicken and donkey manure as starter cultures to biostimulate bioconversion of rice straw into bioorganic fertilizer. Use of starter cultures would enhance composting as a strategy for rice straw management to enhance soil fertilization and reduce environmental pollution.MethodsIn this study, chicken manure and donkey manure were used as starter cultures to enhance bioconversion of recalcitrant and abundant rice straw in Mwea, the main rice-producing area in Kenya. Treatments of the study included rice straw co-composted with chicken manure (T1), rice straw co-composted with donkey manure (T2) and a control (T0) consisting of un-treated rice straw. Temperature, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were monitored throughout the composting period. Resultant compost types were characterized in respect to their macro-nutrient concentrations, cation exchange capacity, pH and heavy metal content.ResultsLevels of temperature, pH and EC among the treatments of the study revealed significant differences at 5% level of confidence using Tukey’s test. The three resultant compost types obtained were also physicochemically different as revealed by analysis of variance of cation exchange capacity, phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon content.ConclusionResults indicated that use of chicken and donkey manure significantly improved the composting process and the quality of resultant compost.

Highlights

Agriculture, especially in developing countries faces many challenges that hinder the system from attaining its main goal of feeding the world’s population (Sasson 2012)
T1 consisted of rice straw mixed with chicken manure in the ratio of 10:1 (w/w), while T2 contained rice straw mixed with donkey manure in the ratio of 10:1 (w/w)
Thermophilic phase was first attained in treatment T1 and lastly in T2. This can be explained by the fact that chicken manure is a nutrient rich medium compared to donkey manure and rice straw; it activated a more rapid microbial degradation

Summary

Introduction

Agriculture, especially in developing countries faces many challenges that hinder the system from attaining its main goal of feeding the world’s population (Sasson 2012). Use of compost in crop farming is one way of addressing these problems. Composting is a good strategy towards improved and sustainable agricultural productivity (Sarkar and Chourasia 2017). Composting ensures reclamation of nutrients within plant biomass to improve soil fertility and enhance crop productivity (Chandra et al 2009). Compost acts as soil conditioner leading to high nutrient concentrations, high organic matter content and greater soil water-holding capacity in the soil (Insam and de Bertoldi 2007). It results in increased load, diversity and activity of beneficial soil microorganisms (Zhen et al 2014). Production of compost from rice straw is, a better alternative to burning, direct incorporation of the straw into soil and heaping in rice fields

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Results

Conclusion