Abstract
Moisture content influences physiological characteristics of microbes and physical structure of solid matrices during composting of animal manure. If moisture content is maintained at a proper level, aerobic microorganisms show more active oxygen consumption during composting due to increased microbial activity. In this study, optimum moisture levels for composting of two bedding materials (sawdust, rice hull) and two different mixtures of bedding and beef manure (BS, Beef cattle manure+sawdust; BR, Beef cattle manure+rice hull) were determined based on oxygen uptake rate measured by a pressure sensor method. A broad range of oxygen uptake rates (0.3 to 33.3 mg O2/g VS d) were monitored as a function of moisture level and composting feedstock type. The maximum oxygen consumption of each material was observed near the saturated condition, which ranged from 75% to 98% of water holding capacity. The optimum moisture content of BS and BR were 70% and 57% on a wet basis, respectively. Although BS’s optimum moisture content was near saturated state, its free air space kept a favorable level (above 30%) for aerobic composting due to the sawdust’s coarse particle size and bulking effect.
Highlights
Moisture content influences physiological characteristics of microbes and physical structure of solid matrices during composting of animal manure
Optimum moisture content for composting of bedding and beef cattle manure mixtures collected from bedded pack barn was evaluated using respiration method
Rice hull has less volatile solids content than sawdust because it generally contains 13% to Respiration test The influence of moisture content on microbial activity was evaluated based on respiration rate using a pressure sensor method (OxiTop system, Sadaka et al, 2004; Ahn et al, 2008b)
Summary
Fertilizer or recycled bedding material, biological stabilization of nutrients and organic materials should be. Aeration, temperature, pH, carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N), Especially, annual production of manure from cattle is bulk density and free air space (FAS). Among those estimated to be 20 million tons, which is equivalent to 44% variables, moisture content is considered as one of the key of the total animal manure production in Korea. Many manure is generally collected by using bedding materials previous studies have suggested proper moisture content to such as sawdust and rice hull in Korea, composting is achieve successful composting operation. The most common treatment method of collected cattle recommended maintaining composting pile moisture manure and bedding material mixtures. Submitted Oct. 22, 2015; Revised Nov. 16, 2015; Accepted Nov. 21, 2015 content of highly stabilized soil compost blend is around
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