Influence of aeration on CH 4, N 2O and NH 3 emissions during aerobic composting of a chicken manure and high C/N waste mixture

Abstract

Co-composting of chicken manure, straw and dry grasses was investigated in a forced aeration system to estimate the effect of aeration rates on NH 3, CH 4 and N 2O emissions and compost quality. Continuous measurements of gas emissions were carried out and detailed gas emission patterns were obtained using an intermittent-aeration of 30 min on/30 min off at rates of 0.01 (A1), 0.1 (A2) and 0.2 (A3) m 3 min −1 m −3. Concentrations of CH 4 and N 2O at the low aeration rate (A1) were significantly greater than those at the other two rates, but there was no significant difference between the A2 and A3 treatments. CH 4 and N 2O emissions for this mixture could be controlled when the composting process was aerobic and ammonia emissions were reduced at a lower aeration rate. Comparison of CH 4, N 2O, NH 3 emissions and compost quality showed that the aeration rate of the A2 treatment was superior to the other two aeration rates.