Use Of Compost In Agriculture Research Articles

The influence of bio-plastics for food packaging on combined anaerobic digestion and composting treatment of organic municipal waste

The use of bio-plastic-based packaging as an alternative to conventional plastic packaging is increasing. Among the plethora of different bio-based plastics, the most relevant ones are those that, at the end of their life, can be treated with the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. Even in these cases, their impact on the waste processing and recycling is not always positive. This study aim to assess on a laboratory scale the influence on combined anaerobic digestion and composting industrial processes of a bio-based plastic film, namely cellulose acetate (CA), in pure and modified (additions of additive) forms. CA films were mixed with organic waste and subjected to: (i) anaerobic digestion; (ii) active composting and (iii) two stages of curing composting. Anaerobic digestion and composting were monitored through methane yield and oxygen uptake respectively; additionally, the bio-plastics degree of disintegration was assessed during all the processes. The final disintegration of pure and modified CA was 73.82% and 54.66%, respectively. Anaerobic digestion contributes to the disintegration of the material, while aerobic treatment appears to be nearly ineffective, especially for modified CA. The presence of cellulose acetate during anaerobic digestion of food waste increased the methane yield by about 4.5%. Bioassay confirmed the absence of possible toxic effects on the final compost from the bio-plastic treatment. Although bio-based materials are not the only solution to plastic pollution, the findings confirm the need to upgrade the organic waste treatment plants and the necessity to revise the requirements for the use of compost in agriculture.

Comparison of logistic, energy and exploitative parameters of compost and manure application by spreaders

This article deals with comparison of composts and manure use from the viewpoint of handling, transport and application on agricultural land. The published values were established by measurements under working conditions and afterwards converted on the basis of the content of nutrients defined in laboratory. Compost contained a greater share of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and had higher dry matter content and lower volume weight. Direct consumed energy expressed by recalculation of the consumed diesel fuel in case of composts moved from 5.12 MJ/kg (potassium) up to 16.19 MJ/kg (phosphorus). In case of manure it was higher and moved from 10.49 MJ/kg (nitrogen) up to 29.79 MJ/kg (phosphorus). The greatest share in energy consumption occupies transport, which was considered uniformly at the distance of 5 km. The study confirmed the feasibility of use of compost in agriculture as a partial substitute of conventional organic fertilizers; for its handling, transport and application the standard mechanization used for manure may be utilized.

Nitrogen losses and chemical parameters during co-composting of solid wastes and liquid pig manure

ABSTRACTThe aim of this research was to study nitrogen losses during the treatment of the liquid fraction (LF) of pig manure by co-composting and to establish the best conditions for compost production with higher nitrogen and low heavy metal contents. Windrows were constituted with the solid fraction (SF) of pig manure, different organic waste (SF of pig manure, sawdust and grape bagasse) as co-substrate and Populus spp. wood chips as bulking material and watered intensely with the LF. Results show that nitrogen losses ranged from 30% to 66% of initial nitrogen and were mainly governed by substrate to bulking mass ratio and liquid fraction to substrate (LF/S) ratio, and only secondarily by operational parameters. Nitrogen losses decreased from 55–65% at low LF/S ratios (1.7–1.9 m3/t total solids (TS)) to 30–39% at high LF/S ratios (4.4–4.7 m3/t TS). Therefore, integrating the LF in the composting process at high LF/S ratios favoured nitrogen recovery and conservation. Nitrogen in the fine fraction (ranging from 27% to 48% of initial nitrogen) was governed by operational parameters, namely pH and temperature. Final compost showed low content in most heavy metals, but Zn was higher than the limits for compost use in agriculture. Zn content in the obtained compost varied from 1863 to 3269 mg/kg dm, depending on several factors. The options for obtaining better quality composts from the LF of pig manure are selecting co-substrates with low heavy metal content and using them instead of the SF of pig manure.

Opportunities and barriers to on-farm composting and compost application: A case study from northwestern Europe

Maintaining and increasing soil quality and fertility in a sustainable way is an important challenge for modern agriculture. The burgeoning bioeconomy is likely to put further pressure on soil resources unless they are managed carefully. Compost has the potential to be an effective soil improver because of its multiple beneficial effects on soil quality. Additionally, it fits within the bioeconomy vision because it can valorize biomass from prior biomass processing or valorize biomass unsuitable for other processes. However, compost is rarely used in intensive agriculture, especially in regions with high manure surpluses. The aim of this research is to identify the barriers to on-farm composting and the application of compost in agriculture, using a mixed method approach for the case of Flanders. The significance of the 28 identified barriers is analyzed and they are categorized as market and financial, policy and institutional, scientific and technological and informational and behavioral barriers. More specifically, the shortage of woody biomass, strict regulation, considerable financial and time investment, and lack of experience and knowledge are hindering on-farm composting. The complex regulation, manure surplus, variable availability and transport of compost, and variable compost quality and composition are barriers to apply compost. In conclusion, five recommendations are suggested that could alleviate certain hindering factors and thus increase attractiveness of compost use in agriculture.

English

The use of municipal solid waste compost in agriculture has known a particular interest because of its favorable effects on soil, on cultures and on environment. Treatment of plants with compost or compost extract or even their root or foliar inoculation with Trichoderma harzianum Tcomp, isolated from compost, were the most three efficient treatments against three strains of Botrytis cinerea agent of gray mold of tomato. These treatments induced similar suppressive effects in term of severity for the three strains of B. cinerea (B2, Bf3 and BP1), ranging between 0.9 and 1.3 for B2, or between 1 and 1.3 for Bf3 or even between 1.1 and 1.2 for BP1. Conidia productions for these three treatments are also similar for the three strains of B. cinerea, ranging between 1.02 and 1.09 10 4 conidia / cm 2 for B2, or between 1.06 and 1.08 10 4 conidia / cm 2 for Bf3 or even between 1.13 and 1.27 10 4 conidia / cm 2 for Bp1. The antagonists used in this study have efficiently suppress gray mold of tomato to varying degrees according to the antagonist itself (Trichoderma harzianum or Ulocladium atrum) and also to the inoculation method for T. harzianum, since each strain acts using one or more modes of action. Thus, TH1 and Tcomp strains act primarily by inducing the SR (systemic resistance) and LR (local resistance). Ulocladium atrum isolated from compost reduced B. cinerea by direct inhibition of conidia production. Whereas for T. harzianum Ttom, other mechanisms are involved. The effect of compost on B. cinerea, which is a foliar pathogen, is unusual and is due to the induction of tomato systemic resistance plants that is associated with the presence of a population of T. harzianum Tcomp in this compost able to induce this systemic effect. However, unidentified chemical factors in compost are also responsible for this suppressive activity.

Compost Use in Agriculture: The Fate of Heavy Metals in Soil and Fodder Crop Plants

The effects of organic fertilizer application on heavy metals accumulation in both soil and plants and on the main soil fertility parameters have been evaluated in a long-term field experiment. The research was carried out in a Mediterranean environment (Rutigliano, Southern Italy – 41° 01′ latitude N, 4° 39′ longitude E, 112 m a.s.l.) since the autumn of 2001 in permanent rain-fed meadows of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.). Two organic materials, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) compost and Olive Pomace (OPC) compost, were compared to nitrogen (cocksfoot) and phosphorus (alfalfa) mineral fertilizer treatments. The results showed that at the end of the first four years, the MSW and OPC composts application did not cause any heavy metals accumulation in soil and plants. Only the Zn reached a high level in the cocksfoot experimental soils. In addition, these organic materials allowed significant increases of extracted and humified soil organic carbon in the plots of both fodder crops. In the alfalfa field they also significantly improved the soil total N content, thus indicating the beneficial effects of MSW and OPC composts on soil fertility.

Material flow analysis as a tool for sustainable sanitation planning in developing countries: case study of Arba Minch, Ethiopia

Material Flow Analysis is a method that can be used to assess sanitation systems with regard to their environmental impacts. Modelling water and nutrients flows of the urban water, wastewater and waste system can highlight risks for environmental pollution and can help evaluating the potential for linking sanitation with resource recovery and agricultural production. This study presents the results of an analysis of nitrogen and phosphorus flows of Arba Minch town in South Ethiopia. The current situation is modelled and possible scenarios for upgrading the town's sanitation system are assessed. Two different scenarios for nutrient recovery are analysed. Scenario one includes co-composting municipal organic waste with faecal sludge from pit latrines and septic tanks as well as the use of compost in agriculture. The second scenario based on urine-diversion toilets includes application of urine as fertiliser and composting of faecal matter. In order to allow for variations in the rate of adoption, the model can simulate varying degrees of technology implementation. Thus, the impact of a step-wise or successive approach can be illustrated. The results show that significant amounts of plant nutrients can be provided by both options, co-composting and urine diversion.

Compost production from Greek domestic refuse

Composting processes of the organic residue originating from domestic refuse have been studied. The experimental results for the four windrows examined are reported. Composting temperature was controlled between 45 and 65°C by periodic mixing of substrate plus water addition: this also kept moisture in the range of 50 to 60%. The inorganic nitrogen content of the matured compost was very low, rendering the compost a good soil conditioner. The initial carbon/nitrogen ratios were within limits which ensure a successful biodegradation process, while the final values were promising for compost use in agriculture.