Animal Manure Compost Research Articles

Nitrous oxide emission and sweet potato yield in upland soil: Effects of different type and application rate of composted animal manures.

The aims of this study were to determine type and application rate of composted animal manure to optimize sweet potato yield relative to N2O emissions from upland soils. To this end, the study was conducted on upland soils amended with different types and rates of composted animal manure and located at two geographically different regions of South Korea. Field trials were established at Miryang and Yesan in South Korea during the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) growing season over 2 years: 2017 (Year 1) and 2018 (Year 2). Three composted animal manures (chicken, cow, and pig) were applied at the rates of 0, 10, and 20Mgha-1 to upland soils in both locations. In both Years and locations, manure type did not affected significantly cumulative N2O emissions from soil during the sweet potato growing season or the belowground biomass of sweet potato. However, application rate of animal manures affected significantly the cumulative N2O emission, nitrogen (N) in soil, and belowground biomass of sweet potato. An increase in cumulative N2O emission with application rates of animal manures was related to total N and inorganic N concentration in soil. The belowground biomass yield of sweet potato but also the cumulative N2O emission increased with increasing application rate of composted animal manures up to 7.6 and 16.0Mgha-1 in Miryang and Yesan, respectively. To reduce N2O emission from arable soil while increasing crop yield, composted animal manures should be applied at less than application rate that produce the maximum belowground biomass of sweet potato.

Steroidal Estrogens During Composting of Animal Manure: Persistence, Degradation, and Fate, a Review

Different studies have shown that livestock manure has a high potential for fertilization in plant growth and crop yield. However, the main challenge of using animal manure as fertilizer is to increase the risk of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) pollution in soil and water. Because of their adverse effects, these compounds have gained more concern. Farmland applied with manure is considered the primary source of estrogens in the environment. To manage the pollution of EDCs, manure management approaches such as aerobic composting should be utilized to degrade and remove these pollutants. Composting has attracted attention because of its rapid reaction scale and strong degradation ability against the steroidal compounds. However, estrogen removal via traditional composting needs to be improved, as the steroidal compounds that remained in the composted manure could be quickly discharged to the environment because their biodegradation rate is lower than their discharge rate. For that reason, more advanced approaches, such as inoculation with microorganisms, should be involved. Also, applying adsorbent materials such as biochar (BC) and humic acid (HA) should be considered. In the light of the modern studies, affording an overall vision and perspectives about the fate of estrogens during composting is highly valuable. This review was designed to explore the sources, properties, occurrence, half-life, degradation, and transformation of estrogens during animal manure composting. Besides, the efficiency of estrogens degrading microorganisms and adsorbent additives was also reviewed. The eventual remarks were mentioned, and their prospects were discussed.

Leaching loss of dissolved organic nitrogen from cropland ecosystems

Although widely studied in grassland and forest ecosystems, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), an important form of nitrogen (N) lost through leaching, has received little attention in cropland ecosystem research. A global literature review and partial least squares path modeling (PLS–PM) were adopted to assess the quantity and composition of N leaching loss under different cropping systems, soil types, and management practices, as well as to identify the major factors controlling DON leaching. Annual total dissolved nitrogen (TDN, organic + inorganic N) leaching under different cropping systems ranged from 4.0 to 383.2 kg N ha−1. Vegetable and rice production systems showed the greatest and least TDN leaching, respectively. Across different cropping systems, DON accounted for 4.7%–34.9% of TDN in leachate. The NH4 +–N form of N leaching is negligible in most upland cropping systems (<2.3%), but not so in lowland rice systems. The largest ratio of DON leaching to TDN leaching was found in a rice–wheat rotation (34.9%). Catch crop slightly increased DON leaching; however, it greatly decreased TDN leaching. Cropping systems in which animal manure or plant compost was applied or lowland rice was included showed a relatively high DON leaching ratio. Accordingly, in investigating DON leaching, more attention should be focused on cropping systems with manure application or lowland rice systems. Compared with climatic conditions and soil properties, field management practices (irrigation, chemical N input, and manure amendments) proved to be the factors most strongly influencing DON leaching. This suggests that optimizing water and N management practices is the most effective way of reducing the risk of DON leaching and increasing N use efficiency, particularly for vegetable and rice production systems.

Effect of Cornstalk Biochar Immobilized Bacteria on Ammonia Reduction in Laying Hen Manure Composting.

NH3 emission has become one of the key factors for aerobic composting of animal manure. It has been reported that adding microbial agents during aerobic composting can reduce NH3 emissions. However, environmental factors have a considerable influence on the activity and stability of the microbial agent. Therefore, this study used cornstalk biochar as carriers to find out the better biological immobilization method to examine the mitigation ability and mechanism of NH3 production from laying hen manure composting. The results from different immobilized methods showed that NH3 was reduced by 12.43%, 5.53%, 14.57%, and 22.61% in the cornstalk biochar group, free load bacteria group, mixed load bacteria group, and separate load bacteria group, respectively. Under the simulated composting condition, NH3 production was 46.52, 38.14, 39.08, and 30.81 g in the treatment of the control, mixed bacteria, cornstalk biochar, and cornstalk biochar separate load immobilized mixed bacteria, respectively. The cornstalk biochar separate load immobilized mixed bacteria treatment significantly reduced NH3 emission compared with the other treatments (p < 0.05). Compared with the control, adding cornstalk biochar immobilized mixed bacteria significantly decreased the electrical conductivity, water-soluble carbon, total nitrogen loss, and concentration of ammonium nitrogen (p < 0.05), and significantly increased the seed germination rate, total number of microorganisms, and relative abundance of lactic acid bacteria throughout the composting process (p < 0.05). Therefore, the reason for the low NH3 emission might be due not only to the adsorption of the cornstalk biochar but also because of the role of complex bacteria, which increases the relative abundance of lactic acid bacteria and promotes the acid production of lactic acid bacteria to reduce NH3 emissions. This result revealed the potential of using biological immobilization technology to reduce NH3 emissions during laying hen manure composting.

Nitrogen mineralization from organic amendments is variable but predictable.

To manage nitrogen (N) efficiently, organic growers must be able to predict the amount and timing of plant-available N from organic amendments. In this study, we measured N mineralization from a variety of organic amendments, including composted animal manures and plant material, pelleted and granular organic fertilizer formulations, slaughter waste products, and hydrolyzed liquid fertilizers. In a laboratory incubation, we measured net N mineralization from materials mixed with either organically or conventionally managed soil at 23°C and 60% water holding capacity after 0, 7, 21, 42, and 84 d. We found that net mineral N change in the amended soils after 84 d of incubation fell into four categories: immobilization to 5% of applied N for yard trimmings composts, 15-30% for poultry manure composts, 35-55% for granular fertilizers, and 60-90% for quick release products. However, across all amendments the amount of plant-available N after 84 d of incubation was well correlated with the carbon (C)/N ratio (R2 =0.92). Within amendment types, the C/N ratio predicted N mineralization for yard trimmings composts (R2 =0.91), manure composts (R2 =0.81), and specialty fertilizer and slaughter products (R2 =0.88) but not liquid products (R2 =0.11). Soil management history did not consistently affect net N mineralization but may have influenced timing.

Changes in microbial community structure during pig manure composting and its relationship to the fate of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes

Animal manure containing veterinary antibiotics is a significant source of microbial antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Composting of animal manure with wheat straw and sawdust was explored as a means to reduce ARGs load in the final material. The effects of ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline, sulfamerazine on the bacterial community composition, and how this then affected the removal of seven tetracycline resistance genes (TARGs), four sulfonamide resistance genes (SARGs), and two fluoroquinolone resistance genes (QARGs) were investigated. Treatments receiving either ciprofloxacin or the three mixed antibiotics had reduced bacterial alpha-diversity and displayed shifts in the abundance of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. This demonstrated that different antibiotics played an important role in bacterial community composition. Furthermore, variation in the physicochemical properties of compost, particularly pH and temperature, was also strongly linked to shifts in bacterial composition over time. Based on network analysis, the reduction of TARGs were associated with loss of Pseudomonas, Pseudoxanthomonas, Pusillimonas, Aquamicrobium, Ureibacillus, Lysinibacillus, Bacillus and Brachybacterium during the thermophilic stage. However, QARGs and SARGs were more strongly affected by the presence of multiple antibiotics. Our results have important implications for reducing the spread of certain ARGs by controlling the composting temperature, pH or the antibiotics species used in husbandry.

Alleviation of Salinity-Induced Oxidative Stress, Improvement in Growth, Physiology and Mineral Nutrition of Canola (Brassica napus L.) through Calcium-Fortified Composted Animal Manure

Salinity stress is one of the serious restrictive issues for optimum crop production in arid to semi-arid areas. Application of organic amendments have shown positive effects on crop growth and yield under such scenario. The present study was conducted to estimate the potential of calcium-fortified composted animal manure (Ca-FCM) to enhance growth and yield of canola under saline soil conditions. Salt affected soils with various electrical conductivity (EC) levels (original 1.5, 5, and 10 dS m−1) were developed via spiking the soil with sodium chloride (NaCl) salt. The results reveal that soil salinity reduced the growth, physiological, yield, and nutritional parameters of canola. However, application of 3% calcium-fortified composted manure significantly enhanced the growth and yield parameters at all EC levels as compared to control. Plant physiological parameters such as photosynthetic rate, relative chlorophyll contents (SPAD value), and relative water content were also increased with the application of 3% Ca-FCM at all EC levels in comparison to control. Application of 3% Ca-FCM also mediated the antioxidant enzymes activities at all EC levels in comparison to control. Moreover, application of 3% Ca-FCM caused maximum increase in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations in shoot at all EC levels. Conversely, application of 3% Ca-FCM showed maximum decrease in Na+/K+ ratio in leaf up to 83.33%, 77.78%, and 71.43% at EC levels 1.5, 5, and 10 dS m−1, respectively, as compared to control. It was concluded that application of calcium-fortified composted animal manure (Ca-FCM) could be an efficient method for improving growth, yield, physiological, and nutritional parameters of canola through mediation of antioxidant defense machinery under saline soil conditions.

Assessment the Effect of Compost Amendments on Soil Characteristics and Barley Plant

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of three different types of commercial compost, i.e., Animal Manure Compost (AMC), Crop Manure Compost (CMC) and Town Refuse Compost (TRC) on some chemical and spectroscopic characteristics of sand soil, as well as growth and yield barley plant (Hordum vulgar cv. Giza 123). They were individually applied at rate of 2% (oven-dry basis) and incubated for 56 days, and then Humic Acids (HA) and Fulvic Acids (FA) fractions were extracted and analyzed using total acidity and UV-Vis spectroscopy. From UV-Vis absorption spectra the absorbance ratios E4/E6 have been calculated. Soil pH, EC, and organic carbon content were determined. In addition, compost-N mineralization and nitrification rates were assessed. The results showed that the soil treated with organic amendment had higher values of organic matter, EC and available N as Compared with the unamend soil. Soil compost amendments had positive effect on mineralization, as the Net-N release increased with incubation time. The E4/E6 ratios of HA fraction in soil treatments ranged from 3.2 to 7.6, while the E4/E6 ratios of FA were higher than that of HA values (4.3-9.5). On the other hand, total acidity of function group for FAs was much greater than that for HAs (0.6-10.6 meq g−1 fulvic material). The results showed that addition of composts significantly (at P≤0.05) increased barley grain, straw weight and total yield compared to control (no compost application).

Evaluation of CO2 Emission From Rice Husk Biochar and Cowdung Manure Co-compost Preparation

Composting of animal manure had been considered a sustainable alternative method for recycling organic waste. However the process involved had been associated with greenhouse gas emission (CO2, N2O and CH4) which play an active role in global warming. This study evaluated CO2 emissions from biochar-manure co-compost production. Biochar (from rice husk) and manure were mixed in a ratio of 3:1 v/v to achieve a range of different co-compost mixtures. The treatments and controls in triplicates of 18 units were arranged in a complete randomize design. All treatments were incubated at around 28 oC and turned every two days for 2 weeks, and later five days for 39 days. CO2 production in the compost bins was measured by trapping the evolved gas in 5M NaOH. Total CO2 emissions varied over time with higher rates at the beginning of the composting process. Within the first 7 days, total CO2 emissions (587 mg/m2) from cow dung alone was not significantly different from cow dung plus biochar (506 mg/m2). At the latter stages of the composting process, CO2 emission from cowdung and biochar mixture was less than from the other treatments.

Effect of Composted Animal Manure as Fertilizer on Productivity of Azolla Pinnata Grown in Earthen Ponds

Azolla pinnata contains a high nutritional value with a high protein content of 25%, so it can be used as an alternative to animal feed. The low production of Azolla is caused by the suboptimal use of fertilizers. This study aims were to determine the type of manure (composted manure from poultry, goats, and rabbit) which was the most optimal in producing Azolla. Azolla pinnata was planted at 50×50×10 cm (W×L×H) soil pools coated with plastic sheets. To maintain the acidity of the media, 10% (2 kg) of sludge fields was added to each pond. Water and animal waste compost (5 g/L) were added to each pond as a treatment. The treatments were: paddy mud (K0), paddy mud + poultry composts (K1), paddy mud + compost rabbit manure (K2) and paddy mud + compost goat manure (K3). Each treatment was repeated 5 times. Measurements made were pH of the media, area of cover, yield (g weight of dry matter) and crude protein content of Azolla. Harvesting was done every 14 days. The results showed that the Azolla dry matter production of K1, K2 and K3 treatments were greater (p<0.01) than K0 (20.80, 18.20, and 19.00 vs. 10.40 g/2,500 cm2; respectively). Among the compost treatments, the crude protein content of K1 and K2 were higher than K0 and K3 (25.34 and 26.25 vs. 13.11 and 22.96%, respectively; p<0.01). Fertilizing with rabbit or poultry compost was the best in improving Azolla production and crude protein content.

고구마 재배 밭토양에서 가축분퇴비의 시용량이 아산화질소 발생에 미치는 영향

고구마 재배 밭토양에서 가축분퇴비의 시용량이 아산화질소 발생에 미치는 영향

Reuse of Animal Manure: A Case Study on Stakeholders’ Perceptions about Pelletized Compost in Northwestern Italy

The present study aimed at investigating perceptions and preferences about the use and the chemical characteristics of pellets made from composted animal manure in a sample of Italian farmers and agricultural advisors (Piedmont region, Northwestern Italy). The study encompassed two different steps: At first, the participants were administered a questionnaire about their actual use of pellets and preferences about their chemical characteristics. Then, a subgroup participated into a hands-on experience with different pelletized animal manures and some final questions. Concerning the use of pellets made from composted animal manure, even if the participants affirmed to be interested in using organic pellets and declared to own the appropriate equipment needed for their application, the results indicated that pelletized compost utilization had not yet become a common practice for agricultural crops. The obtained results highlighted a lack of knowledge, especially among farmers, about the importance of some chemical properties of this pelletized organic material. The participants, both farmers and advisors, were particularly attracted by the total nitrogen content of organic pelletized fertilizers, probably because the supplying of nutrients, nitrogen particularly, is the function of fertilizers they were interested in the most due to its direct connection with crop production. The hands-on session allowed the participants to better understand the benefits of the principal chemical properties—organic matter and carbon to nitrogen ratio—of pelletized animal manure compost. On the other hand, organic matter content and carbon to nitrogen ratio, more related with biological fertility and biodiversity of soils, are immediately less interesting and, as the hands-on experience pointed out, require more effort to be appreciated by agricultural operators. Targeted information campaigns and training activities may be developed among the agricultural community to make them aware of the importance of increasing soil organic matter content, and the possible use of pelletized composted animal manure. Further studies should be addressed toward gaining more insights into the beneficial effects of the information and training activities for pelletized compost adoption.

Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Agriculture: Cases from Southeast Asia

Climate change has become apparent and been threatening more and more in Southeast Asia. Its impacts on agriculture and adaptation strategies at household level in farming systems areas are explored. The study focused on better understanding of climate change impacts and adaptation practices in four villages of Myanmar and Cambodia. Household questionnaire survey, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used for data collection at household and community level supplemented with secondary data. Dry Zone farmers of Myanmar reported increase in crop diversity while in the Kampong Speu province in Cambodia, the number of rice growing farmers increased together with cultivation of other crops, such as cassava, palm fruit, sugarcane, mangoes, watermelons and vegetables. Farmers changed their cultivation practices as adaptation strategies in various ways: change in cropping calendar, crop varieties, machinery for cultivation practice, and change in area for cultivation. The shift in cropping calendar has occurred from two weeks to one month. Diverse strategies were reported in adapting to water scarcity in agriculture, such as system of rice intensification and water pumping. Farmers also adopted strategies for coping with declining soil productivity. These include animal manure application, compost making and application, crop rotation and crop residues retention. In particular, Dry Zone farmers prefer to apply animal manure rather than other practices because of its vast benefits, such as buffering capacity, effectiveness for plant growth and cheaper price. Cooperative actions are becoming increasingly needed when an individual could not afford adaptation strategies. However, barriers to adaptation strategies are to be reduced to promote climate adaptive practices in agriculture.

Water-Extractable Phosphorus in Animal Manure and Manure Compost: Quantities, Characteristics, and Temporal Changes.

Water-extractable P (WEP) in manure and manure compost is widely used as an indicator of P release to runoff from manure and compost that are land applied. A survey of 600 manures and composts was conducted to assess trends in WEP (dry weight equivalent) related to manure and compost types from sources in the Mid-Atlantic region. Manure and compost WEP ranged from 0.2 to 20.8 g kg. Mean WEP was highest in turkey and swine manures (manure: 4.1-5.6 g kg; no composts tested), followed by layer and broiler chicken manures (manure: 3.0-3.5 g kg; compost: 4.6-5.1 g kg), cattle manure (dairy and beef manure: 2.1-2.8 g kg; compost: 1.1-2.7 g kg), and horse manure (manure: 2.7 g kg; compost: 1.9 g kg). Across all manures and composts, WEP was negatively correlated with manure dry matter content ( = 0.42, < 0.001). Moreover, WEP was strongly correlated ( = 0.66, < 0.001) to degree of P saturation expressed as a molar ratio of total P to total metals (Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, and Mn). Although WEP levels of beef, broiler chicken, and turkey manures from this survey are similar to those from a decade ago, WEP is now significantly lower for dairy (30%, < 0.001), swine (46%, < 0.001), and layer chickens (39%, < 0.05). Lower WEP resulted from decreasing total P and/or increasing P sorption capacity, combined with increasing dry matter content. Results highlight the potential to use degree of P saturation to predict WEP and suggest an opportunity to reduce WEP by managing manure handling, storage, and chemistry.

The Influence of Composted Animal Manure Application on Nitrous Oxide Emission from Upland Soil

The Influence of Composted Animal Manure Application on Nitrous Oxide Emission from Upland Soil

Effect of different way of bottom ash and compost application on phytoextractability of cadmium in contaminated arable soil

There have been few studies evaluating the effect of bottom ash (BA) on immobilization of heavy metals and reducing their phytoavailability. Further, work has not been conducted to evaluate the effect of BA along with mature animal manure compost (CP) on immobilization of cadmium (Cd) in soil and phytoavailability of this metal in contaminated soil. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of application of BA and CP on Cd phytoextractability. To elucidate the mechanism of Cd immobilization with BA and CP, soil was mixed without BA and CP, with BA only, with CP only, and with BA and CP together in the incubation. Bottom ash was applied at rates of 0 and 30 Mg/ha under different application rates of CP (0 and 30 Mg/ha) 2 weeks before sowing lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Our first experiment clearly demonstrated that reduced extractability of Cd with addition of BA, CP, and BA + CP was mainly the result of Cd adsorption by an increase in pH and negative charge of soil. Concentration of bioavailable Cd fraction (F1) effectively decreased with BA, CP, and BA + CP from 1.33 mg Cd/kg in control to 0.98, 0.29, and 0.26 mg Cd/kg, respectively. Applying BA and CP alone or together effectively reduced Cd uptake by lettuce. Concentration of Cd in lettuce decreased from 13.9 mg Cd/kg in control to 10.3 and 7.6 mg Cd/kg with application of BA and CP alone, respectively. However, applying BA with CP increased fresh lettuce yields more than BA applied alone. Therefore, combined application of BA and CP might be a good management practice in Cd contaminated arable soil from the view point of Cd phytoavailability and crop productivity.

A novel denoising method for laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy: Improved wavelet dual threshold function method and its application to quantitative modeling of Cu and Zn in Chinese animal manure composts

Spectral denoising offers a basis for effective and accurate quantitative modeling of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). To provide a solution for the defects of the traditional hard threshold function (HTF) and the soft threshold function (STF) for wavelet denoising methods, an improved wavelet dual threshold function (IWDTF) has been developed. Simulation analyses proved that the IWDTF could provide a better denoising performance than the traditional functions. The IWDTF was applied to LIBS denoising and quantitative modeling of the Cu and Zn contents in representative Chinese aerobic composting samples. The results showed that the best spectral denoising effects for the Cu and Zn models were achieved when the adjustment parameters k0, a, and θ were 0.9, 0.7×λ1, and 0.1×π, and 0.2, 0.2×λ1, and 0.1×π, respectively, and corresponding models' performances for Cu and Zn were both greatly improved, yielding Rp2 of 0.9807 and 0.9177, RMSEP of 67.49mg/kg and 84.92mg/kg, and RPD of 3.12 and 3.07, respectively.

Potential of three microbial bio-effectors to promote maize growth and nutrient acquisition from alternative phosphorous fertilizers in contrasting soils

BackgroundAgricultural production is challenged by the limitation of non-renewable resources. Alternative fertilizers are promoted but they often have a lower availability of key macronutrients, especially phosphorus (P). Biological inoculants, the so-called bio-effectors (BEs), may be combined with these fertilizers to improve the nutrient use efficiency.MethodsThe goal of this study was to assess the potential of three BEs in combination with alternative fertilizers (e.g., composted manure, biogas digestate, green compost) to promote plant growth and nutrient uptake in soils typical for various European regions. Pot experiments were conducted in Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland where the same variety of maize was grown in local soils deficient in P in combination with alternative fertilizers and the same set of BEs (Trichoderma, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus strains). Common guidelines for pot experiment implementation and performance were developed to allow data comparison, and soils were analyzed by the same laboratory.ResultsEfficiency of BEs to improve maize growth and nutrient uptake differed strongly according to soil properties and fertilizer combined. Promising results were mostly obtained with BEs in combination with organic fertilizers such as composted animal manures, fresh digestate of organic wastes, and sewage sludge. In only one experiment, the nutrient use efficiency of mineral recycling fertilizers was improved by BE inoculation.Conclusions These BE effects are to a large extent due to improved root growth and P mobilization via accelerated mineralization.Graphical abstractPossible modes of action of bio-effectors.

Non-biological reduction of Cr(vi) by reacting with humic acids composted from cattle manure

Previous studies on reduction of Cr(vi) by humic acids (HAs) have seldom used the extracts from composted animal manure.

Kinetics of phosphorus forms applied as inorganic and organic amendments to a calcareous soil II: effects of plant growth on plant available and uptake phosphorus

The forms of phosphorus (P) in animal manure composts are different from that of synthetic P fertilizers, and this affects how soil P chemistry will be altered when they are used as P amendments. This study is an extension of a previously reported incubation study, where the net changes in the nature and dynamics of plant available P forms applied either as inorganic P (KH2PO4) or turkey litter compost (TLC) without plant growth were analyzed. The objective of this study was to analyze the net changes in the nature and dynamics of plant available P forms with plant growth in the greenhouse. The amounts of various P forms dependent on their solubility in soils were measured by a sequential fractionation method after 4, 8, 12 and 16weeks incubation. The majority of TLC-P (brushite and newberyite) was recovered in the moderately labile P extracted with a weak acid. Though the labile P fraction in the TLC-treated soil was smaller than that in the fertilizer-treated soils, ryegrass growth was greater. Net transformation/plant uptake of the labile/moderately labile P was faster in the TLC-treated soil than the fertilizer-treated soil. A weak acid extractable inorganic P fraction should be considered as plant available P, especially in the compost-treated soil, which would be converted into plant available P through direct and/or indirect root-induced acidification in the rhizosphere.