Abstract

BRITO, L. M.; AMARO, A. L.  and  FERNANDES, A. S.. Influence of aeration on the process of composting dairy cattle slurry solid fraction. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2009, vol.32, n.1, pp.298-311. ISSN 0871-018X.

Manure surpluses in dairy farms can be reduced by separation of the solid fraction from slurry whereas composting allows the stabilization of the organic matter of the solid fraction. The solid fraction can be exported to other farms with a high demand for organic amendments after composting because this turns cattle slurry solids into a uniform, easily handled, organically stable, without pathogens or viable weed seeds that can be land applied and marketed as a soil amendment. However, when 60% moisture content of solids is exceeded, and this is the situation for most separated slurry solids, oxygen movement is somewhat restricted. Therefore, the effect of turning the compost pile must be researched since it provides oxygen for the decomposition process. Dairy cattle slurry solids from two different farms located at the NW Portugal (Vila do Conde), with 70% and 78% moisture contents, were removed from the tank using an auger encased in a perforated stainless steel screen, allowing removal of excess water. Twelve pile treatments of 15 m³ of freshly separated solids were placed in bare soil. The effects of using straw as a framework and of turning with a tractor-mounted front-end loader were evaluated through chemical analysis on pile samples collected over a 15 week period. Thermophilic temperatures were achieved soon after separation for 70% moisture solids, but these temperatures were attained for 78% moisture solids only once mixed with straw, indicating that differences in bedding material affects the temperature and oxygen concentration during composting. Moreover, solids with initial 70% moisture had a faster rate of composting and took shorter time to reach maturity than solids with 78% moisture. Although chemical evolution based on parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity and C/N ratio provided substantial evidence that agronomical suitable compost can be obtained, future challenges include optimizing the process to minimize the loss of nitrogen in the form of ammonia gas, given that pH ranged from 8 to 9 throughout the compost process.

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