CATTLE MANURE COMPOST AS A SUBSTRATE. I- STATIC OR DYNAMIC COMPOSTING STRATEGIES

Two types of cattle manure were studied with two simple composting strategies to learn how they affect handling during the process and the properties that can most restrict the use of the final compost as a substrate.

In the first experiment, beef cattle manure (CM), produced under normal stabling conditions was studied using two composting strategies: dynamic (ventilation provided by turning) and static (ventilation provided by forced air) with a view to analyzing the effect of the two categories on handling, and the characteristics for application as a substrate.
It was observed that the ventilation rates applied to the static pile were not the most ideal, whereas in the dynamic pile the oxygenation conditions were not sufficient.
The static satrategy had a positive effect on the breakdown of phytotoxic components in the early statges of the process and made it possible to shorten the decomposition time.

In the second experiment, composting of separated cattle manure (SCM) was studied using three basic ventilation systems; one of them also involved a change in the composition of the starting material (addition of a bulking agent in the compost because it involves fewer handling operations and produces compost with an optimum pH for application as a substrate after a fairly extended curing period.
The added bulking agent has a diluting effect on the EC and the various forms of nitrogen in the final compost.

International Symposium on Composting & Use of Composted Material in Horticulture

R. Cáceres, C. Olivella, A.M. Puerta, O. Marfà

cattle manure, composting, substrates, static strategy, dynamic strategy, salinity, alkalinity, organic matter

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1998.469.20