role of aeration intensity, temperature regimes and composting mixture on gaseous emission during composting

• Published in: Compost science & utilization Vol. 18; no. 3; pp. 194 - 200
• Main Authors: Habart, Jan, Tlustos, Pavel, Hanc, Ales, Svehla, Pavel, Vana, Jaroslav, Tluka, Petr, Jelinek, Frantisek
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 01.06.2010; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Aeration; Ammonia; ammonification; Byproducts; compost quality; Composting; Decomposition; Emissions; gas emissions; Grasses; Leaves; Microorganisms; nitrification; nitrous oxide; Nitrous oxides; oxygen requirement; pig manure; plant residues; quantitative analysis; soil chemistry; Temperature; Trees; Ureas
• ISSN: 1065-657X; 2326-2397
• DOI: 10.1080/1065657X.2010.10736955

The aim of the work was to compare production of N 2 O during composting with different temperature regimes, different aeration intensity and different input mixture. Two different mixtures of organic material with three levels of aeration underwent the composting process in two temperature regimes. Mixture A contained woodchips, separated pig slurry, fresh grass and tree leaves. Mixture B contained woodchips, tree leaves, grass and urea to optimize C:N ratio. This experiment was carried out in specially designed 70 liter fermentors. Oxygen and nitrous oxide were monitored in the exhaust air as well as pH, NO 3 − and NH 4 + and temperature of solid material. The mixture with urea additive showed high N 2 O production when kept under low temperature; when the same mixture was kept in higher temperature, production of NO 2 was 3 fold lower. However, the mixture without urea addition kept in high temperature shows almost no N 2 O production. Production of N 2 O was highest when nitrates concentration increased. Production of N 2 O is perhaps a by-product of nitrification, but also other pathways may contribute.