Effect of biochar amendment on compost quality, gaseous emissions and pathogen reduction during in-vessel composting of chicken manure

• Published in: Chemosphere Vol. 283; p. 131129
• Main Authors: Chung, Woo Jin, Chang, Soon Woong, Chaudhary, Dhiraj Kumar, Shin, JoungDu, Kim, Hyunook, Karmegam, Natchimuthu, Govarthanan, Muthusamy, Chandrasekaran, Murugesan, Ravindran, Balasubramani
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: ammonia; Animals; biochar; carbon dioxide; Charcoal; Chicken manure; Chickens; compost quality; Composting; Escherichia coli; Gases; Green house gas; greenhouses; Lepidium sativum; livestock and meat industry; Manure; Mature compost; Nitrogen; Pathogen reduction; pathogens; phytotoxicity; plastics; pollution; poultry manure; Rice husk biochar; Salmonella; sawdust; seed germination; Soil; temperature; Mature compost; Green house gas; Chicken manure; Pathogen reduction; Rice husk biochar
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131129
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298

Because of rapid development in the livestock industry, the production of chicken manure has subsequently increased, which may contribute to environmental pollution. In this regard, in-vessel composting of biochar amended chicken manure and sawdust mixtures was investigated to find out the effect of biochar at the ratios of 0% (control), 3% (T1), 5% (T2), and 10% (T3) on ammonia and greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission, compost quality, pathogenic contaminants and phytotoxicity. The composting process was performed in 100-L, pilot-scale, plastic, cylindrical vessels for 50 days. The addition of biochar (3%, 5%, and 10%) increased the thermophilic temperature with a significant reduction in gaseous emissions (ammonia and CO2), microbial pathogens (Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp.), and phytotoxicity (Lepidium sativum seed germination assay) compared with that of the control compost products. However, according to the obtained results with in-vessel composting, the amendment of 10% biochar showed the most significant effects concerning the quality of the compost nutrients. The study reveals that the addition of biochar during in-vessel chicken manure composting is beneficial in the reduction of gaseous emissions and pathogenic microorganisms apart from improvement in plant nutrients. [Display omitted] •Biochar-assisted in-vessel composting of chicken manure was investigated.•Biochar (10%) addition showed reduction of ammonia and GHGs emissions and pathogens.•Biochar at 10% level enhanced nutrient retention and overall compost quality.•The germination index of cress seeds was >90% in biochar amended compost.