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Composting Manure September 2007 ENTSC Manure Management Team Net Meeting #1

Composting Manure September 2007 ENTSC Manure Management Team Net Meeting #1. Composting is the controlled aerobic biological conversion of manure and other agricultural wastes into a stable material. Composting Rules. C:N from 25:1 to 40:1 Moisture ~ 40 to 65% Oxygen > 5 ppm

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Composting Manure September 2007 ENTSC Manure Management Team Net Meeting #1

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  1. Composting ManureSeptember 2007ENTSCManure Management TeamNet Meeting #1 Composting is the controlled aerobic biological conversion of manure and other agricultural wastes into a stable material.

  2. Composting Rules C:N from 25:1 to 40:1 Moisture ~ 40 to 65% Oxygen > 5 ppm Temperature 130-160 oF for total of 5 days

  3. Why do it? • Dry matter/volume reduction ~ 50% • Cheaper transportation • Land apply at farmer’s convenience • Reduced odor • Reduces fly and disease problems • Enables P removal from farm • Can help manage storage capacity

  4. What’s in the pile? • High-nitrogen material [“greens”]— • Manure– Dairy, beef, horse, poultry, swine • Hatchery waste– shells, washing, rejects • Food processing waste (vegetable or fruit) • Fish processing waste • High carbon material [“browns”]--- • Yard trimmings, leaves, woodchips • Sawdust, shavings, straw, old hay, seed cleaning waste • Shredded Paper and Un-waxed Cardboard

  5. Controlled aerobic biological decomposition BIOLOGY

  6. The process Psychrophilic---Mesophilic---Thermophilic

  7. Psychrophilic-mesophilic--Microbes multiply exponentially; give off heat; pile warms up. Thermophilic or “hot” phase--Bacteria consume ‘easy’ food; pile heats rapidly; H2O, heat, CO2 given off in large amounts. Cool-down – Microbes run out of food and/or oxygen; pile cools; may be re-activated by turning, introducing air, and/or adding water. Curing – At ambient temps; actinomycetes and fungi multiply; slowbreakdown of cellulose & lignins. Humic compounds form. Mineralization of N to NO3.

  8. Bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi How to eat something bigger than you are…..

  9. Respiration Oxygen in – bugs oxidize carbon sources Energy used to build cells CO2 and heat out

  10. Starters & Inoculants—do you really need them? • Microbes & Enzymes • Lime & fertilizer • Foo-foo dust • No need for steamed worms!

  11. Windrows-turning METHODS

  12. Passive aeration, Vermont Continuous turning, Supersoils, NC Forced aeration, Idaho Composting under roof

  13. Tidy horse manure management Layering dead chicks in forced air bin Caged layer droppings Compost sausage, Alberta CA

  14. Tower system in the UK

  15. Is a few days enough?

  16. Composting bedded pack dairy barn, MN, is tilled twice a day Pigs in hoop structure

  17. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES • Runoff & Leachate • Phosphorus • Nitrogen • Pathogens • Air Emissions • Odor • Ammonia • Methane, CO2, N2O • Dust [particulates & pathogens]

  18. Phosphorus It’s still theeeere…… Concentration increases because volume decreases P taken into bug bodies, inorganic converted to organic

  19. NitrogenLoss • Some ammonia will be produced • Volatilization rate depends on pH, temperature, rate of air exchange • Why we care: • Particulates • Health issues • Atmospheric deposition in surface water systems

  20. CarbonLoss CO2 major product of bio activity Loss of carbon cause of volume and mass loss in pile Rate of C conversion depends on C:N balance, oxygen, bio activity

  21. Pathogens • Attenuation during composting • Never say never…. There is always some risk • Minimizing risk:get it all hot, get it hot long enough, let it age

  22. Odor • Why does it smell? • Odor reduction

  23. CH4, CO2, N2OWhile these are greenhouse gases, they could occur when raw manure is land applied-- just a slower delivery.

  24. Planning Considerations • Solids separation / drying / mixing • Material transport • Machinery movement • Space • Labor • Drainage • Fire prevention • Maintenance

  25. I’ve got compost--- now what? • Using compost on-farm • Bedding • Soil amendment/fertilizer • Marketing • Local, casual markets • Competing with the big boys • Screening, packaging, etc. • Making other products

  26. Where to go for more info… http://www.info.usda.gov/CED/ftp/CED/neh637-ch02.pdf[Chapter 2, National Engineering Handbook] http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOP/indexIE.htm[USDA National Organic Program] Bill Boyd – william.boyd@gnb.usda.gov or 336-370-3334 Manure Management Information Sheets: #1- Composting Manure-What Goes on in the Dark #2 – Managing for Better Compost #3 – Composting Bedded Pack Barns

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