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Composting for Sustainability

Composting for Sustainability. Steven Hall Biological and Agricultural Engineering LSU AgCenter HORT 4012 Feb 2009. Composting. The (aerobic) decomposition of organic material in the presence of oxgyen. Composting. General C:N (materials) Oxygen Moisture Temperature

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Composting for Sustainability

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  1. Composting for Sustainability Steven Hall Biological and Agricultural Engineering LSU AgCenter HORT 4012 Feb 2009

  2. Composting The (aerobic) decomposition of organic material in the presence of oxgyen.

  3. Composting GeneralC:N (materials) Oxygen Moisture Temperature Microbes (good and bad)

  4. Composting: Materials Handling

  5. Composting: Management

  6. Sustainability: $, Env, Social

  7. Composting: Equipment (windrow turner)

  8. Composting: Windrows

  9. Composting: Reduce Waste or Produce Valuable Product?

  10. Composting: Thinking…

  11. Composting Practical Issues: Food waste Vet Waste Safety (biology) Aesthetics (odor, appearance, handling, etc.)

  12. Composting Costs: Transportation Equipment Labor Value of Product (Use on Farm, Sell for Profit?)

  13. Composting From Compost Workshop (see www.agctr.lsu.edu/callegari) Or Compost Handbook (US Composting Council) Or Composting Programs Elsewhere (e.g. Cornell Composting: http://www.css.cornell.edu/compost/Composting_homepage.html)

  14. Cornell Composting The Science and Engineering of Composting A Note to Casual CompostersBackground InformationGetting the Right MixComposting ExperimentsCompost Engineering Fundamentals Background Information: Invertebrates Microbes Chemistry Physics Getting the Right Mix: Introduction Moisture Content C/N Ratio Bioavailability of Carbon & Nitrogen Use of fertilizer nitrogen to balance C/N ratio Lignin effects on bioavailability Lignin Table Effect of particle size on bioavailability

  15. Callegari Composting Course:Mixes, Measurements (T, O, Vol, Density), Materials, Siting…Example: Buffer Zones Water Sources Water Runoff/Streams/Wetlands Residential/Business Areas

  16. Buffer Zones Recommended Distances from Water Sources - Private well: 100 feet minimum (horizontally) - Water table: 3 feet above max - Bedrock: 3 feet above max

  17. Buffer Zones Recommended Distances: Sensitive Wetlands - Streams, ponds: 100 feet - Subsurface drainage pipe or ditch: 25 feet

  18. Buffer Zones Recommended Distances: Residences - Property lines: 50 feet (500 ideal) - Residence or business: 200 feet (2000 ideal)

  19. Buffer Zones Check with local authorities on specifics: DEQ Health Dept Conservation Districts Army Corps of Engineers

  20. Area Requirements (Practical for this class!!) Volume of Material Shape of Pile Length of Time: Curing/Storage Equipment Considerations

  21. Area Requirements:Incoming Material Volume of Material Volume must be estimated by users Examples: - number of animals x volume per animal - number of trucks x volume per truck (from dining halls…)

  22. Area Requirements:Time Considerations Volume of Material Time: Total volume = residence time x daily volume - daily volume x number of days

  23. Area Requirements:Volume = CS Area x Length Shape of pile/container - High Parabolic - Low Parabolic - Trapezoidal - Triangular - Rectangular (e.g. between walls)

  24. Cross Sectional Pile Areas Shape of pile/container - High Parabolic (front end loader) h = 6-12 feet, b = 10-20 feet A = 2/3 x b x h height base

  25. Cross Sectional Pile Areas Shape of pile/container - Low Parabolic (windrow turners/ wet) h = 3-4 feet, b = 10-20 feet A = 2/3 x b x h height base

  26. Cross Sectional Pile Areas Shape of pile/container - Trapezoidal (windrow turners/ wet) h = 4-9 feet, B1 = 10-20 feet A = (B1 + B2)h/2 B 2 height B 1

  27. Cross Sectional Pile Areas Shape of pile/container - Triangle (static piles/no turning) h = 5-8 feet, b = 2 x height A = b x h / 2 height base

  28. Cross Sectional Pile Areas Shape of pile/container - Rectangle (between walls/forced aeration) h = 6-8 feet, b = 10-12 feet A = b x h height base

  29. Area Requirements:Volume = CS Area x Length Example: Trapezoidal pile, 100 feet long, B1 = 12 feet, B2 = 8 feet, h = 6 feet. Volume = 100 x (12 + 8) x 6 / 2 = 6000 ft cu 100 12

  30. Area Requirements:Volume = CS Area x Length Example: Trapezoidal pile, Cubic Yards! Volume = 6000 ft cu / 27 ft cu/yd cu = 222 cubic yards

  31. Area Requirements:Pad Area per Volume (A/V) Example:Trapezoidal pile Volume = 222 cubic yards Pad Area = 100 feet x 12 feet wide = 1200 sq ft 1200 sq ft/43650 sq ft per acre = .027 acres (1 acre = 43650 sq ft)

  32. Area Requirements:Pad Area per Volume (A/V) Example:Trapezoidal pile Volume = 222 cubic yards Consider Equipment Needs (12 feet between piles) Pad Area = 1200 sq ft (compost) + 1200 sq ft (equipment room) = .055 acres (1 acre = 43650 sq ft)

  33. Area Requirements:Pile Shape Comparisons Example:Trapezoidal pile 100 feet long Volume = 222 cubic yards Low parabolic 100 feet long (b = 12, h = 4) Volume = b x h x 2/3 x length = 118 cu yds 222 118

  34. Balance Game:Pile Shape Comparisons Trapezoidal (222 cu yds) has more volume per area than low parabolic (118 cu yards) But... - May require more turning - May take more energy - May not accommodate wet materials 118 222

  35. Area Requirements Over Time Longer Residence Time (RT) = Larger Pad Area (PA) Consider: Daily Volume (Vd) RT x Vd x V/A = Total Volume Example: 2 week cycle + 2 week curing = 4 weeks or 28 days RT

  36. Area Requirements Over Time Assume Daily Volume (Vd) = 1000 cu yards Residence Time (RT) = 28 days A/V = 0.055 acres/222 cu yds = .00025 acre/cy RT x Vd x V/A = Total Volume = 28 x 1000 x .00025 = 7 acres

  37. Area Requirements: Time Effects 28 day res time (RT) requires 7 acres 14 day RT requires only 3.5 acres 3 month (90 day) RT requires = 90 x 1000 x .00025 = 22.5 acres!!

  38. Area Requirements: Time Effects 14 day RT: 3.5 acres 28 day RT: 7 acres 3 month RT: 22.5 acres! 6 month RT: 45 acres!! Lowering Residence Time Saves $$$

  39. Balance Game:Time Effects Lowering Residence Time Saves $$$ But…requires Quick turnaround (marketing) Consistent conditions (overhead/equipment) Good biology of compost

  40. Area Requirements:Additional Factors Buffer zones (50 feet from property lines, 100 feet from water source or streams) Equipment Space (Room for equipment to move through lanes, make turns, park/stop) Space for compost (active, curing, storage) Time; Shape/Volume; Material Production

  41. Area Requirements:Additional Factors Example (see example p. 3-65): Buffer (100/25/200) Equipment (20 ft lanes, 20 ft turns) Compost (High Parabolic) 100 Pad 100 200 Neighbor Stream 25 Ditch

  42. Overall Site Layout Storage, Curing, Active Compost (Equipment) Curing 50 x 54 Storage Piles 55x70 Active Piles (Plus Lanes) 10 ft edges 20 ft lanes

  43. Other Site Considerations Nuisance Control: Odors Runoff Control Vector Control Dust and Noise Control Safety and Accident Prevention

  44. Nuisance Control: Odors Odorous Raw Materials (e.g. fish, mortalities) Poor Site Conditions (wet, close to residences) Ammonia from high N materials (e.g. poultry) Anaerobic (wet) conditions

  45. Minimizing Odors - Odorous Raw Materials: Add high C materials - Plan for good site: space, dry, etc. - High N material: add Carbon (e.g. wood chips) - Anaerobic (wet) conditions: drainage, cover - Turn piles under good conditions/good times - Biofilters or other technologies to minimize odors

  46. Minimizing Odors A huge problem in urban/rural conflict areas Consider your site and materials! More discussion later...

  47. Runoff control Runoff can contain: Sediment Nutrients Pathogens Organic Matter

  48. Runoff control Runoff can cause Disease Sedimentation Eutrophication

  49. Runoff control Use Best Management Practices: Minimize eutrophication, sediment, nutrients, pathogens, etc: - C: N ratio - Material management - Grassed Filter area - Grass Buffer Strips near water bodies

  50. Runoff control Level lip spreader: line/channel Grassed Filter Area Well estab- lished vegeta- tion From compost pad area Grassed Filter Area: 2-5% slope

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