The composting potential of different organic solid wastes: experience from the island of Crete

For the past 20 years, the National Foundation for Agricultural Research in Crete and the School of Agricultural Technology of the Technological and Educational Institute of Crete have been involved in a number of research and development activities, related to the production and evaluation of compost derived from a variety of local solid, mainly agricultural organic wastes. Materials such as olive press cake, olive tree leaves (OTL) and branches, vine branches (VB), pressed grape skins (PGS), pig manure (PM), sewage sludge and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) have been evaluated for their behaviour during composting, their compatibility in mixtures and the quality of the end product. The quality evaluation included both a detailed physiochemical (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nutrients concentration, heavy metal concentration, etc.) and biological analyses (pathogenic microorganisms). It also included an agronomic evaluation, in which composts were used either as a soil amendment or as a component for substrates in open air or covered (greenhouse) cultivation mainly of local vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.). All materials were composted successfully, especially when mixed. The end products contained large amounts of organic matter, usually combined with an increased EC value. Pressed grape skins should be considered as the ideal raw material, producing a high quality compost, with the lowest EC value (1.57 mS cm(-1)) and the largest organic matter concentration (84.50%), compared to all other materials. When any of the produced compost was used in a ratio of 30% by volume (v/v), it increased plant growth, whereas in larger volumes, it presented phytotoxic behaviour, inhibiting both root and shoot development.     

粪便高温堆肥及其施用效果研究综述

本文综述了国内外高温堆肥系统的堆肥条件、调控方法、堆肥腐熟度指标以及农田施用效果的研究进展。尽管畜禽粪便是有机肥料的主要来源，但是其携带的大量病原菌、寄生虫卵和有毒物质是影响畜禽粪便农田利用的主要原因。好氧堆肥的主要目的是杀灭粪便中携带的有害病菌和寄生虫卵，将原料中的高分子经过微生物分解为稳定的物质。如何选择堆肥腐熟度指标和利用这些指标是判定堆肥稳定与否的重要条件。最终达到合理施用有机肥、提高作物品质、改善土壤环境质量条件的目的。     

Feasibility of vermicomposting dairy biosolids using a modified system to avoid earthworm mortality

Abstract

A laboratory study was conducted to examine the feasibility of vermicomposting dairy biosolids (dairy sludge), either alone or with either of the bulking agents ‐ cereal straw or wood shavings, using the epigeic earthworm ‐ Eisinea andrei. Earthworms added directly to these three substrates died within 48 hours. A system was developed to overcome the toxic effect of unprocessed dairy biosolids. The substrates were placed over a layer of vermicomposted sheep manure into which the earthworms were inoculated. Within two weeks, all earthworms were within the upper layer of substrate. Compared to sheep manure which is a favourable substrate for vermicomposting, the three substrates containing dairy biosolids were more effective in supporting earthworm growth and reproduction. The final products obtained after 63 days of vermicomposting had 39–53% less organic carbon than the initial substrates. Organic fractionation indicated that vermicomposting increased the stability of the materials to biological decomposition. The vermicomposts obtained from the three substrates with dairy biosolids had low heavy metal contents and electrical conductivities, and did not inhibit plant growth when compared with a commercial vermicompost in a bioassay.     

Growth Inhibition by Nitrocompounds of Selected Uric Acid-Utilizing Microorganisms Isolated from Poultry Manure

The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the potential ability of nitrocompounds to reduce ammonia volatilization by inhibiting uric acid–utilizing microorganisms. Experiment I was conducted to evaluate the effects of nitrocompounds on the growth of uric acid–utilizing microorganisms isolated from poultry manure during six-hour incubation. There were five treatments: (1) control, (2) 50 mM nitroethane, (3) 50 mM nitroethanol, (4) 50 mM nitropropanol, and (5) 50 mM nitropropionic acid. Optical density values of nitrocompounds were significantly lower than that of control at two, four, and six hours. Plate counts of uric acid–utilizing microorganisms after six-hour incubation exhibited that nitrocompounds greatly reduced the growth of these microorganisms except for the nitroethane (P < 0.05). The nitropropanol and nitropropionic acid treatments showed significantly higher inhibitory effects compared to the nitroethanol. Experiments II and III were conducted to evaluate inhibitory effects of nitrocompounds on growth of uric acid–utilizing microorganisms compared to non-nitrocompounds such as ethanol, propanol, and propionic acid. Experiments II and III consisted of seven treatments: (1) control, (2) nitroethanol, (3) nitropropanol, (4) nitropropionic acid, (5) ethanol, (6) propanol, and (7) propionic acid. The incubation times of Experiments II and III were 6 and 24 h, respectively. The nitrocompounds were significantly more successful in inhibiting growth of uric acid–utilizing microorganisms compared to those non-nitrocompounds. These results suggest that nitrocompounds exhibit potential to reduce ammonia volatilization in poultry manure by inhibiting growth of uric acid–utilizing microorganisms.     

有机肥对土壤NO3--N累积的影响

长期定位试验和调查取样的结果表明，土壤中NO3--N的累积量随有机肥施用量的增加而增加，过量施用有机肥会引起2 m以下深层次土壤中NO3--N的大量累积。当有机肥和无机肥配合施用时，土壤中NO3--N的累积量随总施N量的增加而增加。有机肥对土壤NO3--N累积的影响和对地下水的潜在威胁不容忽视。     

添加不同量的腐殖酸对猪粪堆肥中主要养分变化的影响

腐殖酸是一种可以控制堆肥氮素损失的天然固定剂,通过研究腐殖酸对猪粪堆肥过程中主要养分含量变化的影响,确定了腐殖酸的最佳加入量.结果表明,加入5%含量(占鲜猪粪重)的腐殖酸最有利于发酵反应的进行,能够促进有机质的分解,有效控制氮素损失,可使速效钾含量增加,但对有效磷的转化能力影响不大;与其他处理相比,加入5%含量的腐殖酸...     

Land Cover Changes as a Result of Environmental Restrictions on Nitrate Leaching in Dairy Farming

Nitrate leaching forms an important environmental problem because it causes pollution of groundwater and surface water, and adds to already problematic eutrophication. This study analyses the impact of reductions in nitrate leaching on land cover decisions of dairy farms, of which the activities make an important contribution to nitrate leaching. As the level of nitrate leaching depends on groundwater depth as well as on the supply of nitrogen, spatial variation in groundwater levels will cause a spatial variation in land cover under restrictions on nitrate leaching. A non-linear partial optimisation model for the economic and ecological aspects of the problem were used to show how land cover and dairy farms' financial balances change when nitrate losses are reduced. The model is spatially explicit, and describes nitrate leakage and yields of maize and grass as a function of groundwater depth, including the effects of various grazing systems. The model analyses the decisions of a risk neutral agent who minimises costs under the following constraints: (i) production, feed requirements and mass balances for fodder; (ii) constraints for nitrate leaching. Economic costs are attributed to increased costs of fodder and processing of manure when nitrate restrictions are tightened. An important result of the study is the variation in compliance costs and land cover for maize and grass production brought about by spatial variation in groundwater depth. While the effects are negligible for some shallow groundwater classes, it is extremely difficult in other classes – if not impossible – to obtain the EU standard of maximum admissible losses of 34 kg N ha^–1 at low costs. The study shows an important reduction in land cover by maize.     

微量元素对牛粪低温厌氧发酵的影响

为考察较低温度(<17℃)条件下添加微量金属元素对厌氧发酵产气量的影响,在发酵底物TS(含固率)为10%下采用10 L玻璃瓶作反应器,以牛粪为原料,向厌氧生物反应器中分别添加MnSO4、FeSO4·7H2O、电解锰渣,分析了厌氧消化系统运行过程中的产气量、COD(化学需氧量)和pH的变化。结果表明,锰元素能促进低温下牛粪的厌氧发酵,加速反应启动。当添加6 g MnSO4、100 g电解锰渣时,单位质量VS产气率分别为0.26 mL/g和0.64 mL/g,添加6 g FeSO4·7H2O与空白对照组均未见明显产气。     

连续施用发酵猪粪对土壤中四环素抗性基因数量的影响

为了研究连续施用发酵猪粪之后,土壤中抗性基因的数量以及发酵猪粪的施用量对土壤抗性基因的影响,采用实时荧光定量PCR方法,对稻麦轮作模式下连续6年施用4.5t/hm2和9.0t/hm2发酵猪粪的土壤进行了四环素抗性基因(TRGs)的检测和定量分析.在施用发酵猪粪的土壤中能够检测到9种TRGs.施用发酵猪粪显著增加了土壤中tet G、tet L、tet B(P)、tet O、tet W的绝对数量,其中tet B(P)、tet W、tet O的绝对数量受到了施肥用量的影响;而tet Z、tet C和tet S的绝对数量则没有受到施肥的影响.上述8种TRGs在同一施肥处理的0~5cm、5~10cm以及10~20cm土壤中的相对丰度分布均无显著差异.发酵猪粪的施用也显著增加了tet G、tet L、tet B(P)和tet O的相对丰度,但是仅有tet O的相对丰度受到了施肥用量的显著影响.本研究表明,在稻麦轮作模式下,农田土壤中的TRGs数量会受到发酵猪粪中残留TRGs的影响,连续施用该粪肥会显著增加土壤中tet G、tet L、tet B(P)和tet O的绝对数量和相对丰度.因此,需要优化畜禽粪堆肥发酵工艺,以减少抗性基因在粪肥中的残留.     

麦秆酸预处理后与猪粪混合发酵提高产气量的效应研究

为了研究不同水平的酸处理对麦秆混合发酵过程中各指标变化的影响,本试验通过测定不同醋酸浓度、时间处理后的麦秆与猪粪混合厌氧发酵进程中还原糖、挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)含量,以及p H值变化和甲烷产量,探究各指标的关系并优化得出最佳醋酸处理组合,以期为酸预处理混合发酵实现高甲烷产量提供可靠的理论依据.结果表明,醋酸处理后的麦秆通过与猪粪混合发酵可明显提高甲烷单位产量,增幅为124.28%~207.40%.发酵过程中还原糖、VFA、p H值间相互影响.通过响应面法建立模型,得到醋酸处理的最优组合为浓度3.35%、时间6.75d,最大甲烷单位产量751.97 m L·g-1(以VS计).