The disposal of vegetable waste in open landfills contributes to groundwater contamination and greenhouse gas emissions due to the high organic content. This study aims to investigate composting as a sustainable alternative to landfilling by converting vegetable waste into nutrient-rich compost for use as a soil conditioner. A comprehensive laboratory investigation was conducted at NERIST, where locally sourced vegetable waste was composted using cow manure (CM) and chicken manure (ChM) as degradable activators, with dried straw and green foliage as bulking agents. The windrow composting process was systematically monitored, focusing on key parameters such as temperature (ranging from 50 °C to 65 °C during the thermophilic phase), pH (increasing from 5.8 to 7.6), moisture content, and the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. Results demonstrated that CM significantly accelerated the composting process by 10 days compared to untreated piles, thereby optimizing stabilization time, while ChM showed potential for enhancing the nutrient profile of the final compost. The study concludes that CM is a particularly effective activator for faster compost stabilization and highlights the role of ChM in improving nutrient content, reinforcing composting as a viable approach for sustainable vegetable waste management.
Comparative Analysis of Cow and Chicken Manure as Activators in Windrow Composting of Vegetable Waste
Lucchi, Elena
2025-01-01
Abstract
The disposal of vegetable waste in open landfills contributes to groundwater contamination and greenhouse gas emissions due to the high organic content. This study aims to investigate composting as a sustainable alternative to landfilling by converting vegetable waste into nutrient-rich compost for use as a soil conditioner. A comprehensive laboratory investigation was conducted at NERIST, where locally sourced vegetable waste was composted using cow manure (CM) and chicken manure (ChM) as degradable activators, with dried straw and green foliage as bulking agents. The windrow composting process was systematically monitored, focusing on key parameters such as temperature (ranging from 50 °C to 65 °C during the thermophilic phase), pH (increasing from 5.8 to 7.6), moisture content, and the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. Results demonstrated that CM significantly accelerated the composting process by 10 days compared to untreated piles, thereby optimizing stabilization time, while ChM showed potential for enhancing the nutrient profile of the final compost. The study concludes that CM is a particularly effective activator for faster compost stabilization and highlights the role of ChM in improving nutrient content, reinforcing composting as a viable approach for sustainable vegetable waste management.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
