Practical Methods for Aerobic Composting of Cattle Manure

• Main Authors: Gheorghina Preda, Benoni Lixandru, Dumitru Popescu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Agroprint Timisoara 2013-05-01
• Series: Scientific Papers Animal Science and Biotechnologies
• Subjects: cattle manure; aerobic composting; stalks of sunflower; triticale
• Online Access: http://spasb.ro/index.php/spasb/article/view/179

Fresh manure of cattle was subjected to aerobic composting process in two ways: mixed with chopped stalks of sunflower and triticale straw. The composting process has been monitored by sampling periodic chemical and biochemical samples to determine pH value and the quantity of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It was also registered the temperature and humidity evolution of gathering together of materials that are subject of biodegradation, and finally we calculated the yield of composting. It was found that the oxygen is indispensable to the composting process because during the period of warm fermentation, the aerobic bacteria need a regeneration of oxygen to continue the oxidation of carbon. A decrease in the oxygen concentration below 6 % slows down the microbial activity. The best compost was obtained in the case of ratio C : N about 20 - 40 : 1.