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Cocomposting – A Method to Improve

Results of Poultry Manure Composting
a a a
Michael Raviv , Shlomit Medina & Yoav Shamir
a
Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center,
Ramat Yishay, Israel
Published online: 23 Jul 2013.

To cite this article: Michael Raviv, Shlomit Medina & Yoav Shamir (1999) Cocomposting – A Method
to Improve Results of Poultry Manure Composting, Compost Science & Utilization, 7:2, 70-73, DOI:
10.1080/1065657X.1999.10701966

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1065657X.1999.10701966

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 Compost Science & Utiliza tion, (1999), Vol. 7, No. 2, 70-73

Cocomposting - A Method to Improve Results of

Poultry Manure Composting
Michael Raviv, Shlomit Medina and Yoav Shamir
Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center,
Ramat Yishay, Israel

Composting of poultry manure (initial C:N ratio- 11 .3) in a thermostatically aerat-

ed pile resulted with overheating (>65°C) and rapid loss of Total Volatile Solids
(TVS) and of nitrogen. Adding five percent (on a dry weight basis) of squeezed
grapefruit peels (initial C:N ratio of the mixture- 12.4) lowered the pH of the aque-
ous phase of the raw materials from 6.6 to 5.8 (in a 1:10 extract). This enabled con-
trolling the pile temperature below 60°C and increased the amount of conserved N
by ca. 80 percent. Nitrogen was conserved more than the TVS on a relative basis in
Downloaded by [Erciyes University] at 20:43 06 January 2015

this mixture but conserved less than the TVS in the poultry manure alone. This sug-
gests that previously released NH 4+ was biologically immobilized in the mixture.
Although the effect of the added acidic carbon source was apparent until the end of
the composting period on the above mentioned parameters, a sharp rise in pH and
a decline in C:N ratio occurred after less than 12 days and less than 39 days, re-
spectively. This suggests that adding more squeezed grapefruit during the com-
posting period may have caused additional beneficial effect on the characteristics
of the end product.

Introduction
Poultry litter is generated in large quantities in Israel. Direct soil application is pos-
sible and is of value both as soil fertilizer and amendment. However, the continuing
urbanization process, on the one hand, and the rapid increase in manure quantities, on
the other hand, dictate the use of processed, more stable manure, having lower vol-
ume and causing less odor nuisance. This can be done by com posting. Two main prob-
lems are associated with composting of poultry manure. 1. A considerable loss of ni-
trogen due to ammonia volatilization (Henry and White 1993) and 2. Uncontrollable
heating of the compost that may slow down the process Geris and Regan 1973). These
two difficulties are typical in materials having low C:N ratio such as poultry manure
(Hansen et al. 1988, Hansen 1989). Cocomposting with carbon-rich bulking agents such
as sawdust was suggested as a way to minimize N loss (Galler and Davey 1971). Am-
monia volatilization is also affected by the pH of the compost. The aim of the present
study was to test the effectiveness of acidic carbon source, resulting from the juice in-
dustry as a means to increase C:N ratio while lowering the pH of the compost in order
to minimize N losses.

Materials and Methods

Dry poultry manure (PM) and freshly squeezed grapefruit peels (GP) are purchased
from nearby operations. Water was added to the PM up to 60 percent moisture content
(MC). PM was compos ted either alone or with 5 percent (on dry weight basis) of GP. The
two mixtures were composted simultaneously. Basically, the composting procedure fol-
lowed the method of McGregor et al. (1981). Six m3 of each raw material were com post-
ed in a semi-insulated, covered bin. Air was blown into the bins from perforated pipes
at a rate of 400m3 / h per bin whenever temperature was above 55°C or using a timer (30

10 Compost Science & Utilization Spring 1999

 Cocomposting - A Method to Improve Results of Poultry Manure Composting

sec/ h) when temperatures were lower than the set point. Samples were taken to deter-
mine MC twice a week from the center of the pile, 25 em below the surface, one sample
at a time. Water was added through drippers (placed 20x20 em. apart) in order to main-
tain the original MC until temperatures dropped below 40°C. On a daily basis, 6.5 and
2.95 liters were added per initial volume of 1m3 of PM and PM+GP mixture, respec-
tively. Temperature was constantly recorded using a data logger. Therocouples were lo-
cated at depths of 25, 50 and 75 em from the surface, at the middle of each bin and the
piles were turned when thermal layering became apparent (5°C of the average). The
composts were sampled (one sample at a time) and their total volatile solids (TVS) were
determined using 4 g subsample, combusted at 550°C. Total N was analyzed in oven-
dried (70°C, 48 h), ground samples. Two hundred mg were treated with 4 rnl of 36 N
H 2S04 for 2 hat room temperature. After cooling, 1 rnl of H 20 2 was added to the reac-
tion tubes and incubated at 130-140°C. This was repeated until the solution cleared. The
incubation temperature was raised to 280°C for an additional 20 min. Concentration of
N was determined in the digest, after cooling, by spectrophotometry (Hach) using the
Downloaded by [Erciyes University] at 20:43 06 January 2015

Nessler reagent. Analyses were checked and calibrated against Bovine Serum Albumin
standards. Dissolved total N, N-N03 and N-NH4 were determined in oven-dried (70°C,
48 h) samples, after extraction with water (1 :10, W:W). Total N was determined as de-
scribed above, after water evaporation under vacuum. Nitrate was determined in the so-
lution by colorimetry using the N.A.S. reagent and ammonium by the Nessler reaction.
Our experience with the described composting configuration is that deviations
among runs of identical raw materials are small. This experiment was replicated twice
with essentially the same results. Only the results of the second run are represented.

Results and Discussion

The temperatures (daily averages for the three locations per bin) that prevailed in
the two composting bins are shown in Figure 1. In spite of almost constant blower op-
eration, relatively high MC and two turnings, the temperatures in the PM were above
the set point during three weeks. The thermophylic period lasted for about 100 days.
The mixture of PM+GP, on the other hand, was easily kept within the optimal tem-
perature range and stabilized after about 70 days.

80

70
.~.

u 60
....___.
...... so
~
...... 40
!.
El
~ 30

20

10
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Days of c.omposting

--Poultry mauur"' (PM) ---· PM+Grap.,.fruit p.,..,.Js

Figure 1. Da ily average temperatu res in the two composting piles. Arrows indicate turning events.

Compost Science & Utilization Spring 1999 71

 Michael Raviv, Shlomit Medina and Yoav Shamir

The higher temperatures in the PM resulted with apparent ashing and the conse-
quent fast degradation of TVS as shown in Figure 2.

120 ,-----------------------------------------------------rlZU

100 100

~ 80
rn
~
1$ 60
~
~
Downloaded by [Erciyes University] at 20:43 06 January 2015

40

20

0
0 19 39 71 84
Days of Composting

18881 PM - TVS -PM-N ~ P:M +CTP - TVS li::=:::::::;j P:M +CTP - N

Figure 2. TVS and N conservation during compos ling time of PM and PM+ GP

Simultaneously, nitrogen content in the PM dropped at a rate that was even

faster than that of the TVS. Both TVS and N contents were reduced at a slower rate
in the PM+ GP mixture. It is noteworthy that N was conserved in larger proportion
than the TVS, suggesting that previously released NH/ was biologically immobi-
lized in the mixture.

TABLE 1.
Changes over composting time of the pH, total soluble N, N0 3 and NH4 in 1:10 water extracts
of PM and PM+GP
Days From
Start of PM - - - - - - - - - - - PM+GP- - - - - - - - - -
Com posting pH Ny N-N03 N-NH 4 RNC* pH N-N0 3 N-NH 4 RNC*
- - - - (mg / liter) (mg / liter) - - - -

0 6.6 1205 31 210 1.00 5.8 1323 23 142 1.00

5 0.95
12 6.8 900 53 178 6.8 889 36 162
19 0.85 0.91
25 7.0 898 45 105
39 6.9 618 75 61 0.88 7.1 1196 59 393 1.06
71 7.4 612 119 56 7.4 950 34 73 1.18
84 0.98

• Relative Nitrogen Conserva tion

72 Compost Sci ence & Utilization Spring 1999

 Cocomposting -A Method to Improve Results of Poultry Manure Composting

In the water extract too, the concentration of total nitrogen and especially that of
soluble organic nitrogen was much higher in the PM+ GP mixture (Table 1).
Preventing N loss is dependent upon the solution pH and on the C:N ratio. The
initial C:N ratio of the mixture was close to that of the PM -12.4 vs. 11.3 respective-
ly. During the composting period both ratios were in the range of 10- 12. It is there-
fore suggested that the initial pH difference is partially responsible for the difference
inN loss (Table 1). This may suggest that adding more squeezed grapefruits during
the course of the composting could have resulted in better N conservation. Immobi-
lization of nitrogen by microorganisms is undoubtfully hampered by high tempera-
tures. Optimal temperatures as prevailed in the mixture may be another factor en-
suring better conservation of N.

References
Downloaded by [Erciyes University] at 20:43 06 January 2015

Galler, W.S. and C. B. Davey. 1971. High rate poultry manure composting with sawdust. Proc.
of the International Symposium on Livestock Waste management. St. Joseph, MI, ASAE,
pp. 158 - 162.
Hansen, R.C., H .M. Keener and H.A.J. Hoitink. 1988. Poultry manure composting: System de-
sign. ASAE paper No. 88-4049. St. Joseph, Ml, ASAE
Hansen, R.C. 1989. Poultry manure composting: Design guidelines for ammonia. ASAE paper
89-4074. St. Joseph, Ml, ASAE
Henry, S.T. and R.K. White. 1993. Composting broiler litter from two management systems.
Transactions of the ASAE, 36: 873-877.
Jeris, J.S. and R.W. Regan. 1973. Controlling environmental parameters for optimum compost-
mg. Compost Science, 14: 10-15.
Macgregor, S.T., F.C. Miller, K.M. Psarianos and M.S. Finstein. 1981. Composting process con-
trol based on interaction between microbial heat output and temperature. Appl. Environ.
Microbial., 41: 1321-1330.

Compost Science & Utilization Spring 1999 73