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From Compost Science & Utilization AUTUMN, 2001 Vol. 9, No. 4, Page 312 |
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H.M. Keener1, D.L. Elwell1, K. Ekinci1 and H.A.J. Hoitink2
1. Department of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering,
The Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio
2. Department of Plant Pathology, Ohio Agricultural Research and
Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio
Swine manure and wood shavings used as a drying bed were removed from a High-Rise™ hog facility following two production cycles. The manure was composted in aerated pilot-scale vessels for four weeks or a mechanically turned windrow for ten weeks. Total dry matter losses during the pilot-scale studies were 30 and 32.5 % for continuously and intermittently aerated systems, respectively. Compost from both systems was stable with emission rates of 0.07–0.11 mgCO2 h-1 gvs-1. Moisture, O2, CO2 and NH3 use/losses during the process as well as chemical properties of the initial and composted manure are presented. Incorporation of the compost at a 5% amendment rate (v/v) into a standard pine bark container medium significantly (P = 0.05) increased growth of two woody plant species. Higher amendment rates were toxic to some plants due to high initial NH4+ concentrations in the medium. The compost significantly (P=0.05) increased growth and suppressed Pythium root rot of poinsettia when incorporated at 10% (v/v) into a standard sphagnum peat mix. The compost can be utilized as a value-added disease-suppressive product in the ornamentals industry.
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