Compost Science Complete scientific data on compost process control and end product quality

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Crop Response
Effect on flower species from vermicomposted wastes
Investigators: P. Roberts, C.A. Edwards, G. Edwards-Jones and D.L. Jones, School of Agricultural Science, University of Wales, Soil Ecology Laboratory, The Ohio State University
Objectives: To expand the understanding of the effect of vermicomposted wastes, specifically those produced by Dendrobaena veneta, on three commonly grown United Kingdom pot flowers - sunflower (Helianthus annuus), cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) and California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Several thousand metric tons of vermicompost are now produced annually in the UK, most of which is

marketed as a natural fertilizer/inorganic fertilizer substitute. With the development of this new market comes a need to understand responses to a range of plant species to properties claimed for such products.

Environmental Impact
Biogenic emissions from green waste and comparisons to composting emissions
Investigators: Fatih Buyuksonmez and Jason Evans, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
Objectives: To determine the biogenic VOC emissions resulting from natural decay of green waste, and to compare to those resulting from composting of the same materials to elucidate whether composting causes an increase or reduction of emissions. Ammonia emissions were also studied in a similar manner.

Materials And Methods
Cover crop and weed production from applying composted organics to highway embankments
Investigators: R.A, Persyn, T.L. Richard, T.D. Glanville, J.M. Laflen and P.M. Dixon, South Dakota State University, Penn State University, Iowa State University,
Objectives: To investigate compost use as a growth media for establishing cover crops and as a mulch for controlling weeds on a disturbed highway right-of-way. State departments of transportation are one of the larger potential groups of customers for compost, as these organizations manage revegetation of thousands of acres each year in many states, often on steep slopes where risks of erosion are high and rapid crop establishment is critical.

Impact of composting on microbial, biochemical and chemical aspects of phosphorus transformation
Investigators: D. Mukherjee, N. Saha, P. Chattrejee, A. Sharma, G. Metiya and M. Halder, Department of Soil Science, Bidhan Chandra Krishi, Nadia, West Bengal, India
Objectives: To study microbiological, biochemical and chemical attributes associated with P-transformation during compost of substrates - water hyacinth and rice straw - by heap and pit methods.

Effects of carbonaceous additives on sludge composting process
Investigators: Sung-Hwan Kwon, Hiroto Yoshida and Kiyohiko Nakasaki, Department of Materials Science, Shizuoka University, Johoku, Hamamatsu, Japan
Objectives: To investigate and compare quantitatively the effects of the additives (i.e., barley straw, rice straw, wheat straw and grass clippings) on the sludge composting focused on suppressive effect of HH3 emission; and to examine a reason for the controversy on adjustment of solid C/N ratio as an operating parameter in composting.

Horse manure and fruit composting kinetics - measures of stability
Investigators: J.C. Ramirez-Perez, P. F. Strom and U. Krogman, Dept. of Environmental Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
Objectives: To examine the feasibility of cocomposting cranberry fruit and horse manure; specific tasks to include monitoring over time of a variety of physical, chemical and biological properties; testing toxicity of leachate with attention to seed germination and root elongation; and determining some simple kinetic parameters for the composting process.

Cellulase production by various sources of mulch
Investigators: Ben Faber and Michael Spiers, University of California, Ventura and HortResearch, Ruakura, New Zealand
Objectives: To evaluate whether there are differences in the production of cellulase from different mulching materials in a field setting. Materials used were commonly available at a reasonable cost. Fields were established in two different environments to determine impact of climate on cellulase production.

Microbial Ecology
Inactivation of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis during composting
Investigators: Ivan Gobec, Martin Dobeic, Milan Pogacnik and Matjaz Ocepek, Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Objectives: To test the usefulness of bacteriological and molecular assays in assessment of Mycobacterium avium Paratuberculosis (MAP) survival in composting.