title: Biodegradability of fecal nitrogen in composting process.
abstract: Biodegradability of fecal nitrogen was studied in composting process. Fecal nitrogen was subdivided into two fractions: a type originally inert in biological activity (N(XI)), and a slowly biodegradable one (N(XS)). During the composting process, an inert type of organic matter (N(XIB)) was reproduced by endogenous respiration of heterotrophic microorganism. Evaluations for fecal nitrogen formed a conclusion of 75% (N(XS)) and 25% (N(XI)), respectively. It was estimated that the N(XIB) could be 9% of initial fecal nitrogen. Thus, approximately 34% (N(XI)+N(XIB)) of initial fecal nitrogen remained in the composting material (mixture of sawdust and feces) as biologically inert type of organic nitrogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita-13, Nishi-8, Sapporo, Japan. zhenye@eng.hokudai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hotta
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Funamizu
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D002244:Carbon; D000641:Ammonia; D009584:Nitrogen