title: Effect of aeration rate, C/N ratio and moisture content on the stability and maturity of compost.
abstract: To estimate the order of importance of factors affecting the stability and maturation of compost, pig feces and corn stalks were co-composted at different aeration rates (AR: 0.24, 0.48, 0.72 L kg(-1)dry matter (DM)min(-1)), C/N ratios (15, 18, 21), and moisture contents (MC: 65%, 70%, 75%). The thermophilic phase with all treatments was long enough to meet sanitation requirements. The oxygen content and N losses increased with increasing AR, but no significant differences were observed between the moderate and high treatments. The compost with the lowest initial C/N ratio was significantly different from the other treatments and had the lowest germination index (53-66%). AR was the main factor influencing compost stability, while the C/N ratio mainly contributed to compost maturity, and the MC had an insignificant effect on the compost quality. The recommended parameters for composting are an AR of 0.48 L kg(-1) DM min(-1) and a C/N ratio of 18 with MCs of 65-75%.
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China. guorui3030@163.com
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Guoxue
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schuchardt
authors.forename: Tongbin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuanqiu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yujun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D028462:Cucumis / Q000254:growth & development; D005243:Feces; D018525:Germination; D006813:Humidity; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013696:Temperature; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012987:Soil; D014866:Waste Products; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen