title: Physico-chemical and biological characteristics of compost from decentralised composting programmes.
abstract: Composts that originated from small-scale composting programmes including home, community and canteen waste composters were studied. Heavy metals concentration indicated compliance with current regulations for conventional and organic agriculture. Compost from canteen waste showed high organic matter content (74% VS), while community (44 ± 20% VS) and home composts (31 ± 16% VS) had moderate levels. N content increased from home compost (1.3 ± 0.9% dm) to community (2.0 ± 0.9%) and canteen compost (2.5-3.0%) while P content ranged from 0.4% to 0.6% dm. C/N, absorbance E4/E6 and N-NH4(+)/N-NO3(-) ratios as well as respiration index indicated well-stabilized final products. Culturable bacterial and fungal cfu linkage to composting dynamics were identified and higher diversity of invertebrates was found in the smaller scale static systems. With similar process evolution indicators to industrial systems, overall results support the sustainability of these small-scale, self-managed composting systems.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering I, University of A Coruña, Galiza, Spain; Division of Biology and Conservation Ecology, School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology and Conservation Ecology, School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering I, University of A Coruña, Galiza, Spain. Electronic address: m.soto@udc.es.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soto
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria; D005658:Fungi; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013030:Spain; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Biological properties; Heavy metals; Home and small-scale composters; Nutrients; Stability