title: Windrow composting as horticultural waste management strategy - A case study in Ecuador.
abstract: In Ecuador, enormous quantities of vegetable wastes are produced annually from the horticultural industries. Composting can be a feasible treatment to stabilise horticultural wastes and, thus, to improve their properties for use as organic fertilisers. In this study, two different piles were prepared, using laying hen manure and sawdust mixed with broccoli or tomato waste, respectively, and composted by the turned windrow composting system. Throughout the composting process, the temperature of the mixtures was monitored and physico-chemical and chemical properties and the degree of maturity were determined. Also, principal component analysis was used to interpret the data set of compost characteristics. In both piles, the temperature exceeded 55°C for more than 2weeks, which ensured maximum pathogen reduction. Organic matter (OM) losses followed a first-order kinetic equation in both piles. The final composts showed a suitable degree of stability and maturity and an absence of phytotoxins, as observed in the evolution and final values of the total organic carbon/total nitrogen ratio (Corg/NT<20), water-soluble organic carbon (Cw<1.7%), germination index (GI>50%) and cation exchange capacity (CEC>67meq (100g OM)(-1)). As well, the evolution of different humification indexes during composting was a good indicator of the OM humification process. The type of vegetable waste used influenced OM and NT mineralisation and the final properties of the composts, showing the mixture with tomato waste a higher fertilising capacity and less environmental problems.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Polytechnic School of Chimborazo, EC060155-Riobamba (Chimborazo), Ecuador.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gavilanes-Terán
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Polytechnic School of Chimborazo, EC060155-Riobamba (Chimborazo), Ecuador.
authors.forename: Janneth
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jara-Samaniego
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Polytechnic School of Chimborazo, EC060155-Riobamba (Chimborazo), Ecuador.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Idrovo-Novillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernandez University, EPS-Orihuela, Ctra Beniel km. 3.2, 03312-Orihuela (Alicante), Spain.
authors.forename: Ma Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bustamante
authors.affiliation: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernandez University, EPS-Orihuela, Ctra Beniel km. 3.2, 03312-Orihuela (Alicante), Spain.
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moral
authors.affiliation: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernandez University, EPS-Orihuela, Ctra Beniel km. 3.2, 03312-Orihuela (Alicante), Spain. Electronic address: c.paredes@umh.es.
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paredes
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001937:Brassica; D002645:Chickens; D004484:Ecuador; D005260:Female; D005308:Fertilizers; D018525:Germination; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum; D008372:Manure; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012987:Soil; D013696:Temperature; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*; D014866:Waste Products
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D008372:Manure; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D014866:Waste Products
keywords: Broccoli waste; Compost maturity; Composting; Organic matter degradation; Plant nutrient; Tomato waste