title: Improving the product stability and fertilizer value of cattle slurry solid fraction through co-composting or co-ensiling.
abstract: Separating dairy cattle slurry in a liquid and solid fraction (SF) is gaining more interest, since it enables a more targeted use of both fractions. However, the valorization of the SF is limited on P-rich soils, due to its high P content, and the export or use as bedding material requires sanitation. Therefore, we investigated the influence of composting or ensiling the SF, whether or not mixed with bulking agents, on the product quality in terms of fertilizer value, sanitation and stability. Ensiling can be considered as a controlled storage method for conserving C and nutrients. Soil amendment with co-ensiled SF resulted in a higher N mineralization and crop growth compared to amendment of co-composted SF. Co-composting SF with structure-rich feedstock materials optimized the composting process and sanitation when compared with composting pure SF and did not increase the risk for extreme-heat-resistant spores of thermophilic aerobic spore-forming bacteria (X-TAS). Further, the composts contained more P per unit of fresh weight than the silages, beneficial for the export of the composted SF. The oxygen uptake rate was found to be less powerful to determine the stability of fresh, composted and ensiled SF.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Plant Sciences Unit, Crop Husbandry and Environment, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 109, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; Department of Soil Management, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: jarinda.viaene@ilvo.vlaanderen.be.
authors.forename: Jarinda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Viaene
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Plant Sciences Unit, Crop Husbandry and Environment, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 109, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address: victoria.nelissen@ilvo.vlaanderen.be.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nelissen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Plant Sciences Unit, Crop Husbandry and Environment, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 109, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address: bert.reubens@ilvo.vlaanderen.be.
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reubens
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Plant Sciences Unit, Crop Husbandry and Environment, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 109, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address: koen.willekens@ilvo.vlaanderen.be.
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Willekens
authors.affiliation: NIZO Food Research BV, Kernhemseweg 2, 6718 ZB Ede, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Frank.Driehuis@nizo.com.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Driehuis
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Management, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: stefaan.deneve@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Neve
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Plant Sciences Unit, Crop Husbandry and Environment, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 109, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address: bart.vandecasteele@ilvo.vlaanderen.be.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vandecasteele
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium; D002417:Cattle; D005308:Fertilizers; D008372:Manure; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D012820:Silage; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013171:Spores, Bacterial; D013696:Temperature; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*; D017641:Zeolites
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D008372:Manure; D012987:Soil; C083175:clinoptilolite; D017641:Zeolites; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Biodegradation potential; Manure processing; Oxygen uptake rate; Stability indicators; X-TAS spores