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The composition and manurial value of poultry excreta, straw‐droppings composts and deep litter. II. —Experimental studies on composts
Author(s) -
Tinsley J.,
Nowakowski T. Z.
Publication year - 1959
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740100302
Subject(s) - straw , compost , organic matter , chemistry , poultry litter , calcium carbonate , nitrogen , dry matter , composition (language) , deep litter , ammonium , agronomy , zoology , nutrient , biology , inorganic chemistry , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry
An experimental study was made of the changes in composition and losses of organic matter and nitrogen (especially that soluble in cold o.IN‐H 2 SO 4 ) occurring in composts prepared from cereal straw mixed with fresh poultry droppings in various proportions and stored for up to 3 years. A comparison was also made of composts prepared with droppings and with ammonium sulphate plus calcium carbonate, each at two levels of total nitrogen. Tests were made on composts prepared on a small scale kept under cover in brick cells and in large heaps. Loss of organic matter and changes in nitrogen components could be followed indirectly from the ratios of ash to loss on ignition and of ash or P or K content to nitrogen content. There was accumulation of NO 3− ‐N up to about 1% of the dry matter in composts stored for 2–3 years, the composition of the compost then being fairly stable and differing little whether a high or low proportion of droppings was used initially. The optimum ratio of straw to droppings was 1: 1.5 by weight. Composts made with ammonium sulphate and calcium carbonate in place of droppings had lower N, P and K contents.