Open AccessAssessment of Physico-chemical, Microbial and Phytotoxic Changes of Various Organic Wastes During their Composting Process
Author(s) -
Fakher Ayed,
Olfa Boussadia,
Hanem Grissa,
Rania Aydi Ben Abdallah,
Hayfa JabnounKhiareddine,
Mejda DaamiRemadi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of environmental and agricultural studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2710-1401
DOI - 10.32996/jeas.2021.2.2.3
Subject(s) - organic matter , decomposition , chemistry , hordeum vulgare , bulk density , total organic carbon , nutrient , phytotoxicity , compost , agronomy , chemical process of decomposition , zoology , environmental chemistry , environmental science , biology , soil water , poaceae , organic chemistry , soil science
In this study, the aerobic composting in windrows of five mixtures of organic materials was compared. Composting temperatures rose to 60-67°C within 7 to 22 days and stayed above 45°C for 4-5 months before declining. Decomposition after 223 days was 40-43% for organic materials and 23-25% for carbon. The pH values decreased during the composting process and became neutral at maturation. Electric conductivity dropped to 3.6-5.22 mS/cm after 170 days. Dry matter increase to 96.2-97.8% within 182 days of composting and dropped to 70.13-73.87% at maturation. Bulk density increased from 0.20-0.26 g/cm3 to 0.34-0.55 g/cm3 and varied depending on composts. Porosity and water retention decreased during composting. Nutrient contents varied over composting times and wastes. Composts' phytotoxicity, evaluated on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds, decreased by 0.2-13.2% and 63.2-81.3% after 30 and 220 days of composting, respectively. Benefits of composting organic wastes into agriculturally valuable final products was discussed.