scholarly journals Recycling nutrients from horse manure: effects of bedding type and its compostability

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Riikka Keskinen ◽  
Markku Saastamoinen ◽  
Johanna Nikama ◽  
Susanna Särkijärvi ◽  
Marianna Myllymäki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
N Immobilization ◽  
P Loss ◽  
Artificial Rainfall ◽  
Wood Shavings ◽  
Horse Manure ◽  
Bedding Materials ◽  
Fertilizer Effect

Manure constitutes a nutrient resource that should be efficiently recycled in agriculture. We assessed the nutrient cycling properties of three bedding materials (peat, wood shavings and pelleted straw) in horse manure by comparing their compostability, ability to retain nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) under rainfall and capacity to release N when mixed with soil. Manure with pelleted straw bedding had superior composting characteristics as it lost half of its dry mass, reached temperatures >60 °C and ended up having a carbon (C) to N (C:N) ratio of <15. In percolated water, 4–11% of total manure N and 5–23% of total manure P was leached during a 2 h 15 min event of artificial rainfall. Peat manure was most susceptible to P loss. In all fresh manures, C:N ratio exceeded 30, which led to net N immobilization in soil. Composting decreased the C:N leading to a slight positive or an insignificant fertilizer effect.

UTILIZATION OF CATTLE MANURE CONTAINING WOOD SHAVINGS: EFFECT ON SOIL AND CROP

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. G. SOMMERFELDT ◽  
D. C. MACKAY
Keyword(s):  
Hordeum Vulgare ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
N Immobilization ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
Total N ◽  
Wood Shavings

A 7-yr study was conducted to determine the effects of repeated annual applications of manure containing softwood shavings (M + S) at 50 t ha−1 on the soil and its productivity, relative to manure without shavings (M) at 50 t ha−1 and nitrogen fertilizer (F) at 67 kg ha−1. The EC, OM, total N and C:N ratio of the soil of the M + S and M + S + F plots to 60-cm depth were not significantly greater than those from the M plots, and in some instances they were significantly less. The NO3-N and total N and available P contents of the soil from the M + S treatment were significantly lower than those from the M treatment. Immobilization of N in the M + S and M + S + F treatments was indicated. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. 'Gait') straw and grain yields and protein content of the grain were generally greater under the M than under the M + S treatment. When N fertilizer was included in the M + S treatment (M + S + F) the yields were similar to those of M, and the protein content increased. If manure with shavings is used for fertilizer, supplemental N should be applied to offset N immobilization. Key words: Manure disposal, manure, manure with wood shavings, nitrogen, crop yields

Monitoring of the process of composting of kitchen waste in an institutional scale worm farm

2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (10) ◽  
pp. 171-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kristiana ◽  
J. Nair ◽  
M. Anda ◽  
K. Mathew
Keyword(s):  
Organic Waste ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Lumbricus Rubellus ◽  
Organic Substrates ◽  
Cow Manure ◽  
Horse Manure ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Bedding Materials

Vermicomposting provides an alternative method of managing waste that is ecofriendly and cost-effective. The Environmental Technology Centre (ETC) at Murdoch University and St. John of God Hospital (SJOG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to install a vermiculture system in SJOG to treat some of the organic waste generated by the on site kitchen facility. This is an effort made by SJOG to reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfill each year and to treat the waste on site as part of a recycling/reuse program. The study is aimed at scientifically monitoring vermicomposting process and to understand the optimum management requirements to improve the operation of an institutional scale worm farm. In addition, an experiment was conducted to investigate the suitability of bedding materials: horse manure, cow manure, peat coir, and natural bedding (vermicast). The species of earthworms used in this experiment were Red (Lumbricus rubellus), Tiger (Eisenia fetida), and Blue (Lumbricus excavatus). The pH, temperature, worm population and quality of castings were tested in different beds. Results indicated that vermicast was the best bedding for vermicomposting, and there were no significant difference between the performances of the other three beds. However, it can be concluded that the bedding material of horse manure, cow manure, and peat coir were successfully established well within the experimental period of eight weeks, and cow manure with the lowest C:N ratio produced the best quality bedding. As using vermicast for the initial bedding creates a very high capital cost these organic substrates provide cost-effective alternative. Therefore they would be quite appropriate to initiate an institutional scale worm farm.

scholarly journals EFFETS D'APPORT D'AMENDEMENTS LIGNEUX FRAIS ET HUMIFIES SUR LA PRODUCTION DE POMME DE TERRE ET SUR LA DISPONIBILITE DE L'AZOTE EN SOL SABLEUX

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUZANNE BEAUCHEMIN ◽  
MARC R. LAVERDIÈRE ◽  
ADRIEN N'DAYEGAMIYE
Keyword(s):  
Crop Residues ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
N Immobilization ◽  
N Recovery ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Wood Residues

Intensive potato cropping has been reported as a major cause of degradation of sandy soils. Wood residues from tree clipping applied to soils can substitute for crop residues to maintain adequate organic matter levels and crop productivity. However, this ligneous material presents a C:N ratio varying from 50 to 175 and, when applied in large quantities, may induce N immobilization at the expense of the crop. The objectives of this study were to quantify the importance of this N immobilization following addition of residues and its effect on yield and quality of potato crops. Fresh or humified residues (50 t ha−1) were applied to the soil and incorporated. The third treatment received no residue. Each treatment was subdivided into subtreatments which received either 0, 150, 200 or 250 kg N ha−1. P, K, Mg and S were applied at the same rate on all treatments. Following the application of wood residues in 1987, 46 kg N ha−1 were immobilized in amended plots. N recovery from fertilizer was 51%. To obtain comparable yields of similar quality to those measured on unamended plots, an additional 1.9 kg N t−1 residues added or 100 kg N ha−1 were required. In 1988, N immobilization was considerably reduced; yield and quality of potato tubers in plots that received wood residues the previous year were comparable to those of the unamended plots with appropriate fertilization. Water retention was significantly improved in plots that received wood residues. Partial decomposition of the residues for 1 yr prior to application on the soil did not significantly improve plant growth compared to fresh residues. Key words: Wood residues, tree clippings, potato yield, dry matter content, nitrogen immobilization, soil water content

scholarly journals Annual mass drownings of the Serengeti wildebeest migration influence nutrient cycling and storage in the Mara River

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (29) ◽  
pp. 7647-7652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda L. Subalusky ◽  
Christopher L. Dutton ◽  
Emma J. Rosi ◽  
David M. Post
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
River Ecosystem ◽  
Terrestrial Animal ◽  
The World ◽  
Connochaetes Taurinus ◽  
And Storage

The annual migration of ∼1.2 million wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) through the Serengeti Mara Ecosystem is the largest remaining overland migration in the world. One of the most iconic portions of their migration is crossing of the Mara River, during which thousands drown annually. These mass drownings have been noted, but their frequency, size, and impact on aquatic ecosystems have not been quantified. Here, we estimate the frequency and size of mass drownings in the Mara River and model the fate of carcass nutrients through the river ecosystem. Mass drownings (>100 individuals) occurred in at least 13 of the past 15 y; on average, 6,250 carcasses and 1,100 tons of biomass enter the river each year. Half of a wildebeest carcass dry mass is bone, which takes 7 y to decompose, thus acting as a long-term source of nutrients to the Mara River. Carcass soft tissue decomposes in 2–10 wk, and these nutrients are mineralized by consumers, assimilated by biofilms, transported downstream, or moved back into the terrestrial ecosystem by scavengers. These inputs comprise 34–50% of the assimilated diet of fish when carcasses are present and 7–24% via biofilm on bones after soft tissue decomposition. Our results show a terrestrial animal migration can have large impacts on a river ecosystem, which may influence nutrient cycling and river food webs at decadal time scales. Similar mass drownings may have played an important role in rivers throughout the world when large migratory herds were more common features of the landscape.

NITROGEN TRANSLOCATION IN AN ORTHIC FERRO-HUMIC PODZOL AFTER UREA FERTILIZATION

1989 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 437-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. SWIFT ◽  
H. H. KRAUSE
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Forest Fertilization ◽  
Total N ◽  
Indigenous Forest ◽  
Urea Fertilization ◽  
N Status

Sampling of soil 9 yr after a high-rate urea application showed a significant increase in total N content and a decrease of the C:N ratio in the Bhf horizon. This change corresponded to a gain of 368 kg of N ha−1 in the 3-cm thick, sampled portion of this horizon. The changes in N status were accompanied by a general darkening of the soil. It is assumed that both fertilizer N and indigenous forest floor N were translocated to the B Horizon after the treatment. Key words: Forest fertilization, nitrogen, nutrient cycling, urea

scholarly journals Effects of surface materials of self-draining beds on cattle behavior in a temperate climate

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (11) ◽  
pp. 1866-1872
Author(s):  
Ping Liu ◽  
Lulu Guo ◽  
Fulan Zhang ◽  
Lin Li ◽  
Huaming Mao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Present Experiment ◽  
The Self ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Wood Shavings ◽  
Surface Materials ◽  
Bedding Materials ◽  
Sand Bedding

Objective: The objective of the present experiment was to construct self-draining beds to keep surface bedding materials clean and dry for beef cattle comfort in a temperate climate.Methods: In Experiment 1, a self-draining bed was covered with sand at depths of 10 cm (S-10a), 15 cm (S-15), and 20 cm (S-20) respectively. In Experiment 2, self-draining beds of different sizes were covered with 10 cm of sand (S-10b) and wood shavings (WS) at depths of 15 cm and 20 cm (WS-15 and WS-20). Fifteen cattle were engaged to evaluate the comfort of self-draining beds covered with different bedding materials.Results: No cattle lay in the feed alley and cattle spent more time lying on S-10a than S-15 or S-20 in Experiment 1 (p<0.01). No difference in lying time was detected between S-15 and S-20 (p>0.05). In Experiment 2, no cattle selected the feed alley as the lying area. Cattle preferred WS-15 as the lying area and time spent lying on WS-20 was slightly higher than on S-10b (p<0.05). Feces weight was higher in the feed alley than in the different bedding areas in both Experiments 1 and 2 (p<0.01).Conclusion: Sand-bedding depth at 10 cm and WSs at 15 cm above the self-draining bed can provide for the lying comfort of beef cattle. Design of a special feed alley to hold most of the feces to keep bedding materials clean and dry is desirable for organic beef cattle in a loose barn.

Alterations in litter decomposition patterns in tropical montane forests of Colombia: a comparison of oak forests and coniferous plantations

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 528-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Loaiza-Usuga ◽  
Juan D. León-Peláez ◽  
María I. González-Hernández ◽  
Juan Fernando Gallardo-Lancho ◽  
Walter Osorio-Vega ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Nutrient Dynamics ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Oak Forests ◽  
Montane Forests ◽  
Tropical Montane Forests ◽  
Litter Decay ◽  
Coniferous Plantations

Understanding the alterations in litter decay patterns that follow changes in land use in tropical montane forests is essential for comprehending carbon, energy, and nutrient dynamics in this understudied ecosystem. The main objective of this study was to determine the changes in organic matter, carbon return, and nutrient cycling when oak forests are replaced by coniferous plantations in tropical montane forests. Five litter decay models (single, double, and triple pool exponential, gamma pk, log-uniform pk) were used to fit litter mass loss data over time. Although all models properly fitted the data, the triple pool exponential model was chosen because all parameters (coefficient of determination (R2), mean square of error (MSE), and Akaike information criterion (AIC)) were statistically the most adequate. Results indicated that litter of coniferous species decomposes more slowly than oak litter material, thus slowing the nutrient cycling. In this study, lignin content, C:N ratio, and N:P ratio were poor predictors of litter decomposition.

Small-Scale Composting of Horse Manure Mixed with Wood Shavings

2006 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul V. Romano ◽  
Uta Krogmann ◽  
Michael L. Westendorf ◽  
Peter F. Strom
Keyword(s):  
Small Scale ◽  
Wood Shavings ◽  
Horse Manure
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document