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Biocomposting

The document discusses biocomposting through aerobic and anaerobic processes. Aerobic composting involves microorganisms breaking down organic matter in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and stable humus. This process is more efficient but loses more nutrients. Several factors affect aerobic composting, including aeration, moisture level, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, temperature, lignin/polyphenol content, and pH. Maintaining proper conditions for these factors helps accelerate the breakdown of materials. Anaerobic digestion is also discussed but not described in detail.

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676 views54 pages

Biocomposting

The document discusses biocomposting through aerobic and anaerobic processes. Aerobic composting involves microorganisms breaking down organic matter in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and stable humus. This process is more efficient but loses more nutrients. Several factors affect aerobic composting, including aeration, moisture level, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, temperature, lignin/polyphenol content, and pH. Maintaining proper conditions for these factors helps accelerate the breakdown of materials. Anaerobic digestion is also discussed but not described in detail.

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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Biocomposting

By
Dr. Vandana Gupta
What is compost?
• Compost is a rich source of organic matter.

• Soil organic matter plays an important role in sustaining soil fertility, and hence in

sustainable agricultural production.

• It improves the physico-chemical and biological properties of the soil.

• As a result of these improvements, the soil:

(i) becomes more resistant to stresses such as drought, diseases and toxicity;

(ii) helps the crop in improved uptake of plant nutrients; and

(iii) possesses an active nutrient cycling capacity because of vigorous microbial

activity.

• These advantages manifest themselves in reduced cropping risks, higher yields

and lower outlays on inorganic fertilizers for farmers.


Aerobic Composting process
• It takes place in the presence of ample oxygen.

• In this process, aerobic microorganisms break down organic matter and produce carbon

dioxide (CO2), ammonia, water, heat and humus, the relatively stable organic end product.

• The intermediate compounds such as organic acids are produced which aerobic micro-
organisms decompose further.

• The heat generated accelerates the breakdown of proteins, fats and complex carbohydrates
such as cellulose and hemi-cellulose. Hence, the processing time is shorter.

• Moreover, this process destroys many micro-organisms that are human or plant pathogens, as
well as weed seeds, provided it undergoes sufficiently high temperature.

• Although more nutrients are lost from the materials by aerobic composting, it is considered
more efficient and useful than anaerobic composting for agricultural production.
Factors affecting aerobic composting

Aeration
• Aerobic composting requires large amounts of O, particularly at the initial stage and, thus, indispensable
for aerobic composting.

• Where the supply of O is not sufficient, the growth of aerobic micro-organisms is limited, resulting in slower
decomposition.

• Moreover, aeration removes excessive heat, water vapour and other gases trapped in the pile.

• Heat removal is particularly important in warm climates as the risk of overheating and fire is higher.
Therefore, good aeration is indispensable for efficient composting.

• It may be achieved by controlling the physical quality of the materials (particle size and moisture content),
pile size and ventilation and by ensuring adequate frequency of turning.
• Moisture

• Moisture is necessary to support the metabolic activity of the micro-organisms.

• Composting materials should maintain a moisture content of 40-65 percent.

• Where the pile is too dry, composting occurs more slowly, while a moisture
content in excess of 65 percent develops anaerobic conditions.

• In practice, it is advisable to start the pile with a moisture content of 50-60


percent, finishing at about 30 percent.
• Nutrients
• Micro-organisms require C, N, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) as the primary nutrients. Of particular

importance is the C:N ratio of raw materials.

• The optimal C:N ratio of raw materials is between 25:1 and 30:1 although ratios between 20:1 and 40:1

are also acceptable.

• Where the ratio is higher than 40:1, the growth of micro-organisms is limited, resulting in a longer

composting time.

• A C:N ratio of less than 20:1 leads to underutilization of N and the excess may be lost to the atmosphere

as ammonia or nitrous oxide, and odour can be a problem.

• The C:N ratio of the final product should be between about 10:1 and 15:1.
• Temperature
• The process of composting involves two temperature ranges: mesophilic and thermophilic.

• While the ideal temperature for the initial composting stage is 20-45 °C, at subsequent stages
with the thermophilic organisms taking over, a temperature range of 50-70 °C may be ideal.

• High temperatures characterize the aerobic composting process and serve as signs of vigorous
microbial activities.

• Pathogens are normally destroyed at 55 °C and above, while the critical point for elimination of
weed seeds is 62 °C.

• Turnings and aeration can be used to regulate temperature


• Lignin content
• Lignin is one of the main constituents of plant cell walls, and its complex chemical structure makes it highly

resistant to microbial degradation (Richard, 1996).

• This nature of lignin has two implications.

lignin reduces the bioavailability of the other cell-wall constituents, making the actual C:N ratio (viz. ratio of

biodegradable C to N) lower than the one normally cited.

lignin serves as a porosity enhancer, which creates favourable conditions for aerobic composting.

• Therefore, while the addition of lignin-decomposing fungi may in some cases increase available C, accelerate

composting and reduce N loss, in other cases it may result in a higher actual C:N ratio and poor porosity, both

of which prolong composting time.


• Polyphenols

• Polyphenols include hydrolysable and condensed tannins (Schorth, 2003).

• Insoluble condensed tannins bind the cell walls and proteins and make them physically
or chemically less accessible to decomposers.

• Soluble condensed and hydrolysable tannins react with proteins and reduce their
microbial degradation and thus N release.

• Polyphenols and lignin are attracting more attention as inhibiting factors.

• Palm et al. (2001) suggest that the contents of these two substances be used to classify
organic materials for more efficient on-farm natural resource utilization, including
composting.
• pH value

• Although the natural buffering effect of the composting process


lends itself to accepting material with a wide range of pH, the
pH level should not exceed eight.

• At higher pH levels, more ammonia gas is generated and may


be lost to the atmosphere.
Techniques for effective aerobic composting

• Improved aeration
Particle size, Ventilation, Turning
• Inoculation
• Supplemental nutrition
• Shredding
Anaerobic fermentation/digestion Process
Facts about microbiological process

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