Evaluation of composting performance of mixtures of chicken blood and maize stover in Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Purpose The long-term use of manure as a source of nutrients can promote phosphorus (P) leaching, especially in sandy soils. The aim was to evaluate P mobility from organic and mineral sources in columns, linked with the Dystric Xeropsamments adsorption characteristics with long-term organic fertilization regime. Methods The mineral, chemical, and physical properties of the samples were characterized, including Langmuir adsorption and desorption kinetics. The P mobility was determined in one leaching experiment, in 20 cm soil columns. The topsoil (0-10 cm) layer was treated with organic (cattle, swine, goat, and hen manure) and inorganic fertilizers. Leaching was corresponding to 10 pore volumes (PV), 1 PV day −1 . Aliquots of the leachate were collected to analyze P concentrations. After the leaching, the columns were sliced into 5-cm sections for the analysis of water-extractable P (WEP). Results The mineral source obtained higher leaching of P and between the organic sources the bovine and swine manure. The latter were the ones that had higher value of P w in the soil after the leaching. Due to the increase of the adsorption capacity of P with depth, there was a reduction in the mobility of P, and an unbalance of P w in the soil was found. Conclusions The mobility of P depends on the concentration of the soluble P soil or added material; moreover, the presence of Fe and Al oxides, even in small amounts, reduces the mobility of P in sandy soil.

Effects of Lime, Vermicompost, and Chemical P Fertilizer on Selected Properties of Acid Soils of Ebantu District, Western Highlands of Ethiopia

“…e VC was prepared from decomposition of cow dung, sheep and goat manures, crop and home residues, and weeds and grasses by using red earthworm (Eisenia fetida). Selected parameters of VC were determined using dried samples which were ground to pass through a 2 mm sieve as described by Pisa and Wuta [51]. Electrical conductivity (EC) and pH were determined from a suspension of 1 : 10 VC : H 2 O as described by Ndegwa and ompson [52].…”

Comparative effectiveness of different composting methods on the stabilization, maturation and sanitization of municipal organic solid wastes and dried faecal sludge mixtures

“…The garbage receives mixed organic and inorganic domestic wastes, upon arrival to the composting site; the wastes were spread flat on the ground and sorted manually into organic and non-organic fractions. All the compostable components were shredded manually into small pieces of particle sizes ranging from 3 to 5 cm as described by Pisa and Wuta (2013). The shredded MSW and dried faecal sludge were then mixed manually in a 2:1 mix ratio.…”

“…Total nitrogen (TN) and organic carbon (OC) were determined using dried compost samples which were ground to pass through a 2-mm sieve as described by Pisa and Wuta (2013). For the determination of total N, samples were decomposed using concentrated H 2 SO 4 and catalyst mixture in Kjeldahl flask and subsequently, N content in the digest was determined following steam distillation and titration method (Bremner and Mulvaney 1982).…”

Effects of lime, vermicompost and chemical P fertilizer on yield of maize in Ebantu District, Western highlands of Ethiopia

“…Selected parameters of VC were determined using dried samples which were ground to pass through a 2 mm sieve as described by Pisa and Wuta (2013). Electrical conductivity (EC) and pH were determined from a suspension of 1:10 VC: H2O as described by Ndegwa and Thompson (2001).…”