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Submitted to: Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 8/9/2001 Publication Date: 11/5/2001 Citation: Adler, P.R. 2001. Effect of a temporal carbon gradient on nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics and decomposition during mesophilic composting. In annual Meetings Abstract (CD-ROM). ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Charlotte, NC. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Anaerobic decomposition and stabilization of animal manure in lagoons is a standard practice. In contrast to aerobic decomposition, anaerobic storage of manure in lagoons degrades its value by increasing offensive odors and air pollutants and reducing organic matter (OM) and nutrient content. Thermophilic composting is a common aerobic process used to stabilize OM. Aerobic decomposition under ambient temperature can be a less resource intense management alternative to thermophilic composting. The experiment objective was to determine the effect of an on-farm management strategy of establishing a temporal C gradient on N and P sequestration and stabilization of rainbow trout manure (RTM) during mesophilic composting. The experiment was conducted in 30x61cm bags at about 15C and in all treatments, RTM was applied at the same rate (1.28g N), every 14d for 112d. The C source, ground corns stalks, was applied in 3 batch sizes. The 1X treatment applied 70g corn stalks every 14d, the 4X treatment applied 280g corn stalks at day 0 and 56, and the 8X treatment applied 560g corn stalks once at day 0. All bags had the same amount of C and N added to them by the end of the experiment at a C:N ratio of 30:1. Decomposition increased as the batch size of C addition decreased. Management of C through batch size may increase C stabilization and N and P sequestration during mesophilic composting. |
