Author
Sikora, Lawrence |
Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2002 Publication Date: 11/10/2002 Citation: SIKORA, L.J. COMPOSTING: STABILIZATION, DEWATERING, VOLUME REDUCTION, AND PATHOGEN KILL. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRONOMY MEETINGS. 2002. Interpretive Summary: Summary Technical Abstract: Aerobic composting is the biological oxidative decomposition of organic materials by successive communities of microorganisms under different temperature regimes which produces a humified end-product. Composting reduces moisture content of organic byproducts. Thermophilic temperatures attained during composting lead to evaporative cooling that changes the water from liquid to a vapor. Dry composts can be screened efficiently to produce additional byproducts having different beneficial characteristics. Composts are more stable or less biologically active than manures or biosolids. Therefore composts can be stored with lower potential of odor generation. Stabilized compost can be bagged without the potential of odor generation or reheating. A significant benefit derived from composting is the sustained high temperature that kills human and plant pathogens in organic byproducts. |