Optimizing the In-Vessel Composting Process of Sugarbeet Dry-Cleaning Residue

Said Elshahat Abdallah, Yasser S. A. Mazrou, Tamer Elsakhawy, Reda Elgarhy, Adel H. Elmetwalli, Salah Elsayed and Wael M. Elmessery
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Said Elshahat Abdallah: Agricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
Yasser S. A. Mazrou: Community College at Muhyle, King Khalid University, Abha 62587, Saudi Arabia
Tamer Elsakhawy: Microbiological Research Department, Solis, Water & Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Giza 12112, Egypt
Reda Elgarhy: Agricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
Adel H. Elmetwalli: Agricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
Salah Elsayed: Agricultural Engineering, Evaluation of Natural Resources Department, Environmental Studies and Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Minufiya 32897, Egypt
Wael M. Elmessery: Agricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-23

Abstract: Rapid urbanization and industrialization around the world have created massive amounts of organic residues, which have been prioritized for conversion into valuable resources through the composting process to keep their harmful effect at a minimum. This research aimed to assess the influence of active and passive aeration on composting mass of sugar beet residues in the case of using additives (e.g., charcoal only or manure only or combination). Some physicochemical properties of composting mass were analyzed on certain days of composting. Some parameters including temperature–time profile, carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio), moisture content, electrical conductivity, pH, germination and microbial population enumeration of compost were measured. Cress germination test was conducted for each medium of germination which contains a mixture of soil and compost (at a ratio of 3:1) taken from each treatment. The results showed that temperature–time profile data of composting mass showed an irregularity. Forcedly aerated composting mass did not demonstrate a thermophilic phase while passively aerated ones did not show a mesophilic phase. Carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio reduction was greater in most forcedly aerated composting mass than passively aerated on days from 1 to 33 of composting period. The results further showed that electrical conductivity decreased at the end of the composting period where it ranged from 2.55 to 3.1 dS/m. Germination medium containing forcedly aerated compost treated with a combination of charcoal and manure achieved the highest germination index which was higher than the control sample by 58.63% followed by forcedly aerated composting mass treated by charcoal only which exceeded the control sample by 5.35%. Strong correlation coefficient (r > 0.80) for the relationship between germination index and number of bacteria was obtained on day 17th of composting period.

Keywords: temperature–time profile; physicochemical properties; charcoal; manure; aeration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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