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Composting For easy manure handling,

less odor and water pollution and better soil quality for crop production

January 23, 2015, in Hanoi

By A. Koyama

The Technical Demonstration funded by MAFF Japan What is composting?

• Aerobic microbial decomposition of organic materials such as animal manure and crop residue

• After composting, animal manure becomes dry, blackish color and no odor.

• For composting, following 3 conditions are important. a) Proper water level b) Proper Nitrogen level c) Sufficient aeration

Why composting is necessary now?

animal number amount of manure

local natural capacity for absorbing the impact of animal manure

In the past - Scattered Now - Intensified

Why composting is necessary now?

• In Vietnam, number of animal per farm is increasing.

• Under medium and large number of animals, biogas system has a limitation.

• Simple flushing out to rivers and canals causes water pollution.

• Odor raises serious problems in sub-urban areas.

• Composted manure is much better for crop growth than raw manure.

How to make compost? – Water 1

• In general animal manure has too much water for composting.

• Separation of feces from urine by slope with ditches on the floor of animal pens is important to minimize water in feces.

• Proper water level for composting is 60-65%.

• Adding some agents such as saw dust and rice straw which absorbs excessive water is effective.

How to make compost? – Water 2

• After adjusting water level, grasp the material by hand tightly.

• When you open your hand, If the shape is kept, water level is still too high. If it is broken slightly, it is OK.

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How to make compost? - Nitrogen

• In general animal manure has too much Nitrogen to Carbon.

• CN ratio of cow and pig manure are 16 and 11, respectively (C16:N1, C11:N1).

• Proper CN ratio for composting is 20-30.

• Mixing something of low C such as sawdust and rice straw is needed.

• CN ratio of sawdust and rice straw are 500 and 60 (C500:N1, C60:N1).

How to make compost? - Aeration

• Sufficient aeration cannot be expected in raw manure because manure is sticky and wet.

• If animal manure is kept in a plastic bag or bucket, it will not become compost because of insufficient aeration.

• Mixing something that enhances aeration such as rice straw is effective.

• Turning over during composting is also very effective for aeration.

How to make compost? – Normal way

1. Separate feces and urine as much as possible in animal pens.

2. Take out feces and mix with saw dust, rice straw, dry leaves etc for reducing water and N level and maximizing aeration.

3. Make a heap and prevent from raining.

4. Turn over every week or every 2 weeks.

5. It takes 1-2 months in summer and 2-3 months in winter for composting.

How to make compost? – Questions

1. Separate feces and urine as much as possible in animal pens.

How to handle urine and flushing water? 2. Take out feces and mix with saw dust, rice straw, dry leaves etc

for reducing water/N level and maximizing aeration.

How to take out feces? By hand or by machine? How to get agents such as saw dust? Their cost? 3. Make a heap and prevent rain water.

By hand or by machine? Is a heap necessary? 4. Turn over every week.

By hand or by machine? Is turning over necessary? 5. It takes 1-2 months in summer and 2-3 months in winter for

composting.

Is it possible to shorten the time for composting?

Demonstration – Calculation1

Recipe Cost Water ratio water N ratio N

C/N ratio C

kg VND % kg % kg kg

Raw pig manure 1000 76 760 0.6 6 11 66

Saw dust 80 104000 15 10 0.05 0.04 500 20

Rice straw 200 15 30 0.4 0.8 60 48

Rice bran 5 35000 15 0.75 2 0.1 12 1.2

Mixed 1285 62 800 6.94 19 135.2

Raw cow dung 1000 86 860 0.35 3.5 16 56

Saw dust 50 65000 15 10 0.05 0.025 500 12.5

Rice straw 250 15 37.5 0.4 1 60 60

Rice bran 5 35000 15 0.75 2 0.1 12 1.2

Mixed 1305 70 908 4.625 28 129.7

Demonstration – Calculation2

Recipe Cost Water ratio water N ratio N

C/N ratio C

kg VND % kg % kg kg

Raw pig manure 1000 76 760 0.6 6 11 66

Saw dust 80 104000 15 10 0.05 0.04 500 20

Rice straw 200 15 30 0.4 0.8 60 48

Rice bran 5 35000 15 0.75 2 0.1 12 1.2

Mixed 1285 62 800 6.94 19 135.2

Raw cow dung 1000 86 860 0.35 3.5 16 56

Saw dust 50 65000 15 10 0.05 0.025 500 12.5

Rice straw 250 15 37.5 0.4 1 60 60

Rice bran 5 35000 15 0.75 2 0.1 12 1.2

Mixed 1305 70 908 4.625 28 129.7

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Demonstration – Calculation3

Recipe Cost Water ratio water N ratio N

C/N ratio C

kg VND % kg % kg kg

Raw pig manure 1000 76 760 0.6 6 11 66

Saw dust 80 104000 15 10 0.05 0.04 500 20

Rice straw 200 15 30 0.4 0.8 60 48

Rice bran 5 35000 15 0.75 2 0.1 12 1.2

Mixed 1285 62 800 6.94 19 135.2

Raw cow dung 1000 86 860 0.35 3.5 16 56

Saw dust 50 65000 15 10 0.05 0.025 500 12.5

Rice straw 250 15 37.5 0.4 1 60 60

Rice bran 5 35000 15 0.75 2 0.1 12 1.2

Mixed 1305 70 908 4.625 28 129.7

Demonstration A – Cow 1

•Put drain pipes for aeration. •Made layers with cow dung, rice straw, sawdust and rice bran. [sandwich]

Demonstration A – Cow 1

Sandwich system Manure=>Rice bran=>Saw dust=>Rice straw=> Manure...

Demonstration B – Cow 2

•Made layer with cow dung, rice straw, sawdust and rice bran [sandwich] •Put 2 drain pipes for aeration. •Put another perpendicular pipe in the middle of the heap

Demonstration B – Cow 2

Sandwich system Manure=>Rice bran=> Saw dust=>Rice straw=> Manure...

Demonstration C – Pig 1

Lift up 2 pipes for aeration after several days

Cover for preventing rain water.

•Made layer with pig manure, rice straw, sawdust and rice bran to make a heap.[sandwich] •Put 2 drain pipes for air circulation.

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Demonstration C – Pig 1

Sandwich system Manure=>Rice bran=> Saw dust=>Rice straw=> Manure...

Demonstration D – Pig 2

•Mix pig manure with rice straw, sawdust and rice bran and put into sucks. •No turning over but the suck allows aeration. As heat is not kept, it takes time for composting. •No.1/No.2 were mixed, No.3/No.4 were mixed and drier than No.1/No.2 and No.5/No.6 were sandwich.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Demonstration D – Pig 2 Mixing system Mix manure with sawdust and rice bran. Mix rice straw and pack into a suck

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Simple test for compost quality

Test method for compost quality

Komatsuna seed Brassica rapa var. perviridis

“Tanepita”

2. Root growth test

“Seed pack”

1. Germination test

3. Maturity testing kit

Color scale

Centrifuge

Spoon

Pen filler

Centrifuge tube Gloves

Reagent bottle 15cc x 10pcs

Storage box

“Dr.Compo”

Evaluation in 3 stages, in comparison with color scale

III : Amber and clear brown - Matured

II : Dark brown – Middle phase I : Black muddy - Initial maturation phase

4. Tracing temperature in compost

Temperature sensor Sensor probe Temperature sensor

Data logger

Compost thermometer “Taion-kun”

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Procedure : Extraction

For Germination & Root growth test

i. Prepare extracted solution from compost

Compost 5g + Distilled water 50ml

↓ Stir for 30min by horizontal stirrer

Filter (Medical gauze, double folded)

↓

Get the solution

A 10ml for germination test

B 30ml for root growth test

Germination test

i. Prepare germination test sheet,

Sprinkle seeds on it

ii. Pour 10ml of extracted solution

to experimental plot and control

Control : Distilled water Test plot : Extracted solution

iv. Incubate for 2-3 days in 30℃ incubator.

Compost A

(Germination rate 38%）

Germination rate = Number of sprouts in experimental plot

/ number of sprouts in control

(Control = Distilled water)

Compost B

(Germination rate 100%）

How to evaluate

・Germination rate : 100%=5, 80-100% =4, 60-80% = 3,

less than 60% = 2, 0% = 1

TOTAL SCORE ＝ Germination rate + Appearance

8~10 : Growth inhibition material in the

sample compost was not observed

< 7 : Suspected the influence of growth inhibition material

How to evaluate

・Appearance : Observed leaves, roots and rootlet =5

Observed leaves and roots =4

Observed either leaves or roots =3

Observed sprout bud =2 No buds = 1

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Root growth test

iii. Pour extracted solution 30ml

i. Sprinkle the seeds on germination test sheet, ii. Cut the sheet as per below photo and place 2pcs of on the top of bag cut sheet.

Keep it in dark place with temperature 25-30℃ for about 4-5 days.

Compost B Compost A

Evaluation for root growth test

Photo: Cultured for 5 days at 30℃ in dark place

Measu

re the len

gth

<Correlation between germination rate and root growth observed>

Left : Germination rate 38% Right : Germination rate 100%

TEST RESULTS

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Appearance

A B C D

Moncada 1st month 2nd month 3rd month 4th month

Collected compost sample from 4 farms (A ~ D) and Monｃada AI center (4 stages of maturity) Jan. 13, 14, 2015

Germination Root Maturity NH4-N

% Mark Appear. TOTAL

score

Cm

(2days)

By Dr.Compo

mg/L

Distilled water

100 5 4 9 ---

Moncada 4months

100 5 5 10 5.0 III + 0.25

Moncada 3.5

100 5 5 10 4.7 III +

Moncada 2 100 5 4+ 9 4.6 III

Moncada 1 100 5 4 9 4.4 II

A 90 5 3 8 4.2 I +

B 94 5 2 7 3.5 I 3.0~6.0

C 90 5 2 7 5.0 II

D 96 5 2 7 4.2 I

Test results : comparison chart, 1st week

Result of germination test, 1ST week

Incubated 2 days, 30℃

Control, distilled water

Total score, 9

Mature compost (Moncada) 4months

Total score, 10

Immature compost, Sample B

Total score, 7

Result of germination test, 1st week

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Mature compost 4months

Root growth 5cm

Immature compost B

Root growth 3.5cm

Result of root growth test, 1st week

Incubated 2 days, 30℃

Immature compost, stage I

Sample B

Mature compost, stage III

4months 3months

Result of maturity test, 1st week

Rapid test for nutrient by citric acid extraction

Add 50ml of 2% citric acid to 1g of compost.

Stir by hand for 1 min.

Dilute with stilled water Before

dilution 10times dilution

★NH4-N

(1)Dilute for 10 times

(2)Take 3ml

(5) Compare with color chart (3) Add sodium

carbonate 10mg

(4) Up and down the test sheet in the solution for 30sec. Take it out and wait for 30sec.

Weigh 1g of compost

Method by Prof.Goto, Tokyo University of Agriculture

Matured compost 4 months

0.25mg/l

Immature compost B

3.0 – 6.0mg/l

Ammonia, detected from compost sample, 1st week

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Germination Root NH4-N Temp. change

% Score Appear. TOTAL cm mg/L From Jan. 13, 14 to

Jan. 20

ambient 20-22℃

Control 100 5 4 9 3.0

A 10cm

30cm

92

90

5

5

4+

4

9+

9

3.0

2.0

17.4 26.0 10cm

39.1 30cm

B 10cm

30cm

94

92

5

5

4

4+

9

9+

3.0

3.5

0.5 17.7 37.2 10cm

41.3 30cm

C

92

92

5

5

4

3

9

8

2.5

1.5

14.5 32.8 10cm

41.0 30cm

D-1 96

94

5

5

4+

3

9+

8

2.5

2.0

17.6 33.2 10cm

38.5 30cm

D-2

94

90

5

5

4

3

9

8

2.5

3.0

18.5 34.0 10cm

32.8 30cm

Comparison chart, 2nd week

Compost B Sampling on Jan.14

Compost B, depth 10cm Sampling on Jan. 21

Compost B, depth 30cm Sampling on Jan. 21

Result of germination test, 2nd week

Incubated 2 days, 30℃

Result of maturity test, 2nd week

Approaching 2nd stage of maturity Result 1st week

Result 2nd week

Ammonia, detected from compost sample, 2nd week

Result 1st week

Result 2nd week 0.5mg/L

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Temperature change in maturing process

← Cross section of compost pile before aeration

Changes in temperature during composting (Ambient temperature 18 – 25℃) From Agricultural structures 29-3 1998, Haga et al

2. Nutrient balance check after application to soil

Field soil testing kit “Dr.Soil”

Feature : Extraction at once for 9 parameters

NH4-N NO3-N P2O5 K2O

Uncultivated land 0.5 1 2.5 10

Soil, applied compost from beef cattle 20t/ha, after cultivation

10 3 7.5 40-50

Unit : mg/100g

Soil nutrient test result

Sample collected at Moncada AI Center