On-site composting of waste hop biomass: the impact of covering piles on leachate quantity and compost quality

Covering hop waste composting piles with semipermeable membrane after the thermophilic phase until spring, when the compost was ready to use, reduced the volume of leachate and leached nutrients amounts significantly; there was a negligible amount of leachate and low amount of leached nutrients duri...

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Main Authors: Barbara Čeh, Julija Polanšek, Žan Trošt, Ana Karničnik Klančnik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 2025-02-01
Series:Plant, Soil and Environment
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/pse-202502-0003_on-site-composting-of-waste-hop-biomass-the-impact-of-covering-piles-on-leachate-quantity-and-compost-quality.php
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author Barbara Čeh
Julija Polanšek
Žan Trošt
Ana Karničnik Klančnik
author_facet Barbara Čeh
Julija Polanšek
Žan Trošt
Ana Karničnik Klančnik
author_sort Barbara Čeh
collection DOAJ
description Covering hop waste composting piles with semipermeable membrane after the thermophilic phase until spring, when the compost was ready to use, reduced the volume of leachate and leached nutrients amounts significantly; there was a negligible amount of leachate and low amount of leached nutrients during winter and spring at all treatments. At treatments with additives (biochar, preparation effective microorganisms) and larger percent of particles of 2-5 cm, it was indicated that composting pile should probably also be covered in the first months of composting and be opened only when turning/mixing it; on the other hand, the amount of leachate was much lower in a pile without additives and particles of 2-10 cm by the time of covering (2.2- and 2.5-fold less respectively) and the amount of leached nutrients as well. All treatments produced compost without a bad smell, had a total nitrogen content greater than 2%, could be considered as mature (the C:N ratio was below 20) and stable, and the biomass hygienisation threshold was reached. However, there were some significant differences among them. The compost of the pile with added biochar and starting hop waste biomass particles of 2-5 cm was considered phytotoxic (germination index of radish was 31%); also, its other results were less promising in comparison to other treatments. The pile with no additive and the starting particles of waste hop biomass 2 to 10 cm, mixed properly related to regular temperature measurements in the thermophilic phase, reached the best results; the leachate amount and leaked nutrients amount were significantly the lowest, while the final compost contained significantly higher amount of nutrients and had the highest germination index.
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spelling doaj-art-c22d10fbc24341ec9b00a623fd51fa4c2025-08-20T03:13:11ZengCzech Academy of Agricultural SciencesPlant, Soil and Environment1214-11781805-93682025-02-0171210912210.17221/197/2024-PSEpse-202502-0003On-site composting of waste hop biomass: the impact of covering piles on leachate quantity and compost qualityBarbara Čeh0Julija Polanšek1Žan Trošt2Ana Karničnik Klančnik3Slovenian Institute of Hop Research and Brewing, Žalec, SloveniaAgricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, SloveniaSlovenian Institute of Hop Research and Brewing, Žalec, SloveniaSlovenian Institute of Hop Research and Brewing, Žalec, SloveniaCovering hop waste composting piles with semipermeable membrane after the thermophilic phase until spring, when the compost was ready to use, reduced the volume of leachate and leached nutrients amounts significantly; there was a negligible amount of leachate and low amount of leached nutrients during winter and spring at all treatments. At treatments with additives (biochar, preparation effective microorganisms) and larger percent of particles of 2-5 cm, it was indicated that composting pile should probably also be covered in the first months of composting and be opened only when turning/mixing it; on the other hand, the amount of leachate was much lower in a pile without additives and particles of 2-10 cm by the time of covering (2.2- and 2.5-fold less respectively) and the amount of leached nutrients as well. All treatments produced compost without a bad smell, had a total nitrogen content greater than 2%, could be considered as mature (the C:N ratio was below 20) and stable, and the biomass hygienisation threshold was reached. However, there were some significant differences among them. The compost of the pile with added biochar and starting hop waste biomass particles of 2-5 cm was considered phytotoxic (germination index of radish was 31%); also, its other results were less promising in comparison to other treatments. The pile with no additive and the starting particles of waste hop biomass 2 to 10 cm, mixed properly related to regular temperature measurements in the thermophilic phase, reached the best results; the leachate amount and leaked nutrients amount were significantly the lowest, while the final compost contained significantly higher amount of nutrients and had the highest germination index.https://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/pse-202502-0003_on-site-composting-of-waste-hop-biomass-the-impact-of-covering-piles-on-leachate-quantity-and-compost-quality.phphumulus lupulus l.on-farm compostingenvironment protectionleachatecircular economy on farmsorganic matterwaste managementrecyclingsoil fertilitygermination testrespiratory testbacteria and fungi
spellingShingle Barbara Čeh
Julija Polanšek
Žan Trošt
Ana Karničnik Klančnik
On-site composting of waste hop biomass: the impact of covering piles on leachate quantity and compost quality
Plant, Soil and Environment
humulus lupulus l.
on-farm composting
environment protection
leachate
circular economy on farms
organic matter
waste management
recycling
soil fertility
germination test
respiratory test
bacteria and fungi
title On-site composting of waste hop biomass: the impact of covering piles on leachate quantity and compost quality
title_full On-site composting of waste hop biomass: the impact of covering piles on leachate quantity and compost quality
title_fullStr On-site composting of waste hop biomass: the impact of covering piles on leachate quantity and compost quality
title_full_unstemmed On-site composting of waste hop biomass: the impact of covering piles on leachate quantity and compost quality
title_short On-site composting of waste hop biomass: the impact of covering piles on leachate quantity and compost quality
title_sort on site composting of waste hop biomass the impact of covering piles on leachate quantity and compost quality
topic humulus lupulus l.
on-farm composting
environment protection
leachate
circular economy on farms
organic matter
waste management
recycling
soil fertility
germination test
respiratory test
bacteria and fungi
url https://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/pse-202502-0003_on-site-composting-of-waste-hop-biomass-the-impact-of-covering-piles-on-leachate-quantity-and-compost-quality.php
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AT zantrost onsitecompostingofwastehopbiomasstheimpactofcoveringpilesonleachatequantityandcompostquality
AT anakarnicnikklancnik onsitecompostingofwastehopbiomasstheimpactofcoveringpilesonleachatequantityandcompostquality