Evaluation of composting performance of mixtures of chicken blood and maize stover in Harare, Zimbabwe

Background: Chicken processing results in the production of a lot of blood which if disposed on land poses environmental hazards in terms of land pollution. The aim of the study was to develop an aerobic composting process for chicken blood to produce a nitrogen-rich soil amendment for use in agricu...

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Main Authors: Charity Pisa, Menas Wuta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: OICC Press 2024-02-01
Series:International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture
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Online Access:https://oiccpress.com/ijrowa/article/view/3067
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author Charity Pisa
Menas Wuta
author_facet Charity Pisa
Menas Wuta
author_sort Charity Pisa
collection DOAJ
description Background: Chicken processing results in the production of a lot of blood which if disposed on land poses environmental hazards in terms of land pollution. The aim of the study was to develop an aerobic composting process for chicken blood to produce a nitrogen-rich soil amendment for use in agriculture. The study involved composting of blood and maize stover of different proportions (10%, 30%, 70% and 100% maize stover) in compost bins over 72 days and determining which proportions would yield compost with greater potential to support plant growth. Results: The performance of the different compost mixtures was evaluated by monitoring internal temperature, mineral N (NH4 + -N and NO3 â -N), C/N ratio, pH, electrical conductivity and total cations. The concentration of ammonium N decreased by 8.75%, 50.5%, 33.5% and 18.8% for the 10%, 30%, 70% and 100% stover treatments, respectively, with composting time. Nitrate N peaked to 1.93 and 1.06 mg/kg for the 30% and 70% treatments, respectively, on day 43, while it peaked to 1.54 and 0.54 mg/kg for the 10% and 100% treatments, respectively, on day 50. The C/N ratios decreased significantly (p < 0.001) for all treatments. Conclusion: The 10% and 30% treatments had better composting performance than the 70% and 100% treatments as they reached and maintained thermophilic temperatures for at least 8 days. The 10% and 30% treatments appeared to have the greater potential of supporting crop growth.
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series International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture
spelling doaj-art-f745825a8a474231a8fcdbd40e3428792025-02-02T23:06:32ZengOICC PressInternational Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture2195-32282251-77152024-02-012110.1186/2251-7715-2-5Evaluation of composting performance of mixtures of chicken blood and maize stover in Harare, ZimbabweCharity Pisa0Menas Wuta1Marondera College of Agricultural Science and Technology, University of Zimbabwe, Marondera, ZimbabweDepartment of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, ZimbabweBackground: Chicken processing results in the production of a lot of blood which if disposed on land poses environmental hazards in terms of land pollution. The aim of the study was to develop an aerobic composting process for chicken blood to produce a nitrogen-rich soil amendment for use in agriculture. The study involved composting of blood and maize stover of different proportions (10%, 30%, 70% and 100% maize stover) in compost bins over 72 days and determining which proportions would yield compost with greater potential to support plant growth. Results: The performance of the different compost mixtures was evaluated by monitoring internal temperature, mineral N (NH4 + -N and NO3 â -N), C/N ratio, pH, electrical conductivity and total cations. The concentration of ammonium N decreased by 8.75%, 50.5%, 33.5% and 18.8% for the 10%, 30%, 70% and 100% stover treatments, respectively, with composting time. Nitrate N peaked to 1.93 and 1.06 mg/kg for the 30% and 70% treatments, respectively, on day 43, while it peaked to 1.54 and 0.54 mg/kg for the 10% and 100% treatments, respectively, on day 50. The C/N ratios decreased significantly (p < 0.001) for all treatments. Conclusion: The 10% and 30% treatments had better composting performance than the 70% and 100% treatments as they reached and maintained thermophilic temperatures for at least 8 days. The 10% and 30% treatments appeared to have the greater potential of supporting crop growth.https://oiccpress.com/ijrowa/article/view/3067Aerobic composting. C/N ratio. N mineralisation. Poultry processing wastes. Waste management, , , , , , , , , ,
spellingShingle Charity Pisa
Menas Wuta
Evaluation of composting performance of mixtures of chicken blood and maize stover in Harare, Zimbabwe
International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture
Aerobic composting. C/N ratio. N mineralisation. Poultry processing wastes. Waste management, , , , , , , , , ,
title Evaluation of composting performance of mixtures of chicken blood and maize stover in Harare, Zimbabwe
title_full Evaluation of composting performance of mixtures of chicken blood and maize stover in Harare, Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Evaluation of composting performance of mixtures of chicken blood and maize stover in Harare, Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of composting performance of mixtures of chicken blood and maize stover in Harare, Zimbabwe
title_short Evaluation of composting performance of mixtures of chicken blood and maize stover in Harare, Zimbabwe
title_sort evaluation of composting performance of mixtures of chicken blood and maize stover in harare zimbabwe
topic Aerobic composting. C/N ratio. N mineralisation. Poultry processing wastes. Waste management, , , , , , , , , ,
url https://oiccpress.com/ijrowa/article/view/3067
work_keys_str_mv AT charitypisa evaluationofcompostingperformanceofmixturesofchickenbloodandmaizestoverinhararezimbabwe
AT menaswuta evaluationofcompostingperformanceofmixturesofchickenbloodandmaizestoverinhararezimbabwe