Co-composting of poultry manure mixtures amended with biochar – The effect of biochar on temperature and C-CO2 emission

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2016-01, Vol.200, p.921-927
• Main Authors: Czekała, Wojciech, Malińska, Krystyna, Cáceres, Rafaela, Janczak, Damian, Dach, Jacek, Lewicki, Andrzej
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biochar; Bioreactors; Carbon Dioxide - analysis; Charcoal - chemistry; Composting; Manure - analysis; Net degree-hour parameter; Poultry; Poultry manure; Soil - chemistry; Temperature; Temperature evolution; Triticum - chemistry
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.11.019

•The addition of biochar has an impact on temperatures during composting.•Mixture with the highest rate of biochar reached the max peak in temperature.•Addition of biochar shortens the period of thermophilic phase.•Biochar addition increased C-CO2 emission.•Net degree-hour parameter is a valid indicator of temperature evolution during composting. Biochar as an amendment could have an impact on composting dynamics. This study investigated the effect of the addition of biochar (B) to poultry manure (P) mixed with wheat straw (S) (i.e. P:S, P:S+5%B and P:S+10%B) on temperature and carbon dioxide emission. For temperature studies a modified equation for net degree-hour parameter DHnet (°Chday−1) was proposed. The modified equation takes into account ambient temperature. The highest daily temperatures DHnet were observed on day 2 and the mixture with the highest addition of biochar (P:S+10%) reached the max temperature. The period of thermophilic temperatures (40°C>) was shorter for mixtures amended with biochar. The addition of biochar increased C-CO2 emission and the total C-CO2 emission were higher about 6.9% and 7.4% for P:S+5%B and P:S+10%B, respectively.