Effects of composting and carbon based materials on carbon and nitrogen loss in the arable land utilization of cow manure and corn stalks. (1st March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chang, Ruixue; Yao, Ying; Cao, Wenchao; Wang, Jue; Wang, Xuan; Chen, Qing
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 233(2019)
• Page Start: 283
• Page End: 290
• Publication Date: 2019-03-01
• Subjects: Agricultural wastes -- Composting -- Carbon based materials -- Field utilization -- Carbon and nitrogen loss; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.12.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: Recycling organic wastes to arable land as fertilizers has been recognized as a sustainable utilization to reduce environmental pollution. Techniques used for the treatment of organic wastes determine their nutrient contents and thus fertilizer efficiency for agricultural applications. The current study investigated the influences of composting and carbon based materials (biochar and woody peat), on carbon and nitrogen loss in the process of agricultural wastes utilization in the soil batch experiments. The results indicated composting process significantly strengthened the organic matter mineralization, increased the carbon loss rates from 33.46-38.96% to 60.54–86.15% and the nitrogen loss rates from 5.01-22.22% to 48.64–58.16%, dominant lost as carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and ammonia (NH3 ) emissions. Addition of carbon based materials could effectively reduce the carbon and nitrogen loss during both composting and soil incubation process. When the composted organic wastes were used in the soil batch experiments, woody peat was more effective to reduce nitrogen loss, while biochar was more effective to control carbon loss. When organic wastes were directly fertilized to soil, biochar could effectively reduce nitrogen loss. These results suggested that fertilizing raw agricultural wastes to with carbon based materials could reduce carbon and nitrogen losses, and increased the nutrient bioavailability in soil in comparison with their farmland application after composting. Highlights: More carbon and nitrogen loss through composting in the utilization of agricultural wastes. Carbon-based additives significantly reduced the carbon and nitrogen loss in composting. Carbon-based additives significantly reduced the carbon and nitrogen loss of agricultural wastes in soil. Woody peat was better on nitrogen loss controlling, while biochar on carbon loss controlling.