1. Composting Agricultural Byproducts

2. Why Compost? l Rapidly degrade plant and animal byproducts l Destroys weed seeds and pathogens l Reduces mass and volume of byproducts that must be stored or hauled to other locations l Increase market value of ag residues l Produces a more stable source of plant nutrients than raw manure

3. Why Compost? l Compost can improve cropland through addition of organic matter »improves soil structure & water retention »speeds infiltration...reduces runoff »increases cation exchange capacity and retention of soil nutrients (reduces potential for leaching) l Combining municipal yard/garden organics with livestock manure improves C:N ratio of composted materials...exactly the situation you have at the platforms near Calarasi

4. Why Compost? l Combining municipal yard/garden organics with livestock manure improves C:N ratio of composted materials...exactly the situation you have at the storage platforms near Calarasi

5. Composting Near Calarasi l Solid manure-bedding-waste is collected and stored at manure platforms l Composting can be enhanced with little extra effort l A more uniform, less odorous product will result

6. Elements of Successful Composting l Composting is a natural decay process carried out primarily by bacteria. l If conditions within the compost are optimal, bacteria will thrive and decay or organic matter will be rapid and thorough.

7. Fundamental Parameters Affecting the Composting Process l Moisture Content l Carbon:Nitrogen Ratio l Oxygen Content l Temperature l Particle Size

8. The “Ideal” Composting Process Compost Pile Carbon Nitrogen Inorganics Water Microorganisms O2O2 Water Heat CO 2 O rganic Matter Inorganics Microorganisms

9. Steam Shows the Heat Produced

10. Composting l Produces a humus-like final product that is »Stable »free of pathogens and plant seeds »can be beneficially applied to land as a source of organic matter and nutrients (generally low)

11. Moisture Content l < 40%...too dry »Insufficient moisture to transport nutrients through bacterial cell wall l >65%...too wet »Pore spaces in compost matrix that normally let oxygen in and toxic gases out, become blocked by excess water »Can lead to anaerobic conditions and odors

12. Adding Water With liquid from the holding tanks at your manure platforms you may be able to adjust the moisture of the compost

13. Carbon : Nitrogen Ratio l Too High (too little N…not enough manure in the bedding) slow decomposition l Too Low (excess N…bedding too wet with manure) ammonia released (toxic to microorganisms, mildly odorous) l Recommended C:N ratio 20:1 - 30:1 Notice wet manure on top, and dry bedding below. They are mixed to adjust both the C:N ratio and moisture

14. Carbon : Nitrogen Ratios for Manures l Typical C:N ranges Source: NRAES -54 Straw 200

15. Open Feedlot Compost Raw materials Finished compost

16. Oxygen l Composting consumes large amounts of oxygen »For maximum composting speed - frequent turning or mechanical ventilation necessary to achieve aerobic conditions throughout the pile at all times »Static pile composting typical of on-farm operations generally do not achieve this level of O 2, but the outer layers of the pile are kept sufficiently aerobic to maintain acceptable odor releases

17. Oxygen l Aerobic decay products are less odorous than anaerobic products l Aerobic decay releases much more heat than anaerobic decay »helps to maintain thermophilic temperatures

18. Temperature l Different compost materials produce different internal temperatures temperatures @ carcass surface

19. Temperature l Too high OR too low....slows decomposition l Biochemical reaction rates approximately double with each 10 degree C increase in temperature l Extremely high temperatures Do Not guarantee high degradation rates

20. Temperature l Recommended operating temperature 40- 65 degrees C l Temperatures above 55 degrees C kill human and animal pathogens l Temperatures above 63 degrees C kill weed seeds l Excessive temperatures call for cooling via higher aeration rates

21. Temperature l Temperatures exceeding 60°C cause microorganism to die or go dormant »leads to premature “shutdown” »incomplete decay »compost that will continue to decay and may produce odors upon cooling l Aeration sometimes necessary to limit maximum temperatures

22. Temperature l Composting will proceed during cold weather »Piles must be large enough so they don’t cool too much »Composting process must get started before the material gets cold »Do not try to compost frozen materials…it will not work

23. Cold Weather Composting- Weis Turkey Farm

24. Mixing and Turning l The compost will be mixed initially when building the row l For fastest action it should be mixed periodically based on temperature readings l If not mixed it will still compost, but more slowly than if it’s mixed

25. Mixing and Turning Piles that won’t be mixed should be limited in size 2 m Air

26. Mixing and Turning

27. Turning Cattle Manure Compost

28. Particle Size l Rate of decay depends on microbial “access” (i.e. available surface area to attack) to the organic material to be decomposed l Small particles »High surface area : volume ratio »Rapid degradation l Large particles »Low surface area : volume ratio »Slow degradation

29. Particle Size l Extremely small particles cause low porosity….poor gas transport through the composting material »Impedes movement of oxygen in, and CO 2 & NH 3 out l Recommended particle size range 1/8 - 2 inch diameter

30. Composting Systems l Non-reactor systems »Windrow »Passively aerated windrow »Aerated Static Pile l Reactor systems »Static bin »Rotating drum »Rectangular agitated bed »Silo system

31. Windrow

32. Windrow Turner

33. Aerated Static Pile

34. Bin System Concrete bins Wooden bins

35. Carbon : Nitrogen Ratio l Too High (too little N) slow decomposition l Too Low (excess N) ammonia released (toxic) l Recommended C:N ratio 20:1 - 30:1

36. Particle Size l Rate of decay depends on microbial “access” (surface area) l Small particles »High surface area : volume ratio »Rapid degradation l Large particles »Low surface area : volume ratio »Slow degradation

37. Compost Research at ISU

38. Odor Evaluation l Weekly odor samples using equilibrium chamber »during first 4 weeks of trial »collected from surface of compost piles AND cover material stockpiles l Olfactometry panel evaluation of odor threshold (strength) & odor “characterization” (what does it smell like?)

39. Pile Construction & Maintenance l Substantial settling, particularly during warm seasons will occur »Can lead to pile “cracking” and need for occasional “repair” (need to stockpile extra cover material) l Surprisingly little wind or water erosion noted day 45 – 1.23 m pile heightday 1 – 2.15 m pile height

40. Composting & Agriculture Go Hand in Hand l Virtually all food production and food processing byproducts can be composted & recycled l Soil conditioning and crop production are primary end uses for composted organics l Basic requirements for composting are generally available on the farm (land, loader, nitrogen sources, carbon sources)

41. Marketing Compost l Must be uniform l Must be dry and odor free l Must not contain foreign materials »Plastic »Metals »Wood

42. Marketing Compost l The biggest worry US farmers have about using manure is ….WEED SEEDS Proper composting (with high temperatures) will kill weed seeds

43. Mix When Temperature Goes Down Mixed

44. Winter Operation l Composting works well in the winter, as long as it’s started while it’s still warm. l Do not put frozen material into the compost piles l But…you can put cold waste on top of “cooking” compost, then mix it in.

45. Steam From Hot Compost NOTE: Cold weather conditions

46. Adding Value l By making a very high quality product you may be able to add value to your compost »Be sure it’s clean –Screen it to remove metal, plastic, wood, etc. »Be sure it’s uniformly dry »It must be odor free »It should be in easy to use containers

47. Granular Uniform Compost

48. Marketing Compost l Successful US Compost Marketers »MooDoo – Dairy farm compost »Milorganite – Milwaukee municipal sludge…has been on the market nationally for years in the US. »Cockadoodle Doo – pelleted chicken manure

49. Selling Compost

50. Dairy Farm Compost

51. http://www.dirtworks.net/Compost.html

52. Compost for Sale l At our local Walmart these bags of compost were for sale… »Garden Compost$1.60/cu ft »Organic Humus & Manure$1.21/40 lb l Equivalent to approx.$60/ton

53. Summary l Manure platforms with mixed bedding/manure/household waste should compost well l Mixing and controlling moisture will speed up the process l Good clean compost may be valuable enough to do some additional processing and bagging