Novel pilot-scale composting system allows for a variety of composting testing and air emissions measurements
Applied Research
Mario E. de Haro Marti
Extension Educator
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
GOODING
Abstract
Dairy production dominates agriculture in Southern Idaho. Composting is the main treatment for solid dairy manure, but there are not enough carbon sources to balance the massive amounts of nitrogen present in manure. Studying means to increase compost quality, reduce air emissions from composting, and add value to manure compost are needed. This research included the design, implementation, and evaluation of a pilot-scale composting system for dairy manure. The system consists of ten 55-gallon reactors mounted on stands with wheels to allow rotation, each connected to an air plenum, enabling total air movement and pressure control in each reactor and the possibility to simulate diverse on-farm composting conditions. Each vessel has ports for air sampling, diverse temperature measurements of the chamber and content, drainage, and the possibility to take compost samples during the composting process. System changes made during the research period included changing the blower to manage airflow, reducing airflow variation at the headspace exhaust, sampling for air emissions monitoring using a Gasmet FTIR analyzer and a multiplexer (Eosense), sampling protocols for diverse parameters, and addition of heat blankets to reduce heat loss. The study demonstrated the pilot composting system's capability to simulate on-farm mechanically turned composting, measure air emissions, and enable control and measurement of parameters during the composting process. The research demonstrated the feasibility to compost dairy manure with the addition of amendments, including woodchips for carbon correction, pumice, biochar, and zeolite, with as-is dairy manure as a control. Further research will complete replications for the tested amendments. Based on the system testing, different types of composting methods and amendments can be simulated, and the system could be used to measure air emissions from soil mixtures, anaerobic digestion digestate solids or semisolids, and other combinations.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
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Authors: Mario E. de Haro Marti, Anthony S. Simerlink
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de Haro Marti, M. Extension Educator, University of Idaho, Idaho, 83330-1178
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Simerlink, A. Extension Educator, University of Idaho, Idaho, 83211