Afifi, M.M.I., Estefanous A.N and El-Akshar, Y.S.( 2012). Biological, Chemical And Physical Properties Of Organic Wastes As Indicators
Maturation Of Compost
Journal of Applied Sciences Research, 8(4): 1857-1869 ISSN 1819-544X
Abstract: The composting process involves a succession of different communities of microorganisms that decompose the initial material, transforming it into a stable final product. In this work, data showed the total counts of pathogenic indicators and Salmonella & Shigella were sharply decreased from zero time to two weeks, the detected number very slight. Thus, no regrowth was detected after four weeks at all mentioned experiments. pH values were slightly decreased in early stage of composting period then increased afterwards to reach neutral value. EC in all treatments showed gradual increases during the first four weeks of composting, and then reach in their values till the end of the composting period to record a range of 2.46 and 3.32 dSm-1 in C2 and C3 respectively Ammona showed gradual increase of all compost piles, to reach its maximal concentration during the 2nd week of composting period. The greatest decrease in ammona occurred after the thermophilic phase in all compost piles, led to an increase of nitrate concentration through nitrification process. Data showed dry matter of the composted constituents were 836.51 and 1146.92 kg for all piles and the percentage of organic matter
showed a gradual decrease during all stages of composting, while the losses of organic matter after 16 weeks of composting period were 41.40, 45.62, 50.48 and 56.89 for C1, C2, C3 and C4 respectively. Also, data showed the percentage of total nitrogen gradually increased over composting process. Addition of microbial inocula
alone resulted in an increase of 14.67 % over control while the highest increase in nitrogen content was observed in C4 which shown an increase of 18.94 % in nitrogen over control. The C/N ratios narrowed from initial values 33.09, 32.30, 35.40 and 35.13 to final values of 25.61, 21.26, 23.59 and 18.79 for compost products of C1, C2, C3 and C4, respectively. Among different treatments investigated, the lowest concentration of potassium (0.81%) and phosphorus (0.75%) were found in the absence of cattle dung in rice straw mixtures, the conjugation of cattle dung, microbial inocula gave the highest concentration of potassium (1.31%) and phosphorus (1.22%). Also, data showed that the determination of humification parameters compost C2 and C4 were early mature level than C1 and C3 this due to HI in both piles was low 1, and humification rate was them higher than C1 and C3.
Keywords: (microbial inoculants, humic index, humfication degree, humification rate. )
