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Evaluation Of Approaches For Composting Horse Manure And Commercial Cardboard Bedding
Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org
Citation: Paper number 044068, 2004 ASAE Annual Meeting . @2004
Authors: Harold M. Keener, D.L. Elwell, K. Wimbush, R. James
Keywords: Cardboard, Composting, Bedding, Horse manure
Studies on composting horse manure and a commercial cardboard bedding, based on full scale, pilot, and simulation experiments, are described. Chemical, physical, and kinetic data on composting materials that allows rational design and operation of composting systems are summarized. Results showed a compost mix of 45.1 lb horse manure and 9.5 lb bedding had desirable chemical and physical properties for composting. At the start of the full-scale composting process moisture contents were 56% and C/N ratios were about 33. On day 90, the end of windrow composting, moisture content had dropped to 48% and C/N ratio decreased to 17.3. From the full-scale studies with non-aerated windrows the compost mix was shown to compost significantly and without odor. Sizing of composting system for various horse stable sizes were done for both windrow and block composting systems using a computer simulation program that incorporated the pilot scale kinetic data. Results for a 1000 head horse stable were found to be 0.81 acres based on a composting time of 180 days, 28 days windrow composting and 152 days curing. Compost generated by the facility would be 5.5 ton per day @ 44% moisture. Mass reduction would be 80% base on wet weights. The finished compost looks to be favorable as an organic amendment for potting soils, topsoil manufacture, or direct land application.
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