Effect of Woody Peat as an Additive on Maturity and Gaseous Emissions During Pig Manure Composting

Woody peat was used as an additive to compost with pig manure in 1.2 m3 composting reactors under aerobic conditions for a 77 days period to estimate the effect on the compost maturity and gaseous emissions (NH3, N2O, and CH4). Pig manure was also composted with cornstalks (the traditional method) as a control treatment. The results showed that both cornstalks and woody peat composts reached the required maturity standard. Composting with woody peat as a bulking agent was found to reduced NH3 emissions by 36% than the cornstalks amended treatment. Although CH4 emission increased by adding woody peat, N2O emission was considerably reduced, resulting in a slight decrease in total greenhouse gas emissions. More importantly, woody peat could reduce the losses of total carbon and total nitrogen, improve the compost quality as fertilizer.