Assessment of Physicochemical Changes during Composting Rice Straw with Chicken and Donkey Manure
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Date
2019
Authors
Karanja, Anncarol W.
Njeru, Ezekiel M.
Maingi, John M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer Science + Business Media
Abstract
Purpose Traditional methods of composting are limited in timely production of good-quality compost due to recalcitrant
nature of materials of plant origin. This study focused on evaluating the use chicken and donkey manure as starter cultures
to biostimulate bioconversion of rice straw into bioorganic fertilizer. Use of starter cultures would enhance composting as a
strategy for rice straw management to enhance soil fertilization and reduce environmental pollution.
Methods In this study, chicken manure and donkey manure were used as starter cultures to enhance bioconversion of recalcitrant and abundant rice straw in Mwea, the main rice-producing area in Kenya. Treatments of the study included rice straw
co-composted with chicken manure (T1), rice straw co-composted with donkey manure (T2) and a control (T0) consisting of
un-treated rice straw. Temperature, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were monitored throughout the composting period.
Resultant compost types were characterized in respect to their macro-nutrient concentrations, cation exchange capacity, pH
and heavy metal content.
Results Levels of temperature, pH and EC among the treatments of the study revealed signifcant diferences at 5% level of
confdence using Tukey’s test. The three resultant compost types obtained were also physicochemically diferent as revealed
by analysis of variance of cation exchange capacity, phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon content.
Conclusion Results indicated that use of chicken and donkey manure signifcantly improved the composting process and
the quality of resultant compost.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Rice straw, Composting, Crop residue, Bioorganic fertilizer, Soil quality
Citation
Karanja, A. W., Njeru, E. M., & Maingi, J. M. (2019). Assessment of physicochemical changes during composting rice straw with chicken and donkey manure. International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture, 8(1), 65-72.