HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (17) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wu, L. Articles by Ma, L.Q. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wu, L. Articles by Ma, L.Q. Agricola Articles by Wu, L. Articles by Ma, L.Q. Related Collections Municipal Waste Nutrient Cycling Soil Analysis

TECHNICAL REPORT
WASTE MANAGEMENT

Effects of Sample Storage on Biosolids Compost Stability and Maturity Evaluation

Department of Soil and Water Science, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0290

Corresponding author (lqma{at}ufl.edu)

Received for publication November 30, 1999. Compost stability and maturity are important parameters of compost quality. To date, nearly all compost characterization has been performed using samples freshly collected because sample storage can affect compost stability and maturity evaluation. However, sample preservation is sometimes necessary, especially for scientific research purposes. There is little information available on the effects of sample storage on compost stability and maturity. Samples of biosolids compost with different levels of stability and maturity were collected from four compost facilities in Florida (referred to as Register, Winslow, Sunset, and Meadow). Comparisons of CO₂ evolution, seed germination rate, and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) were made between fresh samples with short storage at 4°C for less than 1 wk and air-dried or frozen compost samples stored for 1 yr. The effects of storage (air-dry or frozen) on the measured parameters depended on compost stability and maturity and on the compost material source. Frozen storage reduced the peak CO₂ evolution of Register samples by 12 to 29%, while accumulated CO₂ evolution was reduced by 43 to 64% and 110 to 277% with air-dry and frozen storage, respectively. The storage effect on CO₂ evolution with more stable compost was inconsistent. Storage did not affect compost phytotoxicity, except for samples from the Sunset facility. Air-drying reduced the WSOC by up to 35%, and freezing increased it by up to 34%, while both storage methods had no significant effect on samples of low WSOC. Despite all these variations, WSOC had a significant and consistent relation to CO₂ evolution and seed germination rates with R² of 0.78 and 0.57, respectively, regardless of storage methods.

Abbreviations: WSOC, water-soluble organic carbon

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Mondini, M. A. Sanchez-Monedero, T. Sinicco, and L. Leita Evaluation of Extracted Organic Carbon and Microbial Biomass as Stability Parameters in Ligno-Cellulosic Waste Composts J. Environ. Qual., October 27, 2006; 35(6): 2313 - 2320. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. I. Chang, J. J. Tsai, and K. H. Wu Composting of vegetable waste. Waste Management Research, August 1, 2006; 24(4): 354 - 362. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. Ajiboye, O. O. Akinremi, and G. J. Racz Laboratory Characterization of Phosphorus in Fresh and Oven-Dried Organic Amendments J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2004; 33(3): 1062 - 1069. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Mondini, M. T. Dell'Abate, L. Leita, and A. Benedetti An Integrated Chemical, Thermal, and Microbiological Approach to Compost Stability Evaluation J. Environ. Qual., November 1, 2003; 32(6): 2379 - 2386. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T.A. Butler, L.J. Sikora, P.M. Steinhilber, and L.W. Douglass Compost Age and Sample Storage Effects on Maturity Indicators of Biosolids Compost J. Environ. Qual., November 1, 2001; 30(6): 2141 - 2148. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]