Compost stability and maturity evaluation  —  a literature review

Wichuk, Kristine; McCartney, Daryl

doi:10.1680/jees.2013.0063

Cited by 47 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…In addition to sanitation concerns, compost stability is crucial because the application of unstable compost can impede crop growth (Wichuk and McCartney, 2010). In my thesis, I demonstrate that delayed addition resulted in compost that was as stable and effective at completely eradicating weed seeds as traditional composting.…”

Section: Delayed Addition Of N-rich Substratementioning

confidence: 84%

“…Combinations of different indices were used to test compost stability since it is difficult to test stability using a single index (Wichuk and McCartney, 2010).…”

Section: Co2 Evolution and Compost Stabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Higher CO2 evolution, which appears to suggest a greater contribution to GHG emissions by earthworms, in fact indicates a greater degree of stabilisation of the compost (Bernal et al, 2009;Wichuk and McCartney, 2010 temperatures and its production is low in substrates such as manure.…”

Section: Vermicompostingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Compost is considered stable when the rate of organic matter decomposition is reduced to an insignificant level. Application of unstable compost leads to oxygen depletion in the root zone, and may impede plant growth owing to its content of phytotoxic compounds (Wichuk and McCartney, 2010). Split addition of an N-rich substrate might be less efficient at eradicating weed seeds and producing stable compost than single addition because the newly added substrate will have less time to decompose.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unstable compost leads to oxygen depletion in the root zone and osmotic stress and contains phytotoxic compounds (Wichuk and McCartney, 2010). Compost is considered stable when the organic matter decomposition rate is reduced to a low level with no heat development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Closing the nutrient loops in (peri-)urban farming systems through composting

Nigussie

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Section: Delayed Addition Of N-rich Substratementioning

confidence: 84%

“…Combinations of different indices were used to test compost stability since it is difficult to test stability using a single index (Wichuk and McCartney, 2010).…”

Section: Co2 Evolution and Compost Stabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Vermicompostingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Closing the nutrient loops in (peri-)urban farming systems through composting

Nigussie

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Short‐term effects of food waste composts on physicochemical soil quality and horticultural crop production

Cannavo,

Herbreteau,

Juret

et al. 2024

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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AimComposts made from food waste will soon become more widespread on the market thanks to the upcoming enforcement of the legal obligation to sort biowaste. Our experiment aims at improving knowledge on the short‐term effects of these composts on soils’ physicochemical properties and vegetable crops.MethodsThree composts with contrasting characteristics were tested: a 100% v/v green waste compost (C1), and two composts composed of 50% v/v food waste and 50% v/v green waste, one prepared directly on the soil (C2) and the other from a competing producer who have the French NFU 44‐051 (AFNOR NF U 44‐051, 2006) certification for an organic amendment (C3). They were applied at a rate of 100 t ha−1 (dry matter) on two cropped soils with contrasting textures. Soil‐and‐compost mixes and compost‐free soil were planted with lettuce, radish, and potato.ResultsSeventy‐four days after planting, composts improved some soil physicochemical properties. The compost‐amended soils had better saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks, 1 10−3–2.5 10−3 cm s−1) than the compost‐free soil (0.5 10−3 cm s−1), and water‐stable aggregates were higher than the initial value in C3 soil, equal to it in C2 soil, and lower in C1 soil. pH, total nitrogen, and organic carbon increased in all compost‐amended soils. Food waste compost stimulated crop production. The yields (dry matter) of all three crops were two to three times higher in the two soils amended with food waste compost compared to unamended soil, whereas they decreased almost two times in the soil amended with green waste compost due to nitrogen immobilization. Trace metals (particularly Pb and Cd) added by the composts, although present in edible parts of the plants, did not exceed the European rules for trace metals.ConclusionThus, food waste composts have positive effects on soils and vegetable crops, and the higher their organic matter content, the higher these positive effects.

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