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Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Compost

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DOI: 10.4172/2252-5211.1000172

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 International Journal of Waste
Resources Khater ESG, Int J Waste Resources 2015, 5:1
http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2252-5211.1000172

Research Article Open Access

Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Compost

El-Sayed G. Khater*
Agricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Egypt
*Corresponding author: El-Sayed G Khater, Agricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Egypt, Tel: +20132467034, +20132467786;
E-mail: [email protected]
Received date: November 23, 2014, Accepted date: February 16, 2015, Published date: February 24, 2015
Copyright: © 2015 Khater ESG. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to study the physical and chemical properties of compost made of
different row materials. These materials are cattle manure, herbal plants residues and sugar cane plants residues.
These properties include: bulk density, moisture content, water holding capacity, porosity, pH, EC, total organic
carbon, total organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium and C/N ratio. The bulk density value
ranged from 420 to 655 kg m-3. The moisture content values ranged from 23.50 to 32.10 %. The water holding
capacity values ranged from 3.50 to 4.40 g water/g dry. The porosity values ranged from 60.69 to 72.47 % for
different compost types. The pH value ranged from 6.3 to 7.8 and EC values ranged from 2.6 to 4.1 dS m-1 for
different compost types. The total organic carbon values ranged from 16.6 to 23.89 %. The total organic matter
values ranged from 28.60 to 41.20 %. The total nitrogen values ranged from 0.95 to 1.68 %. The total phosphorus
and total potassium values ranged from 0.27 to 1.13 % and 0.27 to 2.11 %, respectively, for different compost types.
The C/N ratio values ranged from 14.22:1 to 18.52:1.

Keywords: Physical properties; Chemical properties; Compost The physical and chemical properties of organic wastes and the
factors that affect their performance in composting require easily
Introduction identifiable and reliable methods to control the process in situ, in
order to make proper decisions about its performance [8].
Composting is a technique which can be used to reduce the amount
of organic waste through recycling and the production of soil Although the characteristics of yard waste will vary, depending
fertilizers and conditioners. Compost is primarily used as a soil upon the predominant vegetation in the area and the season of the
conditioner and not as much as a fertilizer because it contains a high year for its collection, composted green waste typically contains low
organic content (90-95%) but generally low concentrations of levels of heavy metals, commonly present in sludge-based composts,
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium as well as macro and micro nutrients which makes them more environmentally sound [9].
compared to commercial fertilizers. It is comparable to peat moss in its To produce a sound and a good quality compost, due to the lake of
conditioning abilities. Areas where composting can be beneficial is in physical and chemical properties of the compost should be determined
the recycling of the organic fraction of the municipal waste. It reduces by the end of processing period, therefore, the main objective of this
as much as 30% of the volume, in the form of organic matter, entering research was to study some physical and chemical properties of
our already overcrowded landfill sites. Furthermore the composting compost made of different row materials. These properties include:
process, if performed correctly, transforms wet and odorous organic pH, EC, total organic carbon, total organic matter, total nitrogen, total
waste into an aesthetically, dryer, decomposed and reusable product phosphorus, total potassium, C/N ratio, bulk density, moisture
[1]. content, water holding capacity and porosity.
Crop residues, unused bedding materials, silage, manures, and
similar on-farm materials can be used as co-compost cover materials, Materials and Methods
along with many off-farm residues and wastes. Since a mortality
The experiment was carried out at the Compost Unit at the
compost pile cannot be turned until the bio-decomposition of the
Experimental Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Moshtohor,
carcass body has been largely completed, the type and thickness of the
Benha University. Some of agricultural wastes are used for compost
cover and base layer materials play a key role in influencing the
making, these wastes are cattle manure, herbal plants residues and
biodegradation of carcasses, and the development and retention of
sugar cane plants residues. The physical and chemical properties that
heat that is necessary for pathogen inactivation [2].
used in the manufacturing the compost are listed in tables (Tables 1
Quality control during compost production should ensure adequate and 2).
chemical and physical properties [3], as well as an adequate degree of
stability and maturity [4]. The beneficial effects on crop production
and soil quality reported in literature [5,6] are directly related to the
physical, chemical and biological properties of the composts [7].

Int J Waste Resources Volume 5 • Issue 1 • 1000172

ISSN:2252-5211 IJWR, an open access journal
Citation: El-Sayed G. Khater (2015) Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Compost. Int J Waste Resources 5: 172. doi:
10.4172/2252-5211.1000172

Page 2 of 5

Raw materials
Properties
Cattle manure Herbal plants residues Sugar cane plants residues

Bulk density (kg m-3) 750.00 335.00 426.00

Moisture content (%) 58.30 16.20 36.20

Water holding capacity (g water/g dry

3.00 3.50 3.30
sample)

Porosity (%) 41.57 80.62 69.96

Table 1: Physical properties of the raw materials used in compost making.

Raw materials
Properties
Cattle manure Herbal plants residues Sugar cane plants residues

pH 8.1 4.3 7.1

EC (dS m-1) 4.2 1.3 3.1

Total organic carbon (%) 18.16 9.4 20

Total organic matter (%) 31.3 43.1 61.3

Total nitrogen (%) 0.93 1.35 1.62

Total phosphorus (%) 0.21 0.36 1.12

Total potassium (%) 0.17 0.42 1.36

C/N ratio 19.53:1 6.97:1 12.35:1

Table 2: Chemical properties of the raw materials used in compost making.

Five different types of compost were obtained by mixing cattle Moisture contents (MC)
manure with herbal plants residues and sugar cane plants residues at
different ratios to form: Moisture content (wet basis) throughout this study was measured
by drying at 105oC for approximately 24 h or at constant weight [10].
1. C1: cattle manure (100:0)
2. C2: cattle manure and herbal plants residues (50:50) Water holding capacity (WHC)
3. C3: cattle manure and sugar cane plants residues (50:50)
A wet sample of known initial moisture content was weighed (Wi)
4. C4: herbal plants residues (100:0) and placed in a beaker. After soaking in water for 1–2 days and
5. C5: sugar cane plants residues (100:0) draining excess water through Whatman #2filter paper, the saturated
The mixtures of wastes were composted in piles (1.5 m high, 3 m sample was weighed again (Ws). The amount of water retained by dry
width and 80 m long). The piles were turned periodically to maintain sample was calculated as the WHC. The water holding capacity (g
adequate O2 levels. The piles were turned weekly during the water/g dry material) is calculated as [11]:
maturation phase in order to improve the O2 level inside the pile. Pile W s − W i + MC × W i
moisture was controlled by adding enough water to keep the moisture WHC = (1)
1− MC × W i
content not less than 50%. Samples were taken at the end of the
composting process to determine the chemical and physical properties. Where:
Each sample was made by mixing five subsamples taken from five Wi is the initial weight of sample (g)
points in the pile. Samples were placed in polyethylene bags and Ws is the final weight of sample (g)
transferred to the laboratory for analysis.
MC is the initial moisture content of sample (decimal)
Physical properties
Bulk density and porosity
The physical properties include: bulk density, moisture content,
water holding capacity and porosity. Bulk density was measured using an approximately 10 liters volume
container. The container was filled with material, and then the
material was slightly compacted to ensure absence of large void spaces.

Int J Waste Resources Volume 5 • Issue 1 • 1000172

ISSN:2252-5211 IJWR, an open access journal
Citation: El-Sayed G. Khater (2015) Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Compost. Int J Waste Resources 5: 172. doi:
10.4172/2252-5211.1000172

Page 3 of 5

The bulk density was calculated by dividing the weight of the material relationship between the bulk density and the total organic matter. It
by the volume of material in the container. decreases from 655 to 420 kg m-3 when the total organic matter
increased from 28.6 to 41.2%.
Compost porosity (εa) was determined using the known density of
water (ρw; 1000 kg m-3) and estimated densities of organic matter Compost types
(ρom; 1600 kg m-3), and ash (ρash; 2500 kg m-3), as well as the moisture Properties
content and bulk densities of the sample [12-14]. If the moisture C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
content (MC), dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and wet bulk
Bulk density (kg m-3) 655 625 573 582 420
density (ρwb) of samples are known, the porosity can be calculated
using the following equation: Moisture content (%) 25.6 23.5 30.1 31.2 32.1

MC DM ⋅ OM DM ⋅ 1− OM Water holding capacity

ε a = 1 −ρ w b ρ + ρ +
ρ ash
× 100 (2) (2) 3.5 3.7 4.1 3.9 4.4
w om (g water/g dry sample)

Where: Porosity (%) 60.69 62.67 63.52 66.56 72.47

εa is the compost porosity (%)

Table 3: Physical properties of different compost types. C1: cattle
ρwb is the wet bulk density (kg m-3) manure (100: 0); C2: cattle manure and herbal plants residues (50: 50);
ρw is the density of water (kg m-3) C3: cattle manure and sugar cane plants residues (50: 50); C4: herbal
plants residues (100: 0); C5: sugar cane plants residues (100: 0).
ρom is the density of organic matter (kg m-3)
ρash is the density of ash (kg m-3)
MC is the moisture content (decimal)
DM is the dry matter (decimal)
OM is the organic matter (decimal)

Chemical properties
The chemical properties include: pH, EC, total organic carbon, total
organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium and
C/N ratio.
Electrical conductivity was measured using EC meter (Model
ORION 105 – Range 0 – 199.99 dS m-1 ± 0.01, USA). pH was Figure 1: The relationship between the bulk density and the total
measured using pH meter (Model ORION 230A – Range -2 – 19.99 ± organic matter.
0.01, USA). Total organic carbon (TOC) by the dry combustion
method at 540C for 4 h according to [15]. Total organic matter was
measured by combustion at 550C for 8 h according to [16] and total The regression between the bulk density of compost and the
nitrogen (TN) by Kjeldahl digestion [17]. Potassium (K) was compost total organic matter is show the following equation:
determined by atomic absorption and phosphorus (P) was determined
BD = -18.399 TOM + 1212 R2 = 0.89 (3)
colorimetrically following the [18] method.
Where:
Results and Discussion BD is the bulk density (kg m-3)
TOM is the total organic matter (%)
Physical properties
The moisture content values ranged from 23.50 to 32.10% for
Table 3 shows the physical properties (bulk density, moisture different compost types. The lowest value of moisture content
content, water holding capacity and porosity) of the different types of (23.50%) was found for cattle manure and herbal plants residues (50:
compost (cattle manure, cattle manure and herbal plants residues 50) compost and the highest value of moisture content (32.10%) was
(50:50), cattle manure and sugar cane plants residues (50: 50), herbal obtained for sugar cane plants residues compost.
plants residues and sugar cane plants residues).
Regarding the water holding capacity values ranged from 3.50 to
The results indicate that the bulk density value ranged from 420 to 4.40 g water/g dry sample for different compost types. The lowest
655 kg m-3 for different compost types. The highest value of bulk value of water holding capacity (3.50 g water/g dry sample) was found
density (655 kg m-3) was found for cattle manure compost and the for cattle manure compost and the highest value of water holding
lowest value of bulk density (420 kg m-3) was found for sugar cane capacity (4.40 g water/g dry sample) was found for sugar cane plants
plants residues compost. [8] found that the bulk density values were residues compost.
between 447 and 502 kg m-3 for different compost types, as agreed
with [19-22] results. The porosity values ranged from 60.69 to 72.47% for different
compost types. The lowest value of the porosity (60.69%) was found
It could be seen that the bulk density of compost decreases with for cattle manure compost and the highest value of the porosity
increasing the compost total organic matter. Figure 1 shows the (72.47%) was found for sugar cane plants residues compost. The

Int J Waste Resources Volume 5 • Issue 1 • 1000172

ISSN:2252-5211 IJWR, an open access journal
Citation: El-Sayed G. Khater (2015) Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Compost. Int J Waste Resources 5: 172. doi:
10.4172/2252-5211.1000172

Page 4 of 5

porosity depends on bulk density and moisture content of compost. 6.3 to 7.8 for different compost types. The highest value of pH (7.8)
The porosity decreased with increasing bulk density and moisture was found for herbal plants residues compost, while, the lowest value
content. Figures 2 and 3 shows the relationship between the porosity of pH (6.3) was obtained for sugar cane plants residues compost. This
and bulk density and the porosity and moisture content. The results pH range is in the optimum range for growing media as mentioned by
indicate that the porosity of compost decreased from 72.47 to 60.69% [23] who stated that the optimal range is from 5.2 to 7.3.
when the bulk density increased from 420 to 655 kg m-3. The results
The EC values ranged from 2.6 to 4.1 dS m-1 for different compost
indicate that the porosity of compost decreased from 72.47 to 60.69%
types. The highest value of EC (4.1 dS m-1) was found for cattle
when the moisture content increased from 25.6 to 32.1%. These results
manure compost and the lowest value of EC (2.6 dS m-1) was
agreed with those obtained by [11].
determined for the herbal plants residues compost. This EC range is in
the optimum range (2.0 to 4.0) for growing media as mentioned by
[24].

Compost types
Properties
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5

pH 7.3 7.6 7.2 7.8 6.3

EC (dS m-1) 4.1 3.1 3.6 2.6 3.2

Total organic
16.6 18.98 20.64 20.93 23.89
carbon (%)

Total organic
28.6 32.7 35.6 36.1 41.2
matter (%)

Total nitrogen (%) 0.95 1.26 1.32 1.13 1.68

Figure 2: The relationship between the porosity and bulk density.
Total phosphorus
0.31 0.27 0.51 0.32 1.13
(%)

Total potassium
0.27 0.35 0.62 0.51 2.11
(%)

C/N ratio 17.47 15.06 15.64 18.52 14.22

Table 4: Chemical properties of different compost types. C1: cattle

manure (100: 0) C2: cattle manure and herbal plants residues (50: 50);
C3: cattle manure and sugar cane plants residues (50: 50); C4: herbal
plants residues (100: 0); C5: sugar cane plants residues (100: 0).

Regarding the total organic carbon results it was found that it

ranged from 16.6 to 23.89% for different compost types under study,
where, the lowest value of total organic carbon (16.6%) was found for
cattle manure compost and the highest value of total organic carbon
(23.89%) was obtained for sugar cane plants residues compost. These
Figure 3: The relationship between the porosity and moisture results are in agreement with [25] who found that the optimum value
content. of total organic matter higher than 10%.
The total organic matter values ranged from 28.60 to 41.20% for
The regression between the porosity and the bulk density of different compost types. The lowest value of total organic matter
compost and the porosity of compost and the compost total organic (28.60%) was found for cattle manure compost and the highest value
matter are shown in the following equations: of total organic matter (41.20%) was found for sugar cane plants
residues compost. These results are in agreement with [9] whose found
εa = -0.0487 BD + 92.981 R2 = 0.93 (4) that the highest value of total organic matter about 44%.
εa = 0.9407 TOM + 38.373 R2 = 0.60 (5) The total nitrogen values ranged from 0.95 to 1.68% for different
compost types under study. The lowest value of total organic carbon
Chemical properties (0.95%) was found for cattle manure compost and the highest value of
Table 4 shows the chemical properties (pH, EC, total organic total organic carbon (1.68%) was found for sugar cane plants residues
carbon, total organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total compost. These results are in agreement with those obtained by [9]
potassium and C/N ratio) of different types of compost (cattle manure, whose found that the total nitrogen rate ranged from 0.99 to 2.01%.
cattle manure and herbal plants residues (50:50), cattle manure and The total phosphorus and total potassium values ranged from 0.27
sugar cane plants residues (50:50), herbal plants residues and sugar to 1.13% and 0.27 to 2.11%, respectively, for different compost types.
cane plants residues). It could be seen that the pH value ranged from The lowest value of total phosphorus (0.27%) was found for herbal

Int J Waste Resources Volume 5 • Issue 1 • 1000172

ISSN:2252-5211 IJWR, an open access journal
Citation: El-Sayed G. Khater (2015) Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Compost. Int J Waste Resources 5: 172. doi:
10.4172/2252-5211.1000172

Page 5 of 5

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