Compost produced in Catalonia: characterization and use in growing media mixtures

Authors

  • Rafaela Cáceres Gestió Integral de Residus Orgànics (GIRO), Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA).
  • Conrad Cunill Gestió Integral de Residus Orgànics (GIRO), Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA).
  • Oriol Marfà Gestió Integral de Residus Orgànics (GIRO), Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA).

Keywords:

organic fraction of municipal waste, green waste, pine bark, manure.

Abstract

Large amounts of compost are produced in Catalonia. The use of compost in substrate mixtures is a potential use of this material. The main goal of this study is to characterize different kinds of compost produced in composting plants in Catalonia. The following types have been considered: municipal waste organic fraction compost, green waste compost, pine bark compost (or compost based on pine bark) and manure compost. Physical, physico-chemical, chemical and biological properties were examined. Results show that the physical properties of the different materials are appropriate. However, the physico-chemical properties (pH and salinity) showed inadequate values for the specific use of compost as a substrate. Moreover, the ionic composition of the aqueous solution with respect to its main nutrients (N, P and K) is unbalanced. If composted properly with other supplementary materials rich in nitrogen, green waste would be a suitable product to use in substrate mixtures.

Keywords: organic fraction of municipal waste, green waste, pine bark, manure.

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Issue

No. 39: desembre 2015

Section

Articles

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