ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to assess the chemical characteristics of a continuous aerobic composting process with passive aeration of feed material from the production and slaughter of small ruminants at different moisture levels. The composting process was performed in a brick barn with solid residues (manure and carcass parts) from the slaughter of goats and sheep along with chopped dry elephant grass and tree trimmings. The treatments employed three moisture contents (30, 50, and 70% water) and four sample collections at timed intervals (0, 30, 60, and 120 days), with three repetitions. The variables evaluated were the chemical attributes of the generated compost. The compositing process increased the concentrations of the elements Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn and reduced the pH, lignin, and lignin/nitrogen ratio. The levels of N, P, and B increased up to 111, 61, and 94 days, respectively, whereas no change in the K content occurred. At the end of the process at 120 days, the contents of N, P, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, and electrical conductivity were increased by 33.7, 6.3, 17.5, 16.3, 666, 22, 31.3, 49.7, 30.4, 29.4 and 16.1%, respectively. The pH and lignin values decreased by 8.4 and 27.2%, respectively.
Key words:
goats; organic compost; sheep