Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 11.4
Schematic of a static-pile forced air composting process. (Source: Hickman and Lanier
1999
)
portion of the pile. Windrow composting is well known for the frame scale com-
posting method (Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service (NRAES)
1992
). Control parameters for this composting practice include the basic ratios of C
and N rich materials, the bulk agent quantity in order to guarantee air porosity, size
of the pile, water level, and finally turning rate. Furthermore, the windrow tempera-
ture should be assessed regularly to observe the optimal point to turn the windrows
for faster production of compost.
11.3.2.4
Compost Windrow Turners
Compost windrow turners were developed by Fletcher Sims Jr. of Canyon, Texas
for large scale production of compost. They are a conventionally a big machine
that straddles a windrow of 121.92 cm or more high and 365.76 cm across. Steel
drum with paddles quickly turns and O
2
is introduced within compost by means of
drum/paddle assembly, and waste gases formed through microbial decomposition
are vented. The O
2
feeds the aerobic bacteria and hence speedup the composting
mechanism.
11.3.2.5
In-vessel Composting
It is a cluster of methods which incarcerate the composting supplies inside build-
ing, container, or bucket (Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service
