Composting of cow manure and rice straw with cow urine and its influence on compost quality

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of composting process of cow manure and rice straw with application of cow urine and to evaluate the quality of composting products. There were two treatment piles, in which one pile was applied with cow urine every week and another pile without urine application. Each pile was set up by one tone cow manure and 500kg rice straw. The piles were half-covered by plastic foil to protect from rain and turned one a week. The composting duration lasted 8 weeks. The parameters such as temperature, pH, DM, density and nitrogen were monitored and observed during the 8-week period. The results showed that there was a significant difference in temperature, compost quality and duration between two piles with and without cow urine application. The application of cow urine increased significant nitrogen and phosphorous content and shortened the composting process. This study recommends that cow urine should be applied for composting process of cow manure and rice straw in order to increase the quality of compost. The final product was in the range of matured compost level and can be used directly for agriculture crop.