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Synergistic effect of biochar and post‑thermophilic stage application of supplemental Tithonia diversifolia on compost nutrient dynamics

Matheri, Felix; Musafiri, Collins; Bautze, David; Durot, Chloé and Kiboi, Milka N. (2025) Synergistic effect of biochar and post‑thermophilic stage application of supplemental Tithonia diversifolia on compost nutrient dynamics. Discover Soil, 2 (23), pp. 1-12.

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Document available online at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44378-025-00051-6


Summary in the original language of the document

Composting is a sustainable waste management technique that transforms organic matter into a valuable, soil amendment through processes such as thermophilic decomposition. However, thermophilic composting leads to a los sof important nutrients such as nitrogen by up to 50% in some cases. This is due to low-quality feedstock and loss of labile nutrients caused by high pile temperatures in the early phase of the process. Ultimately, the low quality of compost can potentially reduce soil fertility and crop productivity. We sought to enhance compost quality by biochar addition during heaping and supplemental Tithonia diversifolia application during post-thermophilic stages. We did a field setup of four composting treatments; Conventional practice; (Cattle manure + dry maize stalks + Lantana camara); L, Biochar compost (Cattle manure + dry maize stalks + Lantana camara + Biochar); B, Biochar compost + Tithonia diversifolia; post-thermophilic phase Tithonia diversifolia supplementation to L (LT) and B (BT). Sampling for physicochemical parameters analysis was done every 21 days over 84 days on each heap. We used assorted functions in the R statistical package (version 4.3.1) to plot the principal component analysis, correlation matrix, and analysis of variance among compost treatments. Total nitrogen exhibited significant positive correlations with all other variables. We also observed significantly higher nutrient levels in biochar-based composts than those without biochar amendment. Supplemental addition of Tithonia diversifolia in the post-thermophilic stage significantly increased nitrogen levels (1.59% in BT and 1.32% in LT compared to 1.34% and 1.24% in B and L, respectively). However, this addition led to a rise in pile temperature, prolonging the composting duration. We observed the highest nitrogen and organic carbon levels in BT (1.59% and 24.9%, respectively) at the end of the composting process. Our study recommends applying nutrient-boosting materials such as Tithonia diversifolia, in the post-thermophilic stage to minimize nutrient losses during composting.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Keywords:organic amendments, humus, decomposition, Abacus, FiBL6524601
Agrovoc keywords:
Language
Value
URI
English
organic amendments
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_12965
English
humus
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3693
English
decomposition
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2159
Subjects: Soil > Soil quality > Soil biology
Crop husbandry > Composting and manuring
Soil > Nutrient turnover
Farming Systems > Farm nutrient management
Research affiliation: Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Composting and fertilizer application > Compost
Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > International > Agriculture in the Tropics and Subtropics > Long-term experiments
Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Soil > Nutrient management
Kenya
DOI:10.1007/s44378-025-00051-6
Related Links:https://systems-comparison.fibl.org/
Deposited By: Schudel, Seraina
ID Code:55478
Deposited On:11 Apr 2025 06:44
Last Modified:11 Apr 2025 06:49
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

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