Review of Related Literature

In aerobic composting, the NH 3emissions occurred in the thermophilic phase, because of the
strong biodegration of organic nitrogen to inorganic nitrogen. High levels of NH 3continued to be
emitted for about two week because of temperature increase, and then the amount of NH 3
emission decreased because the rapid degradation of materials were exhausted. (Szanto et al,
2007)

Addition of cornstalks eliminate the production of leachate (a liquid that passes through a landfill
and has extracted, dissolved and suspended matter from it) during the composting process and
improved the maturity of the compost. (Yuan et al, 2015)

Anaerobic bins and vermicomposting bins emitted significantly higher amounts of CO 2 and CH 2
than the aerobic bins. This indicates that anaerobic bins and vermicomposting bins were more
efficient in decomposing the carbon in waste into CO 2 and more favourable for CH 2 production
than the aerobic bins. On the other hand, aerobic bins and anaerobic bins emitted significantly
higher amounts of N 2 O than the vermicomposting bins. Apparently, the N 2 O emitted from the
composting bins were mainly from the denitrifying process in the anaerobic zones in the
compost. (Beck-Friis et al., 2000)

The rates of CO 2 emission varied during composting, and followed similar patterns to O 2
consumption. The CO 2 emission rate was greater for SBM (straw-bedded manure) than WBM
(wood chip-bedded manure) during the early composting process (day 0-49), but there was no
difference during the late composting process (day 50-99). (Hao et al., 2004)

The effects of C/N ratio, aeration rate and moisture content on the emissions of Greenhouse
Gas and ammonia during composting of mixtures of pig faeces and chopped corn stalks were
investigated in this study. Lower C/N ratio caused higher methane emission by reducing the air
spaces and increasing the easily available carbon sources. Lower C/N ratio will most likely
increase the NH 3 emission. High aeration rate can reduce the emission of CH 4, while the
emissions of N 2 O and NH 3will increase. Low aeration rates can reduce the NH 3 emission,
delaying and prolonging the ammonification phases. The moisture content can affect the
methane and ammonia emission during the composting process. (Jiang et al., 2011)

Szanto, G.L., Hamelers, H.V.M., Rulkens, W.H., Veeken, A.H.M., 2007, NH 3, N 2 Oand CH 4
emissions during passively aerated composting of straw-rich pig manure,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2006.09.021
Yuan, J., Yang, Q., Zhang, Z., Li, G., Luo, W., Zhang, D., 2015, Use of additive and
pretreatment of control odors in municipal kitchen waste during aerobic composting,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2015.03.028

Beck-Friis B., Sonesson U., Jo¨nsson H. and Kirchmann H., 2000, Formation and emission of
N2O and CH4 from compost heaps of organic household waster,
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006245227491

Hao X., Chang, C., Larney, F., 2004, Carbon, Nitrogen Balances and Greenhouse Gas
Emission during Cattle Feedlot Manure Composting, https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2004.3700

Jiang T, Schuchardt F, Li G X, Guo R, Zhao Y Q, 2011, Effect of C/N ratio, aeration rate and
moisture content on ammonia and greenhouse gas emission during the composting,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(10)60591-8

We have 3 vermicomposter bins, each bin have 2 soil moisture sensor

This is the design of our vermicomposter, the worm will be placed here. We add a divider in the
middle for easy collection of the vermi cast.