What is composting?

The Technical Demonstration funded by MAFF Japan

• Aerobic microbial decomposition of
organic materials such as animal manure
Composting and crop residue
• After composting, animal manure
becomes dry, blackish color and no odor.
For easy manure handling,
less odor and water pollution • For composting, following 3 conditions are
and better soil quality for crop production important.
a) Proper water level
January 23, 2015, in Hanoi b) Proper Nitrogen level
By A. Koyama c) Sufficient aeration

Why composting is necessary now? Why composting is necessary now?

In the past - Scattered Now - Intensified
local natural capacity
for absorbing the impact
animal number amount of manure
of animal manure
• In Vietnam, number of animal per farm is
increasing.
• Under medium and large number of
animals, biogas system has a limitation.
• Simple flushing out to rivers and canals
causes water pollution.
• Odor raises serious problems in sub-
urban areas.
• Composted manure is much better for
crop growth than raw manure.

How to make compost? – Water 1 How to make compost? – Water 2

• In general animal manure has too much • After adjusting water level, grasp the
water for composting. material by hand tightly.
• Separation of feces from urine by slope • When you open your hand, If the shape
with ditches on the floor of animal pens is kept, water level is still too high. If it is
is important to minimize water in feces. broken slightly, it is OK.
• Proper water level for composting is 60-
65%.
• Adding some agents such as saw dust
and rice straw which absorbs excessive
water is effective.

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 How to make compost? - Nitrogen How to make compost? - Aeration
• In general animal manure has too much • Sufficient aeration cannot be expected in
Nitrogen to Carbon. raw manure because manure is sticky
• CN ratio of cow and pig manure are 16 and wet.
and 11, respectively (C16:N1, C11:N1). • If animal manure is kept in a plastic bag
• Proper CN ratio for composting is 20-30. or bucket, it will not become compost
• Mixing something of low C such as because of insufficient aeration.
sawdust and rice straw is needed. • Mixing something that enhances
• CN ratio of sawdust and rice straw are aeration such as rice straw is effective.
500 and 60 (C500:N1, C60:N1). • Turning over during composting is also
very effective for aeration.

How to make compost? – Normal way How to make compost? – Questions

1. Separate feces and urine as much as
possible in animal pens.
2. Take out feces and mix with saw dust, rice
straw, dry leaves etc for reducing water
and N level and maximizing aeration.
3. Make a heap and prevent from raining.
4. Turn over every week or every 2 weeks.
5. It takes 1-2 months in summer and 2-3
months in winter for composting.
1. Separate feces and urine as much as possible in animal pens.
How to handle urine and flushing water?
2. Take out feces and mix with saw dust, rice straw, dry leaves etc
for reducing water/N level and maximizing aeration.
How to take out feces? By hand or by machine?
How to get agents such as saw dust? Their cost?
3. Make a heap and prevent rain water.
By hand or by machine? Is a heap necessary?
4. Turn over every week.
By hand or by machine? Is turning over necessary?
5. It takes 1-2 months in summer and 2-3 months in winter for
composting.
Is it possible to shorten the time for composting?

Demonstration – Calculation1 Demonstration – Calculation2

Water C/N Water C/N
Recipe Cost ratio water N ratio N ratio C Recipe Cost ratio water N ratio N ratio C
kg VND % kg % kg kg kg VND % kg % kg kg
Raw pig Raw pig
manure 1000 76 760 0.6 6 11 66 manure 1000 76 760 0.6 6 11 66
Saw dust 80 104000 15 10 0.05 0.04 500 20 Saw dust 80 104000 15 10 0.05 0.04 500 20
Rice straw 200 15 30 0.4 0.8 60 48 Rice straw 200 15 30 0.4 0.8 60 48
Rice bran 5 35000 15 0.75 2 0.1 12 1.2 Rice bran 5 35000 15 0.75 2 0.1 12 1.2
Mixed 1285 62 800 6.94 19 135.2 Mixed 1285 62 800 6.94 19 135.2
Raw cow Raw cow
dung 1000 86 860 0.35 3.5 16 56 dung 1000 86 860 0.35 3.5 16 56
Saw dust 50 65000 15 10 0.05 0.025 500 12.5 Saw dust 50 65000 15 10 0.05 0.025 500 12.5
Rice straw 250 15 37.5 0.4 1 60 60 Rice straw 250 15 37.5 0.4 1 60 60
Rice bran 5 35000 15 0.75 2 0.1 12 1.2 Rice bran 5 35000 15 0.75 2 0.1 12 1.2
Mixed 1305 70 908 4.625 28 129.7 Mixed 1305 70 908 4.625 28 129.7

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 Demonstration – Calculation3 Demonstration A – Cow 1
Water C/N
Recipe Cost ratio water N ratio N ratio C
•Put drain pipes for
kg VND % kg % kg kg aeration.
Raw pig •Made layers with cow
manure 1000 76 760 0.6 6 11 66 dung, rice straw, sawdust
Saw dust 80 104000 15 10 0.05 0.04 500 20
Rice straw 200 15 30 0.4 0.8 60 48
and rice bran. [sandwich]
Rice bran 5 35000 15 0.75 2 0.1 12 1.2
Mixed 1285 62 800 6.94 19 135.2
Raw cow
dung 1000 86 860 0.35 3.5 16 56
Saw dust 50 65000 15 10 0.05 0.025 500 12.5
Rice straw 250 15 37.5 0.4 1 60 60
Rice bran 5 35000 15 0.75 2 0.1 12 1.2
Mixed 1305 70 908 4.625 28 129.7

Demonstration A – Cow 1 Demonstration B – Cow 2

•Made layer with cow
dung, rice straw, sawdust
and rice bran [sandwich]
•Put 2 drain pipes for
aeration.
•Put another
perpendicular pipe in the
middle of the heap
Sandwich system
Manure=>Rice bran=>Saw dust=>Rice straw=>
Manure...

Demonstration B – Cow 2 Demonstration C – Pig 1

Sandwich system •Made layer with pig manure,
Manure=>Rice bran=> rice straw, sawdust and rice
Saw dust=>Rice straw=> bran to make a
heap.[sandwich]
Manure... •Put 2 drain pipes for air
circulation.

Cover for preventing rain Lift up 2 pipes for aeration

water. after several days

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Demonstration C – Pig 1 Demonstration D – Pig 2
Sandwich system •Mix pig manure with rice straw, sawdust and rice
bran and put into sucks.
Manure=>Rice bran=>
•No turning over but the suck allows aeration. As
Saw dust=>Rice straw=> heat is not kept, it takes time for composting.
Manure... •No.1/No.2 were mixed, No.3/No.4 were mixed and
drier than No.1/No.2 and No.5/No.6 were sandwich.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Demonstration D – Pig 2
Mixing system
Mix manure with sawdust
and rice bran.
Mix rice straw and pack
into a suck

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 Test method for compost quality

1. Germination test 2. Root growth test

Simple test for compost quality
“Tanepita” “Seed pack”

Komatsuna seed
Brassica rapa var. perviridis

3. Maturity testing kit

“Dr.Compo”
4. Tracing temperature in compost
Compost thermometer “Taion-kun”
Color Storage box
scale

Data logger

Centrifuge Reagent bottle

Spoon 15cc x 10pcs Temperature
sensor

Pen filler
Centrifuge tube Gloves Sensor probe
Temperature
sensor
Evaluation in 3 stages, in comparison with color scale
III : Amber and clear brown - Matured
II : Dark brown – Middle phase I : Black muddy - Initial maturation phase

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 Procedure : Extraction Germination test
For Germination & Root growth test i. Prepare germination test sheet,

i. Prepare extracted solution from compost Sprinkle seeds on it

Compost 5g + Distilled water 50ml ii. Pour 10ml of extracted solution

↓ Stir for 30min by horizontal stirrer to experimental plot and control
Filter (Medical gauze, double folded)
↓
Get the solution
A 10ml for germination test
B 30ml for root growth test Control : Distilled water Test plot : Extracted solution

How to evaluate
iv. Incubate for 2-3 days in 30℃ incubator.
・Germination rate : 100%=5, 80-100% =4, 60-80% = 3,
less than 60% = 2, 0% = 1
・Appearance : Observed leaves, roots and rootlet =5
Observed leaves and roots =4
Observed either leaves or roots =3
Compost A Compost B
Observed sprout bud =2 No buds = 1
(Germination rate 38%） (Germination rate 100%）
How to evaluate TOTAL SCORE ＝ Germination rate + Appearance

Germination rate = Number of sprouts in experimental plot
/ number of sprouts in control
(Control = Distilled water)
8~10 : Growth inhibition material in the
sample compost was not observed
< 7 : Suspected the influence of growth inhibition material

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 Root growth test
i. Sprinkle the seeds on germination test sheet,
ii. Cut the sheet as per below photo and place 2pcs of
on the top of bag cut sheet.
iii. Pour extracted solution 30ml

Keep it in dark place with temperature 25-

30℃ for about 4-5 days.

Evaluation for root growth test

Measure the length

TEST RESULTS

Compost A Compost B
Photo: Cultured for 5 days at 30℃ in dark place
Left : Germination rate 38% Right : Germination rate 100%

<Correlation between germination rate and root growth observed>

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 Test results : comparison chart, 1st week
Collected compost sample from 4 farms (A ~ D) and Germination Root Maturity NH4-N
Monｃada AI center (4 stages of maturity) Jan. 13, 14, 2015
% Mark Appear. TOTAL Cm By mg/L
Appearance score (2days) Dr.Compo
Distilled 100 5 4 9 ---
water
Moncada 100 5 5 10 5.0 III + 0.25
4months
D Moncada 100 5 5 10 4.7 III +
A B C 3.5
Moncada 2 100 5 4+ 9 4.6 III

Moncada 1 100 5 4 9 4.4 II

A 90 5 3 8 4.2 I+
B 94 5 2 7 3.5 I 3.0~6.0
Moncada 1st month 2nd month 3rd month 4th month
C 90 5 2 7 5.0 II
D 96 5 2 7 4.2 I

Result of germination test, 1ST week Result of germination test, 1st week

Incubated 2 days, 30℃

Mature compost (Moncada) 4months Control, distilled water

Total score, 10 Total score, 9

Immature compost, Sample B

Total score, 7

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 Result of root growth test, 1st week Result of maturity test, 1st week
Incubated 2 days, 30℃

Mature compost 4months Immature compost B Mature compost, stage III Immature compost, stage I
Root growth 5cm Root growth 3.5cm 4months 3months Sample B

Rapid test for nutrient by citric acid extraction

Ammonia, detected from compost sample, 1st week
Weigh 1g of compost

Stir by hand for Dilute with stilled

1 min. water Before 10times
dilution dilution

Add 50ml of 2% citric acid to 1g of compost.

(4) Up and down

★NH4-N
the test sheet in (5) Compare with
(1)Dilute for 10 times (3) Add sodium the solution for color chart
carbonate 10mg 30sec. Take it out
(2)Take 3ml and wait for 30sec.

Matured compost 4 months Immature compost B

0.25mg/l 3.0 – 6.0mg/l

Method by Prof.Goto, Tokyo University of Agriculture

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 Comparison chart, 2nd week Result of germination test, 2nd week
Germination Root NH4-N Temp. change Incubated 2 days, 30℃
% Score Appear. TOTAL cm mg/L From Jan. 13, 14 to
Jan. 20
ambient 20-22℃
Control 100 5 4 9 3.0

A 10cm 92 5 4+ 9+ 3.0 17.4  26.0 10cm

30cm 90 5 4 9 2.0 39.1 30cm
B 10cm 94 5 4 9 3.0 0.5 17.7  37.2 10cm
Compost B
Sampling on Jan.14
30cm 92 5 4+ 9+ 3.5 41.3 30cm
C 92 5 4 9 2.5 14.5  32.8 10cm
92 5 3 8 1.5 41.0 30cm
D-1 96 5 4+ 9+ 2.5 17.6  33.2 10cm
94 5 3 8 2.0 38.5 30cm
Compost B, depth 10cm Compost B, depth 30cm
D-2 94 5 4 9 2.5 18.5  34.0 10cm Sampling on Jan. 21 Sampling on Jan. 21
90 5 3 8 3.0 32.8 30cm

Result of maturity test, 2nd week

Ammonia, detected from compost sample, 2nd week

Result 1st week

Result 2nd week

Result 1st week Approaching 2nd stage of maturity Result 2nd week
0.5mg/L

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 Temperature change in maturing process 2. Nutrient balance check after application to soil

← Cross section of compost pile

before aeration Field soil testing kit “Dr.Soil”

Changes in temperature during composting Feature : Extraction at once for 9 parameters

(Ambient temperature 18 – 25℃)
From Agricultural structures 29-3 1998, Haga et al

Soil nutrient test result

Sample collected at Moncada AI Center

NH4-N NO3-N P2O5 K2O

Uncultivated land 0.5 1 2.5 10

Soil, applied 10 3 7.5 40-50

compost from
beef cattle 20t/ha,
after cultivation
Unit : mg/100g