Biooxidation of livestock manure and GHG emissions reduction

Problem statement

GHG emissions or the contamination of aquifers produced by organic waste production.

Executive summary

Composting is a tool within the circular economy through which organic waste is valorised by transforming it into fertiliser with high added value. It provides a solution to the management of organic waste that can be a problem due to its negative effects on the environment, such as GHG emissions or the contamination of aquifers through leaching.

Technology description

It is an aerobic biological process where organic matter is oxidised by different microorganisms, mainly fungi and bacteria, which degrade this matter and transform the organic waste into a stable product, free of pathogens and weed seeds. It must be carried out under controlled conditions to obtain quality compost. The most influential parameters are temperature, pH, humidity, C/N ratio and aeration. The advantages of composting are multiple, as in addition to achieving adequate waste management, a product is obtained which, when applied to the soil, has many social, environmental and economic benefits. On the one hand, the use of inorganic fertilisers is reduced, as compost is an alternative to chemical fertilisers and can be used as a substitute for them, which, in turn, means savings in fertiliser costs due to the substitution of inorganic fertilisers in agriculture. It also reduces the demand for irrigation water because compost increases the water retention capacity of the soil, a fact to be taken into account in areas where water availability is limited and in a global context in which water resources are becoming increasingly scarce.
Compost applied to the soil also provides other benefits to the cultivated land, and therefore to the farmer, as this substrate provides beneficial micro-organisms that increase their activity on the organic matter in the compost. This microbial community produces biostimulant substances or plant growth regulating compounds and are capable of suppressing certain pathogens, which results in better crop development.

Market deployment considerations

It is a process that can be carried out with little technology and the investment needed for control is low. Space and time are needed for the process to be adequate and to produce quality compost. Information is widely available and easily accessible.

Environmental considerations

No, negative relevant environmental impact. It would result in less water being needed for crops, which is a very interesting process particularly in areas where water is a scarce resource.