WINDROW COMPOSTING OF AGRICULTURAL AND MUNICIPAL WASTES

Many wastes are produced from agricultural and municipal facilities that are not suitable for direct land application. Composting these wastes converts them to a humus-containing organic material advantageous for crop production. Major advantages are to stabilize the wastes, substantially reduce the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (in the case of agricultural residues and municipal solid wastes), reduce and virtually eliminate odors, weed seeds, and pathogens and to produce a product easily handled mechanically. Composting is accomplished under aerobic conditions developing temperatures of 55°C or higher. The windrow technique is simple and accomplished easily with standard equipment. Specialized windrow aeration equipment has been developed for use when large amounts of waste are involved. Municipal sludge is readily composted in combination with finished sludge compost or other products in windrows aerated twice or more per week with virtually complete pathogen destruction. © 1990.