Comparison and Evaluation of Co-composting Corn Stalk or Rice Husk with Swine Waste in China

An experimental composting system was employed to study the effect of different proportions of corn stalk, rice husk and swine waste on composting efficiency and final compost quality. Three dry mass ratios were designed with biological agent addition as blank contrast. After 84 days of a static aerobic composting process, full-scale comparison was investigated in maturity, organic nutrient and sanitarian properties. The results showed that the treatment of corn stalk co-composting with swine waste at 1:1.5 ratio with the addition of a biological agent was the first to achieve maturity and had a higher level of organic fertiliser quality, and hygienic indicators of the compost product were satisfied within the relevant standards for harm. Meanwhile, the effect of the biological agent on acceleration of degradation was verified in corn stalk composting. This study found rice husk compost did not reach ideal high temperature. The maturity effect of the final product was relatively poor. Except the treatment of rice husk mixing swine manure at 1:2 ratio with biological agent, other treatments of rice husk had lower and less-effective products, no positive effect was observed in the rice husk compost. At the end of this paper some suggestions were given to develop new approaches for rice husk utilisation and reduce the cost of corn stalk co-composting.