Search

With increased availability of dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) as cattle feed and the need to recycle organic wastes, this research investigated the feasibility of co-composting DDGS cattle feedlot manure with construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Manure was collected from cattle fed a typical western Canadian finishing diet (CK) of 860 g rolled barley (Hordeum vulgare L) grain, 100 g barley silage, and 40 g vitamin and mineral supplement kg-1 dry matter (DM) and from cattle fed the same diet but (DG manure) with 300 g kg-1 DM barley grain being replaced by DDGS. The CK and DG manures were co-composted with and without C&D waste in 13 m³ bins. Compost materials were turned on Days 14, 37, and 64, and terminated on Day 99. Adding C&D waste led to higher compost temperatures (0.4 to 16.3°C, average 7.2°C) than manure alone. Final composts had similar total C, total N, C/N ratios, and water-extractable K, Mg, and NO3- content across all treatments. However, adding C&D waste increased δ13C, δ15N, water-extractable SO42-, and Ca+ contents and decreased pH, total P (TP), water-extractable C, N, and P and most volatile fatty acids (VFA). The higher C&D compost temperatures should reduce pathogens while reduced VFA content should reduce odors. When using the final compost product, the increased SO42- and reduced TP and available N and P content in C&D waste compost should be taken into consideration. Increased S content in C&D compost may be beneficial for some crops grown on S-deficient soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]