Decomposition of composted barn bedding: comparison with cattle manure under variable conditions for biofertilizer potential

Purpose: This research assesses the compost barn system's effectiveness in dairy cattle production, aiming to merge high productivity and quality with animal well-being and environmental sustainability. It examines the loss of mass and basal soil respiration rates in bedding materials like sawdust and wood shavings, focusing on the impacts of various storage heights, moisture levels, and temperatures. Method: The study was conducted via two experiments. The first measured mass loss in standard bovine waste and compost barn materials across three storage heights (2 cm, 4 cm, 8 cm), two moisture conditions (wet and dry), and two temperatures (20 °C, 30 °C). The second experiment investigated mass loss rates and basal soil respiration in entisol and oxisol soils under different moisture and temperature conditions. Results: Findings indicate the compost barn treatment reduces bovine manure decomposition rates compared to traditional methods, with taller stacks showing lesser decomposition. Dry conditions increased decomposition rates, contrary to microbial respiration trends. Temperature significantly affected decomposition, with varying effects between experiments. Higher temperatures boosted microbial respiration. Entisol treatments had lower decomposition but higher microbial respiration than oxisol treatments. Conclusion: The compost barn system is a sustainable, viable option for dairy cattle producers, promoting animal well-being and environmental integrity. By effectively managing these factors, producers can enhance agricultural productivity and support eco-friendly practices. Research Highlights • The Compost Barn system is a sustainable and viable alternative for dairy cattle producers, enhancing animal well-being and promoting environmental sustainability. • Higher stacking height is associated with reduced manure decomposition, indicating that management practices related to stacking height can significantly influence decomposition efficiency. • Dry manure decomposed faster than wet manure, although microbial respiration showed an opposite pattern, highlighting the complexity of decomposition processes. • Effective and sustainable management is essential to optimize decomposition and ensure the efficient use of Compost Barn material in agricultural production, emphasizing the importance of strategic management to maximize environmental benefits. • The hypothesis was partially confirmed, with the Compost Barn treatment consistently showing lower manure decomposition rates compared to the conventional treatment, underscoring the potential of the Compost Barn system for sustainable agricultural practices.