MOROCOMP (LIFE TCY05/MA000141) - Unit of Environmental ...

Doukkala region 3 , sugar beet leaves and straw residues were considered appropriate
to be used as an input composting material due to their high availability and negligible
cost. Furthermore manure of different origin was also used as raw material for
compost. Sheep and cow manures were the types of manure used in the composting
trials due to their high availability, low heavy metal content and the absence of other
hazardous substances. Furthermore manures high nitrogen and phosphorous content
constitutes a basic nutrient component for plant growth.
4.1. Methods for sampling and analysis of the raw material
The characterisation of the raw material that was used as a feedstock to the in-vessel
composting bioreactor is essential for the evaluation of the aerobic composting
processes and thus to the evaluation of the end products. The feedstock determines a
priori the physical chemical and biological conditions involved in composting
processes. The rate at which materials compost and the qualities of the final
composted organic material are largely dependent on the initial selection and mixing
of raw materials.
For each examined raw material, six representative samples were being collected. The
final sample was formed after stirring and mixing the six same weighted samples
together to form a homogeneous material. From this homogeneous material six
separate samples were selected from which a series of parameters were evaluated. The
average value of each parameter was calculated from the average value of the separate
samples. The examined parameters of the raw material are listed in Table 1. Table 1
also presents the standard methods followed for testing and evaluating compost and
composting feedstock material. These standard methods have been employed in order
to analyse and evaluate the initial material that was selected to be composted as well
as the end product that resulted after the composting process has been completed.
3 greater area of El Jadida
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