Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Compost
International Journal of Waste Resources • 2015
Publication Information
Authors
El-Sayed G. Khater
Keywords
Physical properties; Chemical properties; Compost
Journal
International Journal of Waste Resources
Publisher
International Journal of Waste Resources
Volume
5
Issue
1
Pages
172
publication.type
International
Paper Link
Open Link
Supplementary Materials
Not Available
Abstract
The main objective of this research was to study the physical and chemical properties of compost made of
different row materials. These materials are cattle manure, herbal plants residues and sugar cane plants residues.
These properties include: bulk density, moisture content, water holding capacity, porosity, pH, EC, total organic
carbon, total organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium and C/N ratio. The bulk density value
ranged from 420 to 655 kg m-3. The moisture content values ranged from 23.50 to 32.10 %. The water holding
capacity values ranged from 3.50 to 4.40 g water/g dry. The porosity values ranged from 60.69 to 72.47 % for
different compost types. The pH value ranged from 6.3 to 7.8 and EC values ranged from 2.6 to 4.1 dS m-1 for
different compost types. The total organic carbon values ranged from 16.6 to 23.89 %. The total organic matter
values ranged from 28.60 to 41.20 %. The total nitrogen values ranged from 0.95 to 1.68 %. The total phosphorus
and total potassium values ranged from 0.27 to 1.13 % and 0.27 to 2.11 %, respectively, for different compost types.
The C/N ratio values ranged from 14.22:1 to 18.52:1.
different row materials. These materials are cattle manure, herbal plants residues and sugar cane plants residues.
These properties include: bulk density, moisture content, water holding capacity, porosity, pH, EC, total organic
carbon, total organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium and C/N ratio. The bulk density value
ranged from 420 to 655 kg m-3. The moisture content values ranged from 23.50 to 32.10 %. The water holding
capacity values ranged from 3.50 to 4.40 g water/g dry. The porosity values ranged from 60.69 to 72.47 % for
different compost types. The pH value ranged from 6.3 to 7.8 and EC values ranged from 2.6 to 4.1 dS m-1 for
different compost types. The total organic carbon values ranged from 16.6 to 23.89 %. The total organic matter
values ranged from 28.60 to 41.20 %. The total nitrogen values ranged from 0.95 to 1.68 %. The total phosphorus
and total potassium values ranged from 0.27 to 1.13 % and 0.27 to 2.11 %, respectively, for different compost types.
The C/N ratio values ranged from 14.22:1 to 18.52:1.
Staff Members - Benha University