University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Advancing temperature development and sustainability of animal mortality composting systems using biochar amendment and utilizing the end-product to improve crop resilience

Wang, Yuchuan

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WANG-DISSERTATION-2022.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115704

Description

Title
Advancing temperature development and sustainability of animal mortality composting systems using biochar amendment and utilizing the end-product to improve crop resilience
Author(s)
Wang, Yuchuan
Issue Date
2022-04-20
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Akdeniz, Neslihan
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Akdeniz, Neslihan
Committee Member(s)
  • Davidson, Paul Curtis
  • Tessum, Mei
  • Nguyen, Thanh Huong
Department of Study
Engineering Administration
Discipline
Agricultural & Biological Engr
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Biochar, compost, plant growth, modeling
Abstract
Livestock and poultry disease outbreaks threaten animal and human health, national food security, and the environment. For example, African swine fever is a highly contagious animal disease affecting more than 20 countries worldwide. The only way to stop the outbreak is to depopulate all affected animals because, currently, there is no treatment or vaccine. Once animals are depopulated, proper disposal of the mortalities is critical in preventing the spread of the disease. During the 2014-2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in the U.S., which remains the largest animal health emergency in the U.S., about 85% of 50 million poultry mortalities were disposed of by composting. Biosecurity agencies recognize composting as the preferred disposal method for routine and emergency management. However, composting has its limitations, such as the case of low surrounding temperature, ammonia emission, and leaching. This study aimed to test the impact of biochar amendment on temperature development and sustainability of animal mortality composting systems and the end-product. First, we completed a quantitative literature review on the role of co-composted biochar (COMBI) in plant growth using meta-analysis. A total of 794 studies were scanned, with 233 observations. Results indicated that COMBI generally yielded a 22.8% improvement in plant productivity. COMBI’s application rates of less than 20 t/ha (n=42) and more than 30 t/ha (n=82) significantly increased plant productivity by 48.3 and 15.7%, respectively. The greatest increase in plant productivity (48.9%, n=36) was observed when soil pH was 4 and 5. Regarding plant species, grain yields of cereal grasses significantly increased (39.7%, n=133) when grown with COMBI. COMBIs made from wood-based biochar (29.4%, n=155) and animal manure (44.1%, n=94) were the most popular types and yielded significant increases in plant productivity. Second, using pilot-scale composting bins, wood-based biochar at 0, 2.6, 13, 36, and 39% (v/v) was co-composted with chicken mortalities and woodchips. Results indicated that biochar amendment significantly increased (3.4–7 °C) the maximum temperatures reached during the process compared to control test units without biochar. Biochar amendments at 13, 26, and 39% resulted in prolonged periods of temperature over 67 °C to inactivate the highly pathogenic Avian influenza (H7N1) and a reduced cumulative chemical oxygen demand of the leachate by 80.4 ± 3.07% on average. At 26 and 39%, biochar amendment significantly reduced the cumulative ammonia emissions by 40.4% and 56.8%, respectively. Biochar amendment at 39% increased the total nitrogen content of the final compost by 34.7%. Third, three commercially available biochars (wood-based, distillers grains, and cow manure biochar) were added to the composting process of chicken mortalities at 13% (v/v), respectively. Results showed that the BET surface area of wood-based biochar was 2.4 and 29 times greater than those of cow manure and distillers grain biochar, respectively. Poultry mortalities with wood-based and cow manure biochar increased compost temperatures by 2.0 to 3.3 °C. Compared to no biochar addition, wood-based biochar resulted in significantly higher compost temperatures (p=0.02), lower leachate COD (p=0.02), higher total nitrogen (p=0.01), and manganese (p=0.0006) contents, and there was no increase in sodium (p=0.94) content of the finished compost. It also lowered the cumulative chemical oxygen demand of the leachate samples by 87% (p=0.02). Fourth, we developed a mathematical model to understand the impact of biochar on the heat profile of the composting process. This study investigated whether biochar increases compost temperatures by improving insulation or enhancing microbial activity. The model partially relied on some measurements of the previous two pilot-scale studies. Results indicated that the model could achieve an R2 value of 0.85 during the 2nd heating cycle. Biochar additions increased the overall heat loss because of the decreased thermal resistance. At the biochar addition rate of 13% (v/v), the predicted longitudinal conductive resistance of the compost pile was reduced by 12.6%. However, as the cumulative heat unit generation increased by 11.8%, this finding may indicate that biochar may increase the compost temperature by improving the microbial activity rather than providing insulation. The last chapter focuses on crop growth utilizing the end product of the composting. Finished animal mortality compost with no biochar addition, wood-based biochar, distillers grains biochar, and cow manure biochar at 13% (v/v) were mixed with the topsoil at 30% (v/v) as soil amendments. Buttercrunch lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata) was grown on different soil amendments in a controlled environment using T5 grow lights (200 µmol m-2 s-1). Results indicated that adding all composts to the soil increased its water holding capacity (WHC) by 29% to 34%. There was no inhibition found in lettuces’ growth among treatments. However, composts with wood-based biochar and distillers grain biochar significantly reduced the nitrate content in lettuce leaves by 26.8% and 34.1%, respectively. In conclusion, wood-based biochar addition at a minimum of 13% (v/v) is recommended to improve the composting process (e.g., temperature, leachate COD, final N content). The temperature improvement by adding biochar, which is critical in eliminating foreign animal diseases such as avian influenza, was more likely the result of enhanced microbial activity. COMBI did not have an adverse effect on crop growth under the controlled conditions studied. Future research can focus on 1) investigating biochar’s influence on the temperature profile using different compost materials and 2) growing plants using different COMBIs and under conditions such as drought.
Graduation Semester
2022-05
Type of Resource
Thesis
Handle URL
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115704
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2022 Yuchuan Wang

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