Influence of aeration on CH4, N2O and NH3 emissions during aerobic composting of a chicken manure and high C/N waste mixture

Co-composting of chicken manure, straw and dry grasses was investigated in a forced aeration system to estimate the effect of aeration rates on NH3, CH4 and N2O emissions and compost quality. Continuous measurements of gas emissions were carried out and detailed gas emission patterns were obtained using an intermittent-aeration of 30 min on/30 min off at rates of 0.01 (A1), 0.1 (A2) and 0.2 (A3) m3 min−1 m−3. Concentrations of CH4 and N2O at the low aeration rate (A1) were significantly greater than those at the other two rates, but there was no significant difference between the A2 and A3 treatments. CH4 and N2O emissions for this mixture could be controlled when the composting process was aerobic and ammonia emissions were reduced at a lower aeration rate. Comparison of CH4, N2O, NH3 emissions and compost quality showed that the aeration rate of the A2 treatment was superior to the other two aeration rates.