earticle

영어

Since well-processed composts only help the growth of plants, the quality of compost is very important. Although quality of compost is expressed by many parameters, compost maturity and stability are fundamental classifications which show the degree of completeness of composting. In this study, the potential factors which affect the compost maturity and stability using effective
microorganisms(EM) were examined. Experimental results showed that EM reduced specific oxygen uptake rate(SOUR), respiration/nitrogen fixation ratio(R/N) and ammonium/nitrate ratio. By using a respirometer, SOUR was measured and then R/N ratio was induced. Ammonium/nitrate ratio was examined by a colorimetry. SOUR of three weeks aged composts with EM and without EM were 11.0 and 14.5(mgO2/gDS/day), respectively. And their R/N ratios were 1.3 and 5.2, respectively. In addition, there was no odor in the compost using EM in the stable phase. It took one-week faster to reach the same degree of SOUR and R/N ratio for the three-week process. Our results show that EM have great effect on enhancing the compost stability and maturity.