Carbon mineralization and distribution of nutrients within different particle-size fractions of commercially produced olive mill pomace

TY - JOUR

T1 - Carbon mineralization and distribution of nutrients within different particle-size fractions of commercially produced olive mill pomace

AU - Gomez Muñoz, Beatriz

AU - Bol, Roland

AU - Hatch, David

AU - García-Ruiz, Roberto

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Composting is a realistic option for disposal of olive mill pomace (OMP) by making it suitable as a soil amendment for organic farming. The chemical and physical characteristics and contribution of particle-size fractions to total nutrients and carbon mineralization of seven commercial composts of OMP (COMP) were investigated. Higher proportions of manure, co-composted with OMP, reduced the organic matter (OM), total carbon and C:N ratio of the product, but increased the content of nutrients and fine particles. The fine particles had higher nutrient contents, but less OM and carbon and, unlike larger particles, did not exhibit any phytotoxicity. Less than 1.5% of added carbon was mineralized in whole compost, but a lower rate was found with larger particles. Separation of COMP by particle size fractionation and application as a soil conditioner is recommended for better optimization of COMP with the <1. mm fraction providing the higher quality compost.

AB - Composting is a realistic option for disposal of olive mill pomace (OMP) by making it suitable as a soil amendment for organic farming. The chemical and physical characteristics and contribution of particle-size fractions to total nutrients and carbon mineralization of seven commercial composts of OMP (COMP) were investigated. Higher proportions of manure, co-composted with OMP, reduced the organic matter (OM), total carbon and C:N ratio of the product, but increased the content of nutrients and fine particles. The fine particles had higher nutrient contents, but less OM and carbon and, unlike larger particles, did not exhibit any phytotoxicity. Less than 1.5% of added carbon was mineralized in whole compost, but a lower rate was found with larger particles. Separation of COMP by particle size fractionation and application as a soil conditioner is recommended for better optimization of COMP with the <1. mm fraction providing the higher quality compost.

KW - By-products

KW - C mineralization

KW - Composted olive mill pomace

KW - Particle-size fraction

U2 - 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.08.009

DO - 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.08.009

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21890354

AN - SCOPUS:80053101682

SN - 0960-8524

VL - 102

SP - 9997

EP - 10005

JO - Bioresource Technology

JF - Bioresource Technology

IS - 21

ER -