EVALUATION OF SWINE WASTE COMPOSTING IN VERTICAL REACTORS

This study examined the composting of swine wastes in a modified stati c pile system. Variations in the heights of the reactors and differenc es in the initial moisture contents of the compost mix were the variab les under consideration. The effectiveness of the process was assessed on the basis of the physical parameters of temperature, moisture cont ent, particle size distribution, shrinkage and compaction. The reactor with a compost pile height of 1.0 m had the best results with both in itial moisture contents. However, the results for all the reactors imp roved when the initial moisture content was lower. This suggests that although the reactor with a pile height of 2.3 m gave the least favour able results, control of aeration and initial moisture levels could ma ke this height of composting pile effective.