A partir de las nuevas políticas de gestión de residuos de la Planta Santa Fe de Celulosa de la Compañía Manufacturera de Papeles y Cartones (CMPC), ubicada en la Octava región de Chile en la ciudad de Nacimiento, y debido al eventual término de la vida útil del área de desechos controlados (ADC) que esta posee, se realizó un estudio con el objeto de producir compost a partir de tres diferentes desechos sólidos que esta genera. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue utilizar estos residuos para evaluar el potencial uso de estos RISes como compost, según la Norma Chilena (NCh) 2880 del año 2005 “Compost-clasificación y requisitos”, la cual clasifica el compost como tipo A o B dependiendo de su calidad; el compost tipo B presenta algunas restricciones en su uso. Particularmente, se estudió el proceso de compostaje, producido a través de la biodegradación aeróbica, de Lodos de la planta de tratamientos de efluentes primarios y secundarios, Corteza de Eucalipto proveniente de la descortezadora y una mezcla de Dregs/Grits (7:3) ambos proveniente de la planta química recuperadora de licor blanco utilizado en el proceso de digestión de la madera. El trabajo realizado consistió en el montaje de tres experimentos con el fin de comparar las características finales de los residuos compostados. En el primer experimento se evaluó la mezcla de los residuos en distintas proporciones, en pequeños volúmenes. En un segundo experimento, debido a la línea de estudio recomendada por la empresa, se realizó el compostaje de los residuos por separado. Finalmente, en un tercer experimento, se realizó una mezcla Lodos/Corteza 1:1 con el objeto de comparar su caracterización final con los resultados obtenidos en el segundo experimento. De acuerdo a la NCh 2880 (2005) los experimentos se monitorearon periódicamente, determinando variación de la temperatura, pH, humedad, densidad aparente, conductividad eléctrica, materia orgánica, carbono orgánico, nitrógeno total, relación C/N, concentración de metales pesados y número de las bacterias presentes. Los resultados demuestran que en los experimentos realizados no se logró tal como se esperaba, un aumento de la temperatura por sobre los 35°C, lo que habría dado cuenta de la participación de microorganismos termófilos, típicos en estos procesos. Además se observó, con las caracterizaciones finales de los residuos, que ninguno de ellos podrían ser clasificados como compost Tipo A. No obstante, los Lodos y la mezcla Lodos/Corteza con una proporción mayor a 2:1 serían los mejores candidatos para producir compost Tipo B, si se lograra disminuir las concentraciones de Níquel y Zinc.

This work is a critique to the stigmatisation of trash as something we should not live close together with. Due to this derogative conceptualisation of waste together with the inherent characteristics of landfills, Mexico City’s government implemented a “far and out” policy locating the final disposal areas distant and out from the city. Then, the proposal is the opposite approach: a local waste management system. So waste that usually ends kilometers away is handled in the community where it was produced in order to lengthen the life cycle of materials. The project is developed in Xochimilco for the challenges regarding the door-to-door collection of waste in this municipality. The local system focuses in the sorting process; being the most inefficient part of the current system as this activity is primarily executed by informal workforce. Besides, the type of waste that the community is able to manage completely locally is organic materials which are the principal element of the system for the regeneration of wetlands.

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Urban development alters the physical and chemical properties of soil which presents challenges for vegetation establishment. Compost, when applied as a soil amendment, can help to ameliorate these challenges. In field trials, we evaluated the effect of surface-applied composts and standard hydroseeding applications on changes in soil properties and turfgrass stand on a highway roadside. The short-term effects of (1) no compost application; (2) 2.5 cm compost surface mulch; (3) 2.5 cm compost application, incorporated; (4) 5.0 cm compost application, incorporated; (5) 0.6 cm compost blanket; and (6) straw mat on turfgrass establishment, quality and changes in soil properties were measured on an urban soil devoid of topsoil. In greenhouse studies, we compared the effect of depth of planting of two variously-sized turfgrass seeds in compost. The soils of the disturbed roadside and the urban soil had increased Mehlich I-extractable soil K, Mg, and P following compost application. Analysis of botanical composition on the highway roadside demonstrated that the percentage of fescue decreased with time, while weed species increased inversely in both treatments. Compost amendments on the urban soil increased turfgrass color over time, whereas turfgrass density was not affected by time. Turfgrass density was greatest in applications of a 5 cm depth compost incorporated 7-10 cm into the soil. No differences were observed in biomass harvested among treatments. Tall fescue seeds had greater germination and establishment than smaller sized bermudagrass seeds when sown below the surface of compost, regardless of depth. Composts help to regenerate topsoil-like functionality in disturbed soils by promoting vegetation establishment, including weeds, on highway roadsides and improving turf quality on urban soils. / Master of Science

The accumulation of P in soil from land-applied biosolids and manure increases the risk for P enrichment of agricultural runoff. Transport of these residuals to areas where P may be efficiently utilized is necessary to reduce the threat to water quality. Composting can improve biosolids and manure handling characteristics to make their transportation more feasible; however, little is known about P dynamics in compost-amended soil. We investigated the factors controlling P solubility and plant availability in two soils, a Kempsville fine sandy loam (Typic Hapludult) and a Fauquier silty clay loam (Ultic Hapludalf), amended with one of 4 composts (2 biosolids composts and 2 poultry litter - yard waste composts), poultry litter, or inorganic P (as KH2PO4) in incubation and greenhouse pot studies. We also compared the effects of compost, poultry litter and commercial fertilizer on surface P runoff from a Fauquier silty clay loam that had received compost, poultry litter, or commercial fertilizer for 5 years. Organic amendments with higher concentrations of Fe, Al, and Ca had lower relative P solubility/availability. Phosphorus solubility in the Kempsville fine sandy loam, having far lower native P binding capacity, was more affected by Fe, Al, and Ca applied with the organic amendments. The concentration of P in runoff from the compost treatments was higher; however, infiltration was increased and runoff decreased so the mass loss of P and sediment was lower. Improved soil physical properties associated with compost applications aid to limit P runoff. / Master of Science

Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is adapted to soils with high organic matter and acidic pH. Composts provide organic matter and nutrients for growing blueberry in mineral soils, but many composts are high in pH and soluble salts. Acidification with elemental sulfur (S°) can remedy high pH, but the process further increases compost salinity. The objectives of this study were to: i) determine the effects of diverse composts on blueberry growth and nutrient uptake, ii) determine whether S° acidification can ameliorate the negative effects of high compost pH, and iii) develop and validate a simple titration method to determine pH buffering capacity of compost. In our first study, ten composts were evaluated under greenhouse conditions with one-year-old blueberry. Each compost was either acidified or not with S° and then mixed 30% by volume with silt loam soil before planting. Controls were sawdust incorporation or soil only. Plants were managed with a low rate of fertilization to emphasize compost effects on nutrient supply. Compost inorganic nitrogen (N) ranged from 0.1 to 4.1 g∙kg⁻¹, and NO₃-N to NH₄-N ratios were greater than 20:1. Aboveground plant growth and nutrient uptake, including N, phosphorous (P), potassium (K), and boron (B) were higher in soil with compost than in soil with sawdust or soil only. Composts with pH < 7.5 produced more shoot growth than those with higher pH, and composts with EC > 2 dS∙m⁻¹ produced less root growth than those with lower EC. Adding S° reduced compost pH by an average of 1.9 units, and acidification increased shoot and root growth in the composts as well as uptake of many nutrients. Plant growth and N uptake were not correlated with compost N supply. Composts with greater amounts of plant-based feedstocks produced more total shoot growth than manure-based composts. In our second study, 3.7 L blueberry transplants were grown outdoors for 119 d in pots containing compost and soil. Manure feedstocks included separated dairy solids or horse stall cleanings. Plant feedstocks included urban yard trimmings, leaves from street sweeping, conifer bark conditioned with municipal biosolids, or peppermint distillation residue. Control treatments were sawdust amendment or soil only. Plant-based compost treatments had less effect on soil pH and produced 20% greater plant growth than manure-based compost treatments. Plant growth was not different with plant-based composts vs. the sawdust amendment control. Elemental S addition at potting did not acidify soil enough to overcome the increase in pH resulting from compost addition. In our third study, we titrated eight composts with dilute H₂SO₄ to predict response to S° acidification. Our objective was to develop and validate a simple method to determine the pH buffering capacity of compost. Compost pH decreased linearly with laboratory acid addition. Compost pH buffering capacity (linear slope of titration curve) was 0.16 to 0.39 mol H⁺ per kg dry compost per pH unit. To determine correlation between titration and S° acidification, composts samples were incubated with S° at 22° C for 70 d. The majority of the decrease in pH from S° addition occurred within 28 d. Compost pH at 28 d was closely predicted by the laboratory titration. Because of the linearity of compost response to acid addition, a 2-point titration method (one rate of acid addition) is an effective alternative to the 7-point method we used. We conclude that compost pH is the primary limiting factor affecting blueberry response to compost. Compost incorporation provided benefit to blueberry, especially under low N management, and generally increased plant growth and nutrient uptake when compared with plants grown in mineral soil only. Composts made from plant-based feedstocks, rather than manure-based feedstocks, tend to have characteristics which favor blueberry growth, including low buffering capacity, pH, and soluble salts. Feedstocks which showed promise include deciduous leaves, yard debris, bark, and horse bedding with low manure content. Acidification of composts with S° increased plant growth and nutrient uptake, and is a promising technology for eliminating the negative effects of high compost pH. Our method of laboratory titration with dilute acid addition was effective in determining pH buffering capacity of compost, and predicted the compost acidification by S° and the effect of compost on soil pH. / Graduation date: 2012

Basés sur la bio-oxidation de la matière organique, le compostage et le vermicompostage émettent des quantités non négligeables de CO2. Ainsi, ce travail s’intéresse (1) à la stabilisation potentielle du carbone de la matière organique compostable due à l’ajout de minéraux, avec et sans vers, et (2) l’influence des minéraux sur la maturité et la qualité du compost final. La première expérience consista en une incubation de matière organique, permettant d’obtenir différents composts et vermicomposts, avec et sans minéraux, de suivre les émissions de carbone et d’analyser les produits obtenus. Une deuxième incubation a été menée pour étudier l’effet de ces produits en tant qu’amendement sur un sol. Enfin, le suivi de la croissance de A.Thaliana en présence de co-composts et co-vermicomposts en tant que fertilisant fut réalisé. La présence de minéraux lors du compostage induit une baisse des émissions de carbone, probablement due à la formation d’associations organo-minérales ou bien par un changement des communautés microbiennes. De plus, les co-composts, en tant qu’amendement semblent augmenter les stocks de carbone du sol, comparé à un compost classique. Enfin, bien que l’aspect fertilisant des co-composts obtenus soit optimum, ils n’ont pas amélioré la croissance d’A.Thaliana. La présence de vers lors du co-compostage a augmenté les émissions de carbone mais l’effet positif des minéraux sur la minéralisation était toujours observable. De plus, les vers ont augmenté la biodisponibilité des nutriments et le co-vermicompost a permis d’améliorer les propriétés du sol ainsi que la croissance des végétaux comparé à un (vermi)compost classique et un co-compost. / Due to bio-oxidative mechanisms, composting and vermicomposting produce a large amount of CO2 emissions. Therefore, in this study we aimed to assess (1) the potential stabilization of carbon of fresh organic matter due to mineral presence, with and without worms, and (2) the influence of minerals on maturity and quality of the finished products. The first experiment was based on a laboratory incubation of fresh organic matter, which allowed to obtain composts and vermicomposts, with and without minerals, to monitor carbon emissions and to analyse the final products. A second incubation was carried out to investigate the effect of these products as organic amendment on an arenic cambisol. Finally, the last experiment was carried out to assess the use of co-composts and co-vermicomposts as potting media, by following the growth of. A.Thaliana. The presence of minerals during composting induced a decrease of carbon emission, likely due to the formation of organo-mineral associations or shift of microbial communities. Moreover, the use of co-compost as soil conditioner may allow to increase soil carbon storage, compared to a regular compost. Although the physico-chemical characteristics of the end-products were optimum for its use as potting media, no beneficial aspects on A.Thaliana growth has been observed. In presence of worms during co-composting, the carbon emissions were increased due to worm activities but the positive effect of minerals was still observed. In addition, worms improved the nutrient availability in the end products. Therefore, co-vermicompost tended to improve soil properties and to enhance plant growth compared to a regular (vermi)compost.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-164).