Zugl.: Giessen, Univ., Diss., 2005

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Justus-Liebig Universität, Giessen. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 239-245).

Ce travail de thèse s’inscrit dans la problématique générale du projet ECODEFI - ECOconception et Développement de méthodologies de Fabrication Innovante de machines d’épandage financé par l’Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) dans le cadre du PRogramme ECOtechnologies et Développement Durable (PRECODD). Le projet ECODEFI porte sur l’écoconception et l’éco-innovation appliquées aux technologies de l’épandage, pour répondre à deux enjeux majeurs : (i) le recyclage des effluents organiques issus de l’industrie et de l’épuration des eaux et (ii) réduire à la source les risques de pollution des agro-écosystèmes. Face au besoin de prise en compte de l’environnement dans le développement des machines d’épandage, nous avons proposé une démarche d’éco-innovation qui permet d’aboutir à des véritables percées technologiques. Cette approche présente une synergie entre l’Analyse du Cycle de Vie (ACV), la matrice de non-qualité, la Théorie de Résolution des Problèmes Inventifs (TRIZ), l’analyse morphologique et le Processus d’Analyse Hiérarchique (Analytical Hierarchy Process – AHP). Dans l’enchaînement de ces outils, l’ACV évalue les impacts environnementaux générés par le système. Puis, pour une meilleure prise en considération des aspects écologiques, nous avons développé un nouvel outil, la matrice de non-qualité, qui définit, à partir des résultats de l’ACV, le problème à résoudre en priorité du point de vue environnemental. La méthode TRIZ permet la génération de nouveaux concepts et la résolution des contradictions. Ensuite, l’analyse morphologique offre la possibilité d’étendre l’espace de recherche des solutions d’un problème de conception de manière systématique. Enfin l’AHP identifie la ou les solution(s) prometteuse(s) en fournissant une logique claire pour les choix réalisés. Dans notre étude, nous nous sommes principalement intéressés aux problèmes rencontrés sur la machine PROLOG lors de la phase d’épandage des produits compostés. En effet, l'épandage du compost se développe fortement et l'entreprise SIRTEC souhaite pouvoir réaliser cette tâche avec leurs machines conçues initialement pour des matériaux granulaires. L’approche a été appliquée pour résoudre le problème d’extraction de ces produits suite à la formation de voûtes à l’intérieur de la trémie de l’épandeur. / This thesis is part of the ECODEFI project (ECOconception et DEveloppement de méthodologies de Fabrication Innovante de machines d’épandage – Ecodesign and development of innovative production methods of spreading machines) funded by the French National Research Agency within the framework of Eco-technologies and sustainable development programme (PRECODD) The ECODEFI project focuses on ecodesign and eco-innovation applied to spreading technologies, to address two major issues : (i) recycling of organic waste from industry and sewage and (ii) reducing the source of pollution risk of agro-ecosystems. Facing the need to take into account the environment in developing spreading machines, we proposed an eco-innovation design approach that can lead to real breakthroughs. This approach provides a synergy between the LCA, the non-quality matrix, TRIZ method, the morphological analysis and the AHP. In the sequence of these tools, LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) assesses the environmental impacts generated by the system. Then, for a better consideration of environmental aspects, we developed a new tool, the non-quality matrix, which defines the problem requiring solving first from an environmental point of view, from the LCA results. The TRIZ method allows the generation of new concepts and contradiction resolution. Then, the morphological analysis offers the possibility of extending the search space of solutions of a design problem in a systematic way. Finally, the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) identifies the promising solution(s) by providing a clear logic for the choice made. In our study, we are mainly interested in problems on the PROLOG machine during the phase of composted products application. Indeed, compost application is strongly growing and the SIRTEC Company hopes to accomplish this task with their machines which were initially designed for granular materials. The approach has been applied to solve the problem of extraction of these products due to the formation of arches inside the spreader hopper.

Thesis (M. Sc. Agriculture (Soil Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / The activity and functional diversity of micro-organisms contribute to the stability and productivity of agro-ecosystems. Soil micro-organisms and enzyme activities have been suggested as potential indicators of soil quality. Hence, management practices that can enhance microbial diversity and enzyme activities are essential for improving soil health and soil fertility status. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of compost maturity age on the change in bio-quality indicators of compost and compost amended soil. Cattle manure-rich compost was prepared through thermophilic windrow composting using cattle manure and wood chips mixed at a proportion of 4:1 (w/w) to achieve a C:N ratio of 30:1. This compost was sampled at regular intervals of 30 days after the initiation of the composting process until 150 days when it was finally cured. Compost samples of varying degrees of maturity age were air-dried, pulverised and mixed with 1.2 kg surface soil at an equivalent rate of 100 kg P ha-1. Each compost amended soil was transferred into well labelled plastic pots for incubation. Sampling of incubated amended soils was performed at 7 days interval until 42 days; and the samples were used for microbial count, enzyme activity, and mineralisation assessments. Data generated were analysed as factorial experiment using SYSTAT package. Treatment and interaction effects were evaluated using Fisher protected least significant difference at probability level of 5%. Results of the chemical composition of the different composts are similar and comparable. Variation in compost maturity date, incubation time and their interaction exerted significant effects on the measured microbial counts and enzyme activities as bio-quality indicators. The content of bacteriameasured was consistently highest at each sampling date followed by the actinomycetes while fungi population count remained persistently lowest. Bacteria and β-glucosidase represent the dominant microbe and enzyme, respectively in all compost samples taken at different maturity age.The highest count of actinomycetes (6.18 CFU g-1), bacterial (6.73 CFU g-1) and fungi (3.06 CFU g-1) were obtained during the 42-day incubation period.Of all the enzyme activities studied, β-glucosidase content was consistently highest in all compost samples across the sampling dates. Similarly, the highest concentration of ß-glucosidase (3076 mg kg-1 hr-1), phosphatase (1480 mg kg-1 hr-1), dehydrogenase iv (120.07 μg INF g-1 2hr-1) and urease (26.15 mg kg-1 2hr-1) were obtained during the 42-day incubation period. The highest microbial counts and enzyme activities were reached beyond 19 days after incubation. Maximum Bray P1 (20.10 mg kg-1), ammonium N (108 mg kg-1) and nitrate N (189 mg kg-1) were obtained at 42, 14 and 42 days after incubation, respectively. The measured temporal change in the concentrations of bio-quality parameters in the compost-amended soils were highest in compost sampled at 90 days, except for phosphatase, indicating the peak of the thermophilic process. The bio-quality parameters of these composts and the compost amended soil were influenced by compost maturity and incubation time. The uses of mature compost with desirable level of bio-quality indicators are crucial for fertility management and improved soil health. Keywords: Compost maturity, enzyme activities, microbial count, nutrient release, soil fertility

Thesis (M.Sc. (Horticulture)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most popular and widely consumed vegetable crops all over the world. They play a vital role in human diet and good sources of vitamins and minerals. However, low soil fertility is a major challenge to vegetable crops production for growers in Africa. Soils in the arid and semi-arid regions like South Africa have little nutrient and mineral contents, which adversely affect plant growth and quality. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to determine the effects of sole and combined applications of Effective Microorganisms enriched compost, broiler manure and inorganic (NPK) fertiliser applications, on growth and yield of three tomato varieties and to assess the influence of the applied fertiliser on nutritional composition of three tomato varieties. Field experiments were conducted at Horticultural skill centre, University of Limpopo (Mankweng), and at Mphebatho farm, Apel, Limpopo province, South Africa. The experiment was laid out in a 7 x 3 split-plot design. Recommended amount of organic and inorganic fertilisers was used. The treatments were: control (without fertiliser application), NPK (2:3:4(30) at a rate of 200 N ha-1, 260 P ha-1 and 257 K ha-1, applied as N from Urea, P from superphosphate and K from potassium chloride (KCl), mineralised broiler manure (10 000 kg ha-1), ½ NPK + ½ broiler manure rates, EM enriched compost (14 m3 ha-1), ½ EM compost + ½ NPK rates, and ½ EM compost + ½ broiler manure rates. Three tomato varieties (Floradade, Roma and Moneymaker) seedlings were transplanted using standard spacing of 30 x 60 cm. Chlorophyll contents of leaves, biomass production, plant height, fruit number, stem diameter and branch number were determined after six weeks of transplanting and fortnightly thereafter. The interactions between tomato varieties and fertiliser materials with regard to plant height were not significant (P ≤ 0.05) at both sites (Apel and Mankweng). Average plant height (63.75 cm) obtained in Moneymaker grown in EM compost treatment was significantly highest at Apel, for Floradade (42.25 cm) in broiler manure treatment while that of Roma variety (39.63 cm) was found in ½ EM compost + ½ NPK treatment at 8 WAT. Similar trend was also recorded at 10 WAT. For Mankweng the significantly (P ≤ 0.05) highest average plant height at 8 WAT (66.63 cm) was obtained in Moneymaker grown in ½ broiler manure + ½ NPK treatment for Floradade (45.63 cm) obtained in broiler manure treatment, and 44.50 cm recorded for Roma in broiler manure treatment. Similar trend was also followed at 10 WAT. At vi Apel, significantly highest average number of tomato fruits at 8, 10 and 12 WAT were recorded in treatment with ½ EM + ½ NPK while the least values were found in control. Whereas at Mankweng the variation in number of tomato fruits under different fertiliser treatments were not significant. Similar, non-significant interactions (V x F) for tomato shoot nutritional composition were found in tomato grown at both sites (Apel and Mankweng) in relation to fertiliser treatments. At Apel however, comparing the fertiliser treatments, tomato grown in soil treated with ½ broiler manure + ½ NPK had the significantly highest average (3.01 %) K content while the least value (2.65 %) was obtained in the control. Similarly, significantly highest mean (44.33 mg kg-1) Zn was found in crops grown in the same treatment, but the lowest significant value (36.50 mg kg-1) was obtained in ½ EM + ½ NPK treatment. For Mn and Fe contents in tomato significantly highest mean values (150.17 mg kg-1 and 2381 mg kg-1) for Mn and Fe respectively were found in sole broiler manure treatment while the least values 114.83 mg kg-1 and 1357.6 mg kg-1 for Mn and Fe respectively were found in ½ EM + ½ NPK and sole NPK treatments respectively. It may be concluded that in tomato production, combined application of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients can be more beneficial and can be adopted by smallholder farmers with limited resources. / DAFF Zero hunger

Building on the development of a research agenda, the research used best practices in the UK and other developed countries to design the aims and objectives from which the methods were developed. Based on the research agenda, trends in household behaviour in Cameroon were examined in order to identify, and generate baseline information to provide a sound evidence base essential for robust policy development in education, capacity building in composting involving the third sector organizations in Cameroon. To determine attitudes, Q methodology was used. Factor analysis produced nine and eight factors representing distinct behavioural patterns of public concerns, opinions and beliefs in household waste management in Douala and Limbe. Interpreting these factors revealed 12 attitudes to household waste management practices and this will be used to design strategies. A waste composition analysis found the organic fraction >60% with the lowest per capita waste generation (0.86 kg) in the high income residential area (HIRA) and the highest (1.38 kg) in the low income residential area (LIRA) of Douala in the wet season. In the dry season, the medium income residential area (MIRA) had the highest (1.11 kg) with the lowest (0.71 kg) in the HIRA. For both seasons in Limbe, HIRA had the highest while the LIRA had the lowest. Pearson correlation and regression was used to show the relationship between waste generation and household size. The research determined barriers and success factors for composting as part of a strategy. Barriers included household hazardous waste (HHW) and odour at composting sites because more than 50% of the composted waste was food waste with high humidity especially in the wet season. This affected public acceptance to composting. A success factor is that the market for compost is increasing and is expected to increase to 30% by 2013. Added to this, more than 50% of the participating households showed positive intentions and willingness to composting. Hence, composting is expected to be a major economic activity for Cameroonians and become a national practice

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) endorsed the Reference Method for the Canada-Wide Standard (CWS) for Petroleum Hydrocarbons (PHC) in Soil – Tier 1 Method in 2001. The purpose of the CWS is to provide laboratories with analytical methods for producing accurate and reproducible PHC soil chemistry analysis results. CWS PHC concentrations are reported according to the following carbon ranges/fractions: F1 (C6-C10), F2 (C10-C16), F3 (C16-C34) and F4 (>C34). The Canada-wide Standards for Petroleum Hydrocarbons (PHC) in Soil provide generic soil quality guidelines for the each of the four PHC fractions. The CWS PHC extraction solvents inadvertently co-extract natural biogenic organic compounds (BOC) from organic soils. BOCs, such as waxes and fatty acids, are produced by living organisms such as plants, animals and microbes. PHC analysis of highly organic clean soils and manure compost can cause false exceedences of the F3 soil quality guidelines. This thesis presents a new mathematical Tier 2 approach to resolving biogenic interferences through the use of biogenic versus petrogenic Gas Chromatography - Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) chromatogram patterns produced by the CWS PHC Tier 1 method. This approach is based on the results of four studies: i) 300-day crude oil contaminated peat and sand microcosm experiment; ii) 300-day diesel drilling waste contaminated manure compost and sand microcosm experiment; iii) PHC analysis of 14 light to heavy crude oils and iv) Canadian background PHC soil field survey. These studies determined that the clean soils and compost had F3 ranges that were dominated by the F3b sub-fraction range (C22-C34). In contrast, the F3a (C16-C22) and F3b sub-fraction ranges were evenly distributed in the 14 fresh light to heavy crude oils. The diesel drilling waste was strongly dominated by the F3a sub-fraction range. The second important trend was that F2 concentrations were either non-detectable or slightly detectable in all of the clean soils and compost samples. In contrast, F2 concentrations were strongly prevalent in all of the crude oils and in the diesel drilling waste. F2 and F3b concentrations were applied to the F2:F3b ratio, which identified PHC absence in the clean materials (<0.10 ratio) and PHC presence (>0.10 ratio) in the contaminated materials. The %F3a:%F3b distributions were applied to the BOC-adjusted PHC F3 calculation, which estimated true PHC F3 concentrations in the clean and contaminated soils and manure compost. The combination of these two approaches provided an accurate and efficient solution to resolving false detections of crude oil and diesel PHCs and false exceedences of F3 soil toxicity guidelines by in clean soils and compost.

Bovine hair, resulting from the unhairing of hides and skins, forms a major component of tannery solid wastes that is often disposed to landfill. However, following increasing environmental legislation restricting the disposal of commercial and industrial organic wastes to landfill, alternative treatment of tannery solid hair waste is necessary. The overall aim of this research was to develop conditions favourable for the decomposition of bovine hair waste in a composting environment. In this study, chemical pretreatments of bovine hair were carried out to enhance susceptibility to enzymatic digestion. Pretreatment using a combination of potassium thioglycolate and sodium hydroxide enhanced enzymatic digestibility of hair. Comparative solubilisation of black, brown and white hair samples with sodium sulfide showed that, the percentage soluble nitrogen, from white hair was 73% (w/w) as compared to 28% (w/w) and 24% (w/w) of black and brown hair, respectively; indicating that white hair was more vulnerable to solubilisation. Although chemical pretreatment was effective, it was considered non-compatible with the composting process. Consequently, enzymatic and microbial degradation were considered suitable alternatives. The results of the preliminary biochemical studies indicated that, the breakdown of the hair structure was enhanced when treated with a combined protease solution containing proteinase K and trypsin enzymes as compared with individual enzymes. Enzymatic and microbial degradation of hair was observed to be preferential, starting with the least resistant components, in this sequence: (1) cell membrane, (2) endocuticle, (3) medulla, and (4) cytoplasmic material and fibrillar components of the cortex. The cuticle was most resistant to degradation. Synergistic action of microbial-expressed enzymes was observed to be the fundamental mechanism for the enhanced hair degradation. Composting of bovine hair, mixed with dry leaves, soil, and wood chips/sawdust was performed in a rotary drum under controlled conditions. Optimum conditions, in order to sustain thermophilic microbial flora, were found to be (1) a moisture content of 55-+2% RH, (2) pH 7-8, (3) temperature of 49-+ C, and (4) a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 35:1. Structural changes in hair, assessed during composting using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), indicated that degradation occurred under these conditions. Microscopy results further indicated that the addition of an inoculant, containing a microbial crude enzyme, expressed by the bacteria of Bacillus species, improved the biodegradation of hair during the controlled composting process. The compost stability evaluated by monitoring the humification parameters and carbon to nitrogen ratio, indicated that the final product reached the following values: degree of humification (73 - 78%), humification ratio (26 - 32%), humification index (0.29 - 0.35), and a carbon to nitrogen ratio (25 - 29). The high level of humification of the end-product indicated reasonable stability, suggesting the product from the composted bovine hair may be suitable, suggesting the product from the composted bovine hair may be suitable for agronomical purposes. The use of composting as alternative technology for the treatment of tannery solid bovine hair waste, as a value added product, has been demonstrated.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Ganga M. Hettiarachchi / Mine waste materials from the Tri-State mining region in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma pose environmental hazards. The area is contaminated with trace elements, such as Pb, Zn and Cd, which are transported to surrounding areas through water, wind erosion, and runoff. Phytostabilization or establishing healthy vegetative cover could be used to reduce or control these contaminated materials from further spreading with wind and water. However, further research is needed to monitor the long-term sustainability and assess if high applications of compost amendments could help to facilitate soil reclamation. The overall focus of this thesis was to monitor long-term effects of compost or lime additions at two different rates, with or without other soil amendments, on soil properties, plants, and soil biota. We used the earthworm avoidance test as a screening tool for testing effects of soil amendments on ecotoxicity. In the first field study, pelletized manure compost additions of 448 Mg ha⁻¹ significantly decreased the bioavailable Pb, Zn, and Cd while increasing plant nutrients, vegetative cover, and plant biomass as compared to the contaminated control and the low addition of compost (224 Mg ha⁻¹) over 2.5 years. Plant tissue metal concentrations with compost addition did not show any phytotoxicity in this study. Lime additions did not show any significant effect on any of the measurements. Results from the first study suggest that one time addition of large quantities of compost at 224 to 448 Mg ha⁻¹ can support establishing and maintaining healthy vegetative cover at least for a 2.5 year period. In the second field study, long-term monitoring of the effectiveness of the amendments was studied. Compost was applied at two different rates (45 or 269 Mg ha⁻¹) in 2006. Various chemical properties, microbial activities, and vegetative growth or plant biomass were measured approximately for 4.5 years to evaluate long-term changes in soil quality and sustainability of phytostabilization efforts, when combined or assisted with soil amendments to improve the quality of trace element-contaminated mine waste materials. Plants grown with compost additions of 269 Mg ha⁻¹ showed higher nutrients, biomass, and enzyme activities as compared to plants grown on the contaminated control and with the low addition of compost (45 Mg ha⁻¹) over 4.5 years. Decrease in plant biomass and enzyme activities seen in the high compost treatments by the end of the study period suggested that long-term sustainability of these efforts may require repeated addition of soil amendments every 4 to 5 years. Additionally, a laboratory study was conducted to assess the long-term effects of treatments used in the second field study on ecotoxicity using the avoidance behavior responses of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. There was no mortality of earthworms after a 48 h exposure period of any of these treated and untreated mine waste materials. Avoidance was clear for the contaminated control and the low compost treatment (45 Mg ha⁻¹). Moreover, the contaminated control did show habitat limitation (< 20% of earthworms was found in test soil). Current research studies provide evidence that, high rates of compost applications can be used to stabilize and reduce the bioavailability of trace elements in mine waste materials.