Humic Substances as Parameters for Assessment of the Quality of Compost and Optimization of Compost Plants
Abstract
Humic substances are generated in the course of the composting process. They represent a stable fraction of the metabolized organic matter and are consequently a sink of carbon and nitrogen. The use of compost in the cultivation of land in order to boost the humus accumulation has a lasting effect (the carbon accumulated in the soil is not released as carbon dioxide and thus the greenhouse effect can be reduced). Additionally, the positive properties of humic substances – as there are regulation of water and heat balance in soils, aggregate stabilization, pollutant adsorption, phytosanitary effects – contribute to the conservation of important soil functions and plant health. Humic substances and formation of humic substances have been already discussed in Europe (Suisse, European Union) as quality criteria for composts and composting processes. Regulations referring to ideal values are being considered. The objective of this project is to boost the generation of humic substances in the composting process and to detect those parameters which are able to specify the stable fraction of extractable and combined humic substances. The prerequisites are on the one hand the knowledge of environmental conditions that are able to accelerate the formation of humic substances and otherwise the development of significant analytical methods that can be applied easily in practice. Within the frame of this project those factors boosting the generation of humic substances are to be analysed by laboratory tests as well as at composting plants.
Publications
Humus - A Quality Criterion for Composts. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) - A New Evaluation Tool and ist Application in Practice
Autoren: Lechner P. (Hrsg.), Meissl K., Smidt E., Tintner J., Binner E. Jahr: 2007
Editorial
external links and characteristics of the publication:Stand der Untersuchungen im FFG-Projekt "Huminstoffe als Qualitätsparameter für Komposte und zur verfahrenstechnischen Optimierung von Kompostanlagen"
Autoren: Smidt E. Jahr: 2007
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
external links and characteristics of the publication:
Project staff
Erwin Binner
Dipl.-Ing. Erwin Binner
erwin.binner@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81315
Sub Projectleader
15.10.2004 - 15.01.2006