Influence of Compost Recycling and Magnesium Supplement on Physical and Chemical Traits of Animal Manure Compost

A series of experiments were performed to study the influence of the following parameters on the physical traits and composition of swine manure compost: (1) addition of magnesium (Mg) at a molar ratio of 1.2 with respect to $PO_4$, and (2) reutilization of compost containing $MgNH_4PO_4{\cdot}6H_2O$ (magnesium ammonium phosphate, MAP). Three independent batch tests were conducted for replication: batch test I-control (C) and Mg added (T), batch test II-C, T and compost recycle ($T_{R1}$), and batch test III-C, T and compost recycle ($T_{R2}$). Magnesium addition and compost reutilization had no adverse effect on the degradation of organic matter. Reuse of the compost, however, had a clear effect on the total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) contents in the final compost. Repeated compost reutilization as a bulking material was resulted in composts rich in N and P. Upon adding the Mg supplement to the composting materials, the ortho-phosphate (OP) to TP ratio decreased due to the MAP crystallization reaction. The decrease in the OP/TP ratio and the increase in the TP content of the compost indicate that water-soluble phosphate is converted into a slow-release phosphate by the formation of crystals during composting. X-ray diffraction analysis of the irregular shaped crystals in the compost indicated that they are MAP crystals and that the crystallization of MAP begins immediately after the addition of the Mg supplement. The Mg addition to composting materials and the reutilization of compost as a bulking material would be a practical means to conserve nutrient content.