• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.959-961
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• 2011

Manure-based composts can have detrimental effects on the agricultural lands and crops if they are applied without proper stabilization process. Composting is well-known method for the stabilization of manure-based composts and the extent of composting could be examined by maturity test. Among various methods to examine compost maturity, the performances of two mechanical methods (Solvita and CoMMe-100) were examined and the test results were compared with seed germination test. The mechanical methods are considered to be simple and relatively objective. Also they are cost- and time-efficient. Ten commercially available composts collected in Korea were used for this study. Basically, the maturity determined with these mechanical methods was in good agreement with the seed germination test. However, it appeared that the index levels of compost maturity indicated more maturity by CoMMe-100 than Solvita for the same compost. The differences between maturity index levels determined by both methods were able to be minimized through extending the reaction time for CoMMe-100 and adjusting index level for maturity determination in the standard color chart.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.237-243
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• 2016

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) has generally been used for the manufacture of animal feed and production of bio fuel. Limited research has been conducted in the utilization of SMS as a co-material for composting. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of composting vegetable waste mixed with various ratios of SMS (30, 40, and 50%). The results showed that the C/N ratio decreased when both sawdust (from 22.0~28.8 to 17.7~20.4) and SMS (from 18.5~19.5 to 12.7~16.8) were applied for composing, owing to increased contents of nitrogen. A maturity test conducted using mechanical (Solvita) and germination tests revealed that both sawdust (92.0~101.9%) and SMS (87.8~89.2%) satisfied a criteria of maturity standard (70%). A correlation analysis between compost maturity and its chemical properties revealed that the C/N ratio and pH were the most dominant parameters for compost maturity. Overall, SMS could be utilized as a compost material and especially, vegetable waste mixed with SMS could provide sufficient nutrients for crop growth.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 2014

The aim of this paper was to study the effect of five different waste combinations (C/N 15, C/N 20, C/N 25, C/N 30, and control) of sewage sludge coupled with sawdust and cattle manure in a pilot scale rotary drum reactor, during 20 days of the composting process. Our results showed that C/N 30 possesses a higher temperature regime with higher % reduction in moisture content, total organic carbon, soluble biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand; and higher % gain in total nitrogen and phosphorus at the end of the composting period implying the total amount of biodegradable organic material is stabilized. In addition, $CO_2$ evolution and oxygen uptake rate decreased during the process, reflecting the stable behavior of the final compost. A Solvita maturity index of 8 indicated that the compost was stable and ready for usage as a soil conditioner. The results indicated that composting can be an alternate technology for the management of sewage sludge disposal.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.760-767
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• 2016

Food waste (FW) has been recognized as a critical problem in Korea and many research was conducted to efficiently utilize or treat FW. Main purpose of this research was to evaluate a feasibility for producing fermented organic fertilizer with vegetable waste (VW). Three different organic materials (saw dust, coco peat, and waste mushroom media) were mixed with VW at the rate of 30, 40, 50% respectively. Total days of composting experiment were 35 days and each sub samples were collected at every 5 days from starting of composting. Result showed that inner temperature of composting was increased to $60{\pm}4^{\circ}C$ within 5~10 days depending on varied organic materials and mixing ratio. Among different treatment, the highest increase of inner temperature was observed when 30% of saw dust was mixed with VW. After finishing composting experiment, maturity of each compost was evaluated with solvita and germination test. Maturity index (MI) of each treatment was ranged between 5~7 indicating that manufactured fertilizer was curing or finished stage. Calculated germination index (GI) was at the range of 57.83~101.16 depending on organic materials and mixing ratio. Both MI and GI showed that manufactured fertilizer was met for fertilizer criteria while control (VW only) was not adequate for composting. Overall, VW can be utilized for making organic fertilizer mixing with saw dust, coco peat and more research should be conducted to make high quality of organic fertilizer with vegetable waste.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.897-905
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• 2019

To compare the composting characteristics of food waste supplemented with various bulking agents, aerated composting was performed by mixing sawdust, ginkgo leaves, insect feces, and mushroom waste at ratios of 6 : 4 (w/w). The initial temperatures (day after treatment [DAT] 3) of the sawdust, ginkgo leaves, insect feces and the mushroom waste mixtures were 39, 58, 65, and 51℃, respectively. The DAT 3 temperature was the highest in the food waste-insect feces mixture (65℃) and the lowest in the sawdust one (39℃). However, the insect feces treatment was terminated at DAT 21 because of a high water content (70.92%). The water content (DAT 56) of the composted food waste supplemented with sawdust, mushroom waste, and ginkgo leaves stood at 51.28, 39.81, and 44.92%, respectively. Therefore, the fully mature composts satisfied the water content requirement of less than 55% as recommended in the fertilizer standards of the RDA of Korea. The results of the CoMMe-101, Solvita and seed germination index methods indicate that the mushroom waste and ginkgo leaves treatments matured relatively quicker than that of the sawdust one. Based on the above observations, it is concluded that the mushroom waste and ginkgo leaves are more effective bulking agents compared to sawdust and as such, are recommended as suitable replacements for sawdust in food waste composting.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.623-633
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• 2017

Food waste has been recognized as a organic sources for composting and many research was conducted to efficiently utilize or treat. This study was to evaluate a feasibility for producing food waste compost under co-composting with mixture of food and animal waste. The mixing ratio of food and animal waste was 35% as main material, which additionally mixed 30% of sawdust for co-composting. Total days of composting experiment were 84 days and each sub samples were collected at every 7 days from starting of composting. Results showed that inner temperature in composting was rapidly increased to $70{\pm}4^{\circ}C$ within 3~5 days depending on mixing animal waste of cattle, pig, and chicken base compared to sole food waste base. Expecially, the CN ratio in the mixture of food and pig water was the highest (16.2) among compost. After finishing composting experiment, maturity was evaluated with solvita and germination test. Maturity index (MI) of the mixture of food and animal waste was ranged between 6~7, but was 3 in sole food waste. Calculated germination index (GI) was at the range of about 100 irrespectively of mixing of food and animal waste. However, NaCl content and heavy metal as Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn contents was increased in the mixture of food and animal waste. which was the highest in compost mixed the food and pig waste. Both MI and GI showed that manufactured fertilizer was suitable for fertilizer criteria while sole food waste was not adequate for composting due to composting periods. Overall, mixing the food and animal waste can be utilized for improving compost maturity, but more research should be conducted to make high quality of food waste compost with animal waste in agricultural fields.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.588-597
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• 2017

Food waste has been recognized as a critical problem in Korea and many research was conducted to efficiently reutilize or treat food waste. Main purpose of this research was to evaluate a feasibility for producing fermented organic fertilizer with mixture of earthworm cast (EC). Four different treatments were mixed with food waste and EC at the rate of 0, 10, 20, and 30%, respectively. Total days of composting experiment were 84 days and each sub samples were collected at every 7 days from starting of composting. Results showed that inner temperature in composting was increased to $70{\pm}4^{\circ}C$ within 5~10 days depending on mixing ratio of EC. Among different treatment, the highest increase of inner temperature was observed in treatment mixed with food waste and EC 30%. After finishing composting experiment, maturity was evaluated with solvita and germination test. Maturity index (MI) of each treatment was ranged between 5~7 indicating that manufactured fertilizer was curing or finished stage. Calculated germination index (GI) was at the range of 104~116 depending on mixing ratio of EC. Both MI and GI showed that manufactured fertilizer was suitable for fertilizer criteria while control (FW only) was not adequate for composting. Overall, earthworm cast can be utilized for improving compost maturity by mixing with food waste and more research should be conducted to make high quality of food waste compost with earthworm cast in agricultural fields.