Abstract

Composting of animal manure had been considered a sustainable alternative method for recycling organic waste. However the process involved had been associated with greenhouse gas emission (CO₂, N₂O and CH₄) which play an active role in global warming. This study evaluated CO₂ emissions from biochar-manure co-compost production. Biochar (from rice husk) and manure were mixed in a ratio of 3:1 v/v to achieve a range of different co-compost mixtures. The treatments and controls in triplicates of 18 units were arranged in a complete randomize design. All treatments were incubated at around 28 ^oC and turned every two days for 2 weeks, and later five days for 39 days. CO₂ production in the compost bins was measured by trapping the evolved gas in 5M NaOH. Total CO₂ emissions varied over time with higher rates at the beginning of the composting process. Within the first 7 days, total CO₂ emissions (587 mg/m²) from cow dung alone was not significantly different from cow dung plus biochar (506 mg/m²). At the latter stages of the composting process, CO₂ emission from cowdung and biochar mixture was less than from the other treatments.

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