JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2023, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (6): 133-140.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202202011

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Changes of chemical properties during composting of different garden wastes and their effects on germination index

HU Yongheng1(), ZHANG Cheng1, WAN Huaqin1, ZHU Yongli1,2,*(), LI Pingping1,2,*()   

  1. 1. College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037,China
    2. Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing 210037,China
  • Received:2022-02-16 Revised:2022-06-01 Online:2023-11-30 Published:2023-11-23

Abstract:

【Objective】 The main factors affecting the fermentation and maturity of different garden wastes and the main factors affecting their germination index (GI) were studied. The findings provide a theoretical basis for exploring the scientific evaluation of the fermentation and maturity of garden waste and the efficient utilization of garden waste resources. 【Method】 Changes of temperature, pH, electric conductivity (EC), organic matter content, cellulose content and humic acid content in four kinds of garden waste (branches and leaves of beech and phoenix) were analyzed during the compost fermentation process. 【Result】 There were four main results. First, branches and leaves of phoenix were more easily fermented than beech branches and leaves. The composting temperature of phoenix was 3.2 to 5.0 ℃ higher than that of beech. With the fermentation process, pH increased in all treatments. The pH of beech leaves was the highest at the end of fermentation, and the difference was significant between the beech leaves and the phoenix branches. The EC value of each treatment decreased significantly and were significantly higher for phoenix and beech leaves than for phoenix and beech branches. Second, phoenix branches contained more easily decomposed organic compounds than the other three treatments; during the phoenix branch fermentation process, the degradation range of organic matter, lignin, and cellulose was the largest, and the organic content of beech leaves was the lowest before and after fermentation. The humification degree of the four treatments was significantly different, and the humification coefficient of the leaves of beech leaves at the end of fermentation was significantly higher than that of the other three treatments. Third, phoenix and beech branch fermented maturity indices (GI) were significantly higher than those of phoenix leaves and beech leaves. Fourth, the main indices affecting the GI of the four garden wastes were organic matter content, EC, humic acid content, and cellulose content. 【Conclusion】 Organic matter and cellulose contents were the main contributing factors to GI in beech leaves and branches. For phoenix leaves and phoenix branches, humic acid content and EC contributed more to the GI.

Key words: garden waste, composting, chemical properties, germination index, beech(Zelkova schneideriana), phoenix(Platanus orientails)

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