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Sustainable Production of Compost from Animal Waste Using an In-vessel Bioreactor: A Health Policy Brief
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Researchers found that adding biochar (a charcoal-like material) to composted animal manure makes for cleaner, safer fertilizer—it helps break down harmful pollutants like heavy metals and even modestly reduces microplastic contamination. This matters because manure is widely used to fertilize crops, so reducing these contaminants during composting means fewer toxins and plastics potentially ending up in our soil, food, and water supply.
Background: Livestock manure, particularly from cattle and poultry, represents a major source of organic waste, and improper disposal can pose significant environmental risks. Composting offers a sustainable solution by stabilizing manure, enhancing nutrient availability, and reducing pathogen load. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of biochar amendment and varying cattle-to-poultry manure (CM/PM) ratios on compost quality, pollutant removal, and microplastic dynamics. Methods: Twelve treatments combining three CM/PM ratios (1:1, 3:1, and 1:3) with biochar levels (5%, 10%, and 15%) were composted under controlled aerobic conditions. Physicochemical properties, nutrient dynamics, heavy metals, and microplastics were monitored throughout the co-composting process. Results: Biochar significantly improved compost maturity, humification, nutrient stabilization, and pollutant reduction, with total organic carbon, humic acid content, and C/N ratio showing enhanced trends in biochar-amended treatments. Heavy metal removal efficiencies increased with biochar, while microplastic abundance decreased moderately. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that animal manure compost produces environmentally safe, nutrient-rich compost, offering a practical strategy for sustainable waste management, soil fertility improvement, and circular bioeconomy promotion.
More Papers Like This
Advances and prospects of biochar in improving soil fertility, biochemical quality, and environmental applications
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This review examines how biochar, a charcoal-like material made from organic waste, can improve soil health and clean up pollutants including microplastics. Biochar's ability to absorb and trap contaminants makes it a promising tool for reducing microplastic pollution in agricultural soil. The findings suggest biochar could help limit the amount of microplastics that enter the food chain through crops grown in contaminated soil.
Biochar as an Environment-Friendly Alternative for Multiple Applications
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This review summarizes how biochar, a charcoal-like material made from plant waste, can be used for carbon storage, improving soil health, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, biochar shows potential for reducing microplastic and heavy metal contamination in soil by binding these pollutants and preventing them from being absorbed by crops. This makes biochar a promising tool for protecting food safety in agricultural soils contaminated with microplastics.
Succession of biochar addition for soil amendment and contaminants remediation during co-composting: A state of art review
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Researchers reviewed how adding biochar during composting improves soil health and reduces contaminants, finding that co-composting with biochar can remediate heavy metals by 66–95% and also adsorb emerging organic pollutants like microplastics and pesticides, though some changes to soil microbial communities may inadvertently favor pathogens.
Biochar as a Climate-Smart Approach for Soil Health Improvement and Nano-/Microplastic Mitigation in Sustainable Agriculture: A Review
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Tiny plastic particles are building up in farm soils, potentially getting absorbed by crops we eat—but this review of existing research suggests that biochar (a charcoal-like material made from organic waste) can act like a sponge to trap these plastics in soil before they reach our food. It also improves soil quality and helps fight climate change, though scientists still need more research to understand its limits, especially in certain soil types.
Biochar Applications in Livestock Manure Management: Mitigation of Ammonia Emissions and Emerging Contaminants
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This review pulls together existing research on adding biochar (a charcoal-like material) to farm animal manure, finding it can cut smelly ammonia gas by up to 97%, break down antibiotics, reduce antibiotic-resistant bacteria by up to 98%, and even lower microplastic levels by 15-64%. This matters because manure runoff can spread antibiotic resistance and contaminants into our water, soil, and food supply, so a cheap, natural additive that tackles multiple pollution problems at once could make farms safer for nearby communities — though scientists still need more real-world testing before it's ready for widespread use.
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