Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

14:34
Biocontained Carcass Composting for Control of Infectious Disease Outbreak in Livestock
Published on: May 6, 2010
[Nitrogen loss and its control during livestock manure composting]
Xiang-Dong Huang1, Zhi-Ying Han, De-Zhi Shi
1Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China. huangxiangdong78@yahoo.cn
Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao = the Journal of Applied Ecology
|April 15, 2010
Summary
Livestock manure composting effectively recycles waste, but significant nitrogen loss occurs. This study details nitrogen transformation, loss pathways, influencing factors, and control strategies for efficient manure management.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Agricultural Science
- Soil Science
Context:
- Livestock manure composting is a key method for waste treatment and nutrient recycling.
- Significant nitrogen loss during composting poses environmental and economic challenges.
- Understanding nitrogen dynamics is crucial for optimizing manure management.
Purpose:
- To elucidate nitrogen transformation and primary loss pathways during livestock manure composting.
- To identify key factors influencing nitrogen loss, including material characteristics, environmental conditions, and process parameters.
- To review current research on nitrogen loss control strategies and suggest future research directions.
Summary:
- This paper details nitrogen transformations and major loss routes in manure composting.
- Factors affecting nitrogen loss encompass raw material properties, environmental variables, and technological conditions.
- Control methods discussed include metabolic adjustments, nitrogen form alteration, ammonia adsorption, and pile aeration/temperature management.
Impact:
- Provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for mitigating nitrogen loss in manure composting.
- Aims to enhance the efficiency of livestock manure recycling and reduce environmental pollution.
- Highlights the need for continued research into sustainable and effective composting techniques.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism
Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this nitrogen...
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this nitrogen...
The Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
Microbes and the Nitrogen Cycle
The nitrogen cycle is a complex biogeochemical process critical to maintaining the balance of nitrogenous compounds in ecosystems. This cycle involves multiple microbial-mediated transformations through which nitrogen changes oxidation states, supporting essential ecological functions and contributing to plant and microbial growth.Nitrogen Fixation and AmmonificationNitrogen fixation initiates the cycle by converting inert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into bioavailable ammonia (NH₃), a process...
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme nitrate reductase...
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation. However, because inorganic electron donors...

