Composting of goat dung with various additives for improved fertilizer capacity

Composting of goat dung mixed with lime, soil, Napier grass or urea was followed by monitoring the C:N (w/w) ratio of the substrate, temperature, pH, moisture content, water-holding capacity, weight loss and mineral content. Equilibration to 24°C took between 90 and 120 days, the dung with Napier grass or urea composting fastest. Napier grass addition was also beneficial in decreasing loss of C and PO inf4 (sup-3) and increasing N content. The most active region of the compost was 10 to 30 cm from the base of the heap. Depletion of C, PO inf4 (sup-3) and K(+) occurred during all compostings but varied among the treatments. The moisture content in the substrate remained between 34% and 73% (w/w) for all treatments, while the water-holding capacity averaged 100% to 150%. The average weight loss of substrate was between 55 to 84%. The compost could be used as manure for Napier grass production, although effluent from a palm oil mill was found to be superior.