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Nitrogen and phosphorus release from poultry manure composts: The role of
carbonaceous bulking agents and compost particle sizes

Article in Biology and Fertility of Soils · November 2011

DOI: 10.1007/s00374-011-0591-z

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Biol Fertil Soils (2011) 47:897–906
DOI 10.1007/s00374-011-0591-z
ORIGINAL PAPER
Nitrogen and phosphorus release from poultry manure
composts: the role of carbonaceous bulking agents
and compost particle sizes
María Corina Leconte & María Julia Mazzarino &
Patricia Satti & María Paula Crego
Received: 15 September 2010 / Revised: 30 May 2011 / Accepted: 2 June 2011 / Published online: 6 July 2011
# Springer-Verlag 2011
Abstract Rice hulls and sawdust are commonly used to
compost poultry manure in several countries. We studied
the effects of these two bulking agents and different sizes of
compost particles on the release of N and P from poultry
manure composts. Five composts, produced with a 2:1 and
1:1 ratio of sawdust or rice hulls to poultry manure and
1:1:1 of all three materials, were separated into fractions >10,
5–10, 1–5, and <1 mm. The >10-mm fraction was less than
1.5% and was not further analyzed. In all other fractions, pH,
electrical conductivity, organic C, lignin, cellulose, and total
N, P, Ca, K, and Si were determined and related to N and P
release in 16-week incubations of a sandy soil amended with
40 g kg−1 of each fraction. Nitrogen release with composts
containing sawdust was higher than with rice hull composts
(114–189 vs. 78–127 mg kg−1 at week 16), and this was
highly correlated with TN (1.9–3.7% vs. 1.4–2.7%) and
negatively with pH (5.5–6.2 vs. 6.7–6.9). Extractable P was
very high (85–340 mg kg−1 at week 16), and the highest
values were associated with the composts with more
proportion of poultry manure. An increase in stability with
decreasing particle size was apparent from the gradient of N
and P dynamics: from net P release and an exponential
pattern of net N mineralization with the coarsest fraction to
M. C. Leconte
Microbiología Agrícola, FCA, Univ. Nac,
Sargento Cabral 2131,
Nordeste 3400, Argentina
M. J. Mazzarino : P. Satti (*) : M. P. Crego
INIBIOMA (CONICET-Univ. Nac. Comahue),
Quintral 1250,
8400 Bariloche, Argentina
e-mail: patricia.satti@crub.uncoma.edu.ar
P. Satti
e-mail: psatti@gmail.com
net P retention and a linear pattern of N mineralization with
the smallest one. Despite its higher fertilizer value, the 5- to
10-mm fraction posed the highest environmental risk due to
elevated P release over time.
Keywords Rice hulls . Sawdust . N mineralization .
P release . Lignin . Silicon
Introduction
Problems related to poultry manure disposal are a relevant
environmental issue in most countries due to the increasing
demand for low-cholesterol meat (Moore et al. 1995). Direct
land application of untreated manure is the most common
utilization option, but it can result in soil and water
contamination due mainly to nitrate leaching, phosphorus
runoff, and pathogen release (Moore et al. 1995; Patterson et
al. 2005). Composting with regional available carbonaceous
materials is recommended as a suitable way to get a stable
and innocuous product (Bernal et al. 1998; Elwell et al.
1996; Guerra-Rodríguez et al. 2000). As in other countries,
the growing poultry production industry of Argentina is
imposing a constant demand of agricultural land for manure
application, increasing the risk of environmental problems. In
NE Argentina, where the production of broilers and layers is
large and concentrated in a few areas, sawdust and rice hulls
are highly available as C-rich bulking agents. These materials
are usually recommended to compost poultry manure in many
Asian countries (Haga 2001; Wang et al. 2005), and their use
for this purpose in NE Argentina would also contribute to
diminish the negative effects of burning, a common fate for
these wastes, especially for byproducts of the timber industry.
Main effects of bulking agents added to nitrogenous
materials are to improve structure and enhance aeration, to
898
adsorb excess liquids, and to provide microorganisms with
an extra energy source to balance high N contents (Banegas
et al. 2006; Eklind and Kirchmann 2000). Rice hulls and
sawdust differ in some key traits to act as bulking agents;
thus, rice hulls are characterized by a waxed surface, high
silica contents, and higher particle size than sawdust, which
can reduce water-holding capacity and microbial attack.
Different proportions of poultry manure to carbonous
materials are suggested in the literature varying from 1:1
to 1:3 ratio in volume, the 1:2 ratio being the most common
(Tiquia et al. 2001; Vadas et al. 2004). In a previous work
(Leconte et al. 2009), we composted poultry manure with rice
hulls and/or sawdust at 1:1 and 1:2 ratio and found that higher
total and available N corresponded to composts containing
sawdust, while rice hull composts were characterized by
higher Si, K, and pH and lower water retention. It could be
then expected that these composts could differentially affect
nutrient dynamics when applied to soil.
Even in mature composts, C-rich recalcitrant materials
are considered to be only partially decomposed due to their
high content in low degradable lignin (Tuomela et al.
2000). Following compost application, this can lead to soil
N immobilization (Jellum et al. 1995; Laos et al. 2000;
Sims 1990; Tester et al. 1977) and affect soil organic P
mineralization and P availability (Tognetti et al. 2008;
Vourinen 2000). The reduction of P availability by the
addition of C-rich bulking agents could be advantageous in
the case of manures, especially poultry manure, since its
high P content is frequently associated to non-point source
P pollution and accelerated eutrophication (Patterson et al.
2005; Sharpley 1999; USEPA 1996). Soil N immobilization
has often been related to large compost particle sizes, which
are less transformed during the process than smaller ones
(Doublet et al. 2010; Rynk 1992; Tester et al. 1977). Then,
screening has been recommended to avoid N immobiliza-
tion and to increase the proportion of small particle sizes
associated to higher microbial activity and nutrient release.
This is contradictory because the small particle sizes are
also believed to be more stable, and high stability usually
implies low microbial activity and N release (Hadas and
Portnoy 1994). Depending on end-use and national regu-
lations, composts are screened by different size meshes,
usually varying from 0.5 to 2.0 mm (Brinton 2000;
Mazzarino et al. 2004). To understand the effects of
different compost fractions on nutrient dynamics would
contribute to elucidate how they regulate the compost
performance in soil and to find out the adequate mesh size
of screening, a process representing a considerable cost in
composting facilities.
The aim of the present work was to study the controls
exerted by the type of carbonaceous bulking agent and
compost particle sizes on the release of plant-available N
and P from poultry manure composts. As indicators of
Biol Fertil Soils (2011) 47:897–906
chemical quality, pH, electrical conductivity, organic C,
lignin, cellulose, and total N, P, Ca, K, and Si were
determined in the compost fractions and related to N and
P release in 16-week incubations of a soil amended with
these fractions.
Materials and methods
Chemical quality of compost fractions
Five composts produced over 240 days by an open turned
pile system (3 m3 each) were employed (Leconte et al.
2009). They were prepared (v/v) with different proportions
of sawdust or rice hulls to poultry manure: 1:1 sawdust/
poultry manure (SP1); 2:1 sawdust/poultry manure (SP2);
1:1 rice hulls/poultry manure (RP1); 2:1 rice hulls/poultry
manure (RP2), and 1:1:1 sawdust/rice hulls/poultry manure
(SRP). Composts at 67–70% dry matter content were
separated into the following fractions: >10, 5–10, 1–5,
and <1 mm. Since the fraction >10 mm represented less
than 1.5%, it was not further analyzed. Three samples of all
other fractions (5–10, 1–5, and <1 mm) were air-dried,
ground, and analyzed for pH and electrical conductivity
(EC) in water (1:10), total organic C (TOC) by ignition at
550°C using a factor of 1.8 to convert to C, and total N
(TN) by semi-micro Kjeldahl + NO3−–N, according to Laos
et al. (2002) and Tognetti et al. (2007). Lignin, cellulose,
and hemicellulose were determined by the Van Soest
procedure (1963). Total Si, P, Ca, and K were extracted by
the nitric–perchloric digestion (1:1) and analyzed according
to EPA Method 3050 (USEPA 1986). All data were
corrected by dry weight at 70°C.
Laboratory incubations of compost fractions and soil
In this section, a sandy soil was employed (argic Udipsamment);
characteristic of suptropical NE Argentina, the soil was sampled
at 0–10 cm depth from a citrus orchard in the province of
Corrientes (65 m a.s.l., 27°27′25.70″ S and 58°40′26.76″ W)
and had the following properties pH 5.9, 0.07 mS cm−1
electrical conductivity, 0.56% TOC, 0.06% TN, and
6 mg kg−1 extractable P.
To assess potential N mineralization and P release a non-
leached, destructive procedure was employed (Laos et al.
2000; Lerch et al. 1992). Laboratory incubations were
conducted using a completely randomized design with three
replicates mixing the soil (sieved to 2 mm) with the
fractions at a rate of 40 gkg−1; a non-amended soil was
used as a control. Mixtures were moistened to soil field
capacity and incubated aerobically at 25°C for 16 weeks;
once a week, mixtures were ventilated for 1 h and moisture
gravimetrically adjusted. At five sampling dates (0, 2, 7, 11,
Biol Fertil Soils (2011) 47:897–906 899

while P was extracted with 0.5 M NaHCO3 (1:10 ratio) and

determined by the molybdate–ascorbic acid method (Kuo
1996). Potential net N mineralization (pNmin) was calculated
as inorganic N at each sampling date minus that at time 0. All
data were calculated on a dry weight basis.

Data analysis

The significance of the differences in means of all variables

Fig. 1 Percentage of three fractions in different composts of poultry
litter and sawdust and/or rice hulls. SP1 sawdust + poultry manure
(1:1); SP2 sawdust + poultry manure (2:1); RP1 rice hulls + poultry
manure (1:1); SP2 rice hulls + poultry manure (2:1); SRP sawdust + rice
hulls + poultry manure (1:1:1). Bars represent standard deviations
and 16 weeks), inorganic N and P were analyzed. Inorganic
N (NH4+–N+NO3−–N) was extracted with 2 M KCl (1:5
ratio) and determined by the Berthelot reaction (NH4+–N)
and copperized Cd reduction (NO3−–N) (Mulvaney 1996),
among composts (five compost types) and fractions (5–10,
1–5, and <1 mm) was evaluated by ANOVA. Mean values
by compost type (three replicates) were used to compare
variables among composts, and compost mean values (five
composts = five replicates per fraction) to compare
variables among fractions. Main effects were separated by
tests of least significant differences (LSD). Relationships
among indicators of chemical quality (pH, EC, TOC, TN,
TOC/TN, cellulose, lignin, total N, P, Ca, K, and Si) and
nutrient release (inorganic N at t0 and t16, pNmin,
extractable P at t0 and t16) were studied by correlations.
Multiple linear regression analyses were also carried out on
the complete set of variables to explain N and P release
(inorganic N and extractable P at t16). For these analyses,
the variables of higher correlation were selected, excluding

Table 1 Characteristics of organic matter by fractions of compost types

Fractions/compost types TOC (%) TN (%) TOC/TN Cellulose (%) Lignin (%)

Treat. Fraction Treat. Fract. Treat. Fract. Treat. Fract. Treat. Fract.

5 to 10 mm
SP1 23.4 c 24.7 B 3.0 bc 3.0 A 7.7 b 8.2 B 25.1 a 23.8 B 7.7 c 9.1 B
SP2 29.3 a 3.2 ab 9.3 a 26.2 a 12.6 a
RP1 22.2 c 2.7 cd 8.1 b 22.9 a 7.1 c
RP2 21.9 c 2.7 d 8.1 b 21.0 a 7.9 bc
SRP 26.7 b 3.4 a 7.9 b 23.6 a 10.0 b
1 to 5 mm
SP1 25.9 c 30.8 A 3.7 a 2.9 A 7.1 e 11.2 A 25.2 b 29.3 A 10.2 c 13.2 A
SP2 31.7 b 3.7 a 8.6 d 27.0 b 15.9 a
RP1 30.6 b 2.3 c 13.1 b 31.0 a 11.4 bc
RP2 31.6 b 2.1 d 15.0 a 31.9 a 12.6 b
SRP 34.4 a 2.9 b 12.1 c 31.1 a 15.8 a
< 1 mm
SP1 16.0 b 14.9 C 1.9 b 1.8 B 8.5 ab 8.1 B 21.3 b 20.0 B 3.3 c 3.2 C
SP2 20.0 a 2.3 a 8.8 a 26.0 a 5.4 a
RP1 10.4 c 1.4 c 7.6 bc 19.5 c 1.4 d
RP2 10.7 c 1.5 c 7.2 c 15.3 c 1.8 d
SRP 17.2 b 2.1 ab 8.3 ab 22.4 b 4.0 b

Statistical analysis of fractions and composts type were carried out separately. Capital letters indicate significant differences among fractions and
small letters among compost types (P<0.05)
SP1 sawdust + poultry manure (1:1), SP2 sawdust + poultry manure (2:1), RP1 rice hulls + poultry manure (1:1), SP2 rice hulls + poultry manure
(2:1), SRP sawdust + rice hulls + poultry manure (1:1:1), TOC total organic C; TN total N
900 Biol Fertil Soils (2011) 47:897–906

autocorrelated ones. Differences were considered statisti-
cally significant for P<0.05. The program Statgraphics Plus
for Windows (1994–2001) was used.
Results
In all composts, the most represented fractions were 1–5
and <1 mm (Fig. 1), but the proportion differed according
to the carbonaceous agents. Sawdust composts (SP) showed
a higher proportion of <1-mm fraction, and rice hull
composts (RP) a higher proportion of 1- to 5-mm fraction.
The compost produced with both carbonaceous agents
(SRP) had intermediate values of these two main fractions.
The 5- to 10-mm fraction represented 3–10% of the total.
Indicators of chemical quality
Total organic C (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), TOC/TN,
cellulose, and lignin are given in Table 1. Hemicellulose
was not included because it was almost negligible (<0.1%).
TOC, TN, TOC/TN, lignin, and cellulose are 10.4–34.4%,
1.4–3.7%, 7.1–15.0%, 1.4–15.9%, and 15.3–31.9%, re-
spectively (when lignin is given as % of TOC values varied
between 11% and 24% and cellulose between 53% and
76%). Considering the fractions as a whole (treatments
analyzed as replicates), the highest values of most variables
corresponded to the 1- to 5-mm fraction (TOC, TOC/TN,
cellulose, and lignin), and the lowest values to the <1-mm
fraction (TOC, TN, and lignin). Within each fraction, the
highest values of TN corresponded to sawdust composts
and SRP. Lignin and TOC values were higher with the
highest proportion of carbonaceous material in the case of
composts containing sawdust (SP2 and SRP), but they did
not show differences between rice hull composts. Cellulose
depended on fractions and type of carbonaceous agent: in the
1- to 5-mm fraction, it was higher in rice hull composts, while
in the <1-mm fraction, it was higher in sawdust composts.
Within the <1-mm fraction, rice hull composts showed the
lowest values of all organic matter characteristics.
Results for pH, EC, P, Ca, K, and Si in the fractions are
given in Table 2. Values as a whole varied as follows: 5.5–
6.9 of pH, 1.9–4.0 mS cm−1 EC, 7–18 gP kg−1, 8–23 g
Ca kg−1, 4–12 gK kg−1, and 0.2–2.9 gSi kg−1. When
comparing fractions, the highest values of EC, Ca, K, and P
corresponded to the 5- to 10-mm fraction, and the lowest to
the <1-mm fraction. No significant differences among
fractions were found for Si and pH due to the masking
effect of the carbonaceous materials: both were higher in
composts containing rice hulls (RP and SRP) than in

Table 2 Values of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total P, Ca, K, and Si by fractions of compost types

Fractions/compost pH EC (dSm−1) P (g kg−1) Ca (g kg−1) K (g kg−1) Si (g kg−1)

types
Treat. Fraction Treat. Fract. Treat. Fract. Treat. Fract. Treat. Fract. Treat. Fract.

5 to 10 mm
SP1 5.9 c 6.1 A 3.7 a 3.5 A 13.4 c 15.5 A 17.8 b 20.2 A 8.1 b 9.8 A 0.6 bc 0,8 A
SP2 5.6 d 3.8 a 14.5 bc 21.6 a 8.8 b 0.5 bc
RP1 6.9 a 3.4 a 18.4 a 20.6 ab 11.6 a 1.0 ab
RP2 6.9 a 2.7 b 17.0 ab 22.6 a 11.5 a 1.5 a
SRP 6.2 b 3.8 a 14.1 b 18.6 b 9.2 b 0.4 c
1 to 5 mm
SP1 5.7 d 6.2 A 3.6 c 3.6 A 10.7 a 8.7 B 16.4 a 13.0 B 7.8 c 9.0 A 0.2 b 1,6 A
SP2 5.5 e 4.0 a 10.0 a 16.8 a 7.9 c 0.3 b
RP1 6.7 b 3.7 bc 8.2 b 11.5 b 11.0 a 2.4 a
RP2 6.9 a 2.8 d 7.0 c 8.7 b 8.9 bc 2.9 a
SRP 6.0 c 3.8 ab 7.5 bc 11.7 b 9.3 b 2.5 a
< 1 mm
SP1 5.8 d 6.3 A 3.0 a 2.5 B 6.7 ab 6.0 C 10.4 a 8.7 C 4.6 a 4.8 B 0.4 b 0,8 A
SP2 5.5 e 2.9 ab 4.8 c 7.6 a 5.3 a 0.4 b
RP1 6.9 a 2.1 c 7.3 a 10.3 a 5.3 a 0.9 a
RP2 6.8 b 1.9 c 5.5 bc 7.5 a 3.5 a 1.1 a
SRP 6.2 c 2.7 b 5.6 bc 7.7 a 5.1 a 1.1 a

Statistical analysis of fractions and composts type were carried out separately. Capital letters indicate significant differences among fractions and
small letters among compost types (P<0.05)
SP1 sawdust + poultry manure (1:1), SP2 sawdust + poultry manure (2:1), RP1 rice hulls + poultry manure (1:1), SP2 rice hulls + poultry manure
(2:1), SRP sawdust + rice hulls + poultry manure (1:1:1)
Biol Fertil Soils (2011) 47:897–906 901

sawdust composts (SP). Potassium was significantly higher
in rice hull composts for the 5- to 10-mm fraction, and P
and Ca in sawdust composts for the 1- to 5-mm fraction.
Indicators of nutrient release
The sandy soil used in the incubation had low capacity to
mineralize N, with an initial inorganic N concentration
(Nt0) of 14 mg kg−1 and a final concentration (Nt16) of
43 mg kg−1 after 16 weeks (Table 3). When compost
fractions were mixed with the soil, values of Nt0 varied
between 25 and 100 mg kg−1 and Nt16 reached 80–
190 mg kg−1; in all cases, the main form of inorganic N was
NO3−–N (≥90%). Rates of net N mineralization (pNmin)
varied from 45 to 115 mg kg−1 after 16-week incubation.
Inorganic N (inorganic N plus mineralized N) represented
5% to 12% of total N added with composts. Within each
fraction, Nt0, Nt16, and inorganic N as % of total N were
generally the highest with sawdust composts and SRP
(Table 3). When fractions were analyzed as a whole,
significant differences were found for pNmin with values
decreasing from the coarsest to the finest fraction. Different
patterns of N mineralization were observed for each fraction:
while pNmin patterns for fractions 1–5 and <1 mm tended to
be linear and showed quite similar low slopes (Fig. 2b, c), the
5- to 10-mm fraction in three of the five compost types
showed an exponential behavior with a marked increase
during the first weeks of incubation (Fig. 2a).
Regarding P dynamics (Table 4, Fig. 3), soil extractable
P after addition of compost fractions was very high: 76–
185 mg kg−1 at t0 and 86–340 mg kg−1 at t16 (Table 4),
indicating a net release of P during incubation. The highest
values were mostly associated with the composts with the
highest proportion of poultry manure (1:1 composts). The
1- to 5- and 5- to 10-mm fractions were responsible for net
P release (Fig. 3a, b), which was extremely high over time
with the latter. Conversely, P retention was observed in the
fraction <1 mm of sawdust composts (Fig. 3c): P decrease
over time and negative values were obtained for Pt16 minus
Pt0 (Table 4).
Relationships among chemical quality and nutrient release
Total inorganic N added with composts after 16-week
incubation (Nt16) was significantly and positively correlated
with EC, TOC, TN, Nt0, cellulose, and lignin and negatively

Table 3 Nitrogen dynamics by fractions of compost types applied at a rate of 40 gkg−1

Fractions/compost types Nt0 (mg kg−1) Nt16 (mg kg−1) pNmin (mg kg−1) Added InN/added TN (%)

Treat. Fraction Treat. Fract. Treat. Fract. Treat. Fract.

5 to 10 mm
SP1 62 ab 58 A 161 b 144 A 99 a 86 A 9.7 ab 8.3 A
SP2 74 a 189 a 114 a 11.5 a
RP1 27 c 127 c 100 a 7.7 b
RP2 44 bc 96 d 52 b 4.8 c
SRP 82 a 147 bc 65 b 7.7 b
1 to 5 mm
SP1 102 a 75 A 163 b 148 A 61 b 68 AB 8.2 c 8.8 A
SP2 101 a 189 a 85 a 9.9 b
RP1 57 bc 120 c 63 b 8.2 c
RP2 35 c 97 d 62 b 6.4 d
SRP 79 ab 171 b 70 b 11.2 a
<1 mm
SP1 70 b 54 A 114 b 111 A 44 b 58 B 9.4 ab 9.2 A
SP2 81 a 153 a 72 a 12.1 a
RP1 31 c 91 c 60 ab 8.7 bc
RP2 24 c 78 c 54 b 5.8 d
SRP 64 b 121 b 57 ab 9.5 ab
Soil control 14 43 29

Statistical analysis of fractions and composts type were carried out separately. Capital letters indicate significant differences among fractions and
small letters among compost types (P<0.05)
SP1 sawdust + poultry manure (1:1), SP2 sawdust + poultry manure (2:1), RP1 rice hulls + poultry manure (1:1), SP2 rice hulls + poultry manure
(2:1), SRP sawdust + rice hulls + poultry manure (1:1:1), Nt0 initial inorganic N, Nt16 inorganic N after 16-week incubation, pNmin Nt16 minus
Nt0, Added InN (inorganic N) Nt16 minus control
902
Fig. 2 Potential net N mineralization in incubations of a sandy soil
and three compost fractions applied at 40 gkg−1: a 5- to 10-mm
fraction, b 1- to 5-mm fraction, c <1-mm fraction. Values at each date
are average of three replicates. SP1 sawdust + poultry manure (1:1);
SP2 sawdust + poultry manure (2:1); RP1 rice hulls + poultry manure
(1:1); SP2 rice hulls + poultry manure (2:1); SRP sawdust + rice hulls +
poultry manure (1:1:1). Bars represent standard deviations
with pH (r=0.853, 0.632, 0.815, 0.819, 0.521, 0.664,
and −0.835, respectively). Multiple regression analyses
indicated that total N and pH explained about 85% of the
variance:


Nt16 ¼ 289  35:2  pH þ 25:0  TN R2 ¼ 0:852; P < 0:001
Net N mineralization (pNmin) was significantly and posi-
tively correlated with total N, Ca, and P (r=0.506, 0.554,
0.533, respectively), but when these variables were studied
by multiple regression analyses, they only explained 25% of
the variance.
Biol Fertil Soils (2011) 47:897–906
In the case of extractable P after 16-week incubation
(Pt16), a positive and significant correlation was found with
total Ca, K, and P (r=0.585, 0.557, and 0.741, respective-
ly). Multiple regression analyses indicated that total P
explained about 52% of the variance:


Pt16 ¼ 83 þ 11  P total R2 ¼ 0:515; P ¼ 0:002
Net P release (Pt16–Pt0) was significantly and positively
correlated with total Ca, K, and P (r=0.833, 0.681, 0.924,
respectively). Multiple regression analyses indicated that
total P explained about 84% of the variance:


Pt16  Pt0 ¼ 98:4 þ 14:2  P total R2 ¼ 0:843; P < 0:001
Discussion
Nitrogen immobilization after compost application to soil
has been often considered as an indicator not only of partial
degradation of carbonaceous materials during composting
(Jellum et al. 1995; Laos et al. 2000) but also of mature and
highly stable products (Hadas and Portnoy 1994; Lopez et
al. 2002). In the present work, application to a sandy soil of
different fractions of composts of poultry manure with
sawdust and/or rice hulls resulted always in net N
mineralization. This indicates an adequate degree of
carbonaceous material decomposition during the compost-
ing process, avoiding further degradation in soil and N
immobilization. According to the pattern of N mineraliza-
tion, however, the 5- to 10-mm fraction could be less stable
than the rest, since some composts showed an exponential
behavior with an initial rapid release of inorganic N. This
implies the presence of an easily mineralizable N pool
usually related to less stabilized organic matter than slow-
release linear patterns (Cabrera 1993; Laos et al. 2000;
Lerch et al. 1992; Preusch et al. 2002).
Although lignin is commonly used as an indicator of low
N mineralization (pNmin) and availability (Flavel and
Murphy 2006; Gabrielle et al. 2004), the coarsest fraction
showed higher pNmin despite having higher lignin than the
smallest one, and N availability was stronger related to TN
and pH than to lignin. Composts containing sawdust (SP
and SRP) showed more available N and TN than rice hull
composts (RP), higher TN values being a consequence of
more intense microbial activity during the composting
process, resulting in higher losses of C through respiration
and more TN per dry matter (Leconte et al. 2009).
Likewise, the strong negative relationship between N
availability and pH is explained by higher rates of
nitrification in mixtures with sawdust during the compost-
ing process that caused greater acidification than those with
rice hulls (Leconte et al. 2009). Available N as a percentage
Biol Fertil Soils (2011) 47:897–906 903

Table 4 Phosphorus dynamics

by fractions of compost types Fractions/compost types Pt0 (mg kg−1) Pt16 (mg kg−1) Pt16–Pt0 (mg kg−1)
applied at a rate of 40 gkg−1
Treat. Fraction Treat. Fract. Treat. Fract.

5 to 10 mm
SP1 184 a 126 A 287 b 245 A 103 a 119 A
SP2 82 a 167 d 85 a
RP1 150 a 340 a 189 a
RP2 76 a 197 d 120 a
SRP 138 a 234 c 96 a
1 to 5 mm
Statistical analysis of fractions SP1 130 bc 144 A 182 ab 173 B 54 a 29 B
and compost types were carried SP2 113 c 163 bc 50 a
out separately. Capital letters RP1 185 a 200 a 15 ab
indicate significant differences
among fractions and small letters RP2 127 bc 175 b 48 a
among compost types (P<0.05) SRP 165 ab 146 c −19 b
SP1 sawdust + poultry manure <1 mm
(1:1), SP2 sawdust + poultry SP1 176 a 164 A 134 c 146 B −42 b −17 C
manure (2:1), RP1 rice hulls + SP2 142 a 86 d −56 b
poultry manure (1:1), SP2 rice RP1 176 a 207 a 31 a
hulls + poultry manure (2:1),
SRP sawdust + rice hulls + RP2 150 a 167 b 17 a
poultry manure (1:1:1) Pt0 initial SRP 174 a 137 c −36 b
extractable P, Pt16 extractable P Soil control 6 9 3
after 16 weeks incubation

of total N was also higher with composts containing
sawdust, suggesting that substrate quality was better in
these composts. Despite Si clearly differentiated rice hull
composts from sawdust ones, its effect on N availability
was less evident, specially because the compost with both
types of bulking agent (SRP) behaved as sawdust compost
while having similar Si contents than rice hull composts in
two of the three analyzed fractions. It appears, then, that
factors others than lignin and Si are interacting to explain N
substrate quality; a plausible explanation is that the particle
size distribution within each fraction range was lower in
sawdust compost increasing specific surface area and
microorganisms accessibility (see below for <1-mm fraction).
In a recent work, Doublet et al. (2010) proposed that the
finer fractions of biosolids composts are more stable
because they have lower C and higher N concentrations;
this leads to lower respiration rates and net N mineralization
versus higher respiration and N immobilization in coarser
fractions. They also suggested that the positive mineralization
found by other authors in coarser fractions is due to a
methodological artifact, since finer fractions are aggregated
on the surface of coarser ones and cannot be separated by dry
methods of sieving as that employed in the present work. In
our case, however, the finer fraction had the lowest concen-
trations of both C and N and the lowest rate of N
mineralization, while the coarsest one showed a special
pattern of N mineralization more related to less stabilized
organic matter than to contamination with the finer fraction.
As often reported, poultry manure constitutes a source of
easily available P, which poses a threat for the environment
if not properly managed (Patterson et al. 2005; Sharpley
1999; Sims and Wolf 1994). In the present work, available
P release after 16-week incubation was related to total P. It
is interesting to note that the highest values of extractable P
and P release capacity over time were found in the 5- to 10-mm
fraction, which appeared as the less stable one in the case of N.
Preusch et al. (2002) also found higher P release in less mature
composts that they attributed to lower P stabilization in
organic forms than in mature composts. Recent works on non-
composted poultry manure suggest that organic P forms can
play an important role in the release of available P (He et al.
2006; Waldrip et al. 2011). Traditionally, P in raw or
composted poultry manure and poultry litter has been
considered to be mainly in inorganic forms (Sharpley and
Moyer 2000), and its solubility or retention regulated by Ca
phosphate formation and by sorption–desorption phenomena
(Cooperband and Good 2002; Siddique and Robinson 2003).
When calculating the molar ratio total Ca/total P, values were
quite similar for the different fractions (1.0–1.3). As
suggested by Cooperband and Good (2002), this could be
indicating that all of them contained minerals of similar
stoichiometries, possibly a mixture of CaHPO4 (Ca/P=1.0)
and Ca4H(PO4)3.3H2O (Ca/P=1.3).
In the case of sorption, P availability increases when
sorption sites are saturated with P from fertilizers or organic
acids released during residue decomposition. Because of its
904
Fig. 3 Extractable P in incubations of a sandy soil and three compost
fractions applied at 40 gkg−1: a 5- to 10-mm fraction, b 1- to 5-mm
fraction, c <1-mm fraction. Values at each date are average of three
replicates. SP1 sawdust + poultry manure (1:1); SP2 sawdust +
poultry manure (2:1); RP1 rice hulls + poultry manure (1:1); SP2 rice
hulls + poultry manure (2:1); SRP sawdust + rice hulls + poultry
manure (1:1:1). Bars represent standard deviations
sandy texture, the sorption capacity of the Entisol employed
in this work is low, so that P availability would have been
governed by solubility and precipitation of inorganic P
compounds, hydrolysis of organic P or sorption to organic
matter added with the composts. Phosphate availability
decreased from the coarsest to the smallest fraction, where
even P retention was observed with sawdust composts,
implying higher sorption capacity than rice hull composts.
This might be due to higher amounts of carboxyl and/or
hydroxyphenolic functional groups, commonly associated
Biol Fertil Soils (2011) 47:897–906
to stable organic matter (Bustamante et al. 2008; Harada and
Inoko 1980), and greater specific surface in sawdust com-
posts. The latter was indirectly measured by further sieving
the <1 mm fraction of sawdust and rice hull composts (SP2
and RP2) through 0.50- and 0.25-mm mesh: sawdust
composts showed a higher proportion of finer fractions than
rice hull ones (50% vs. 45% of the fraction <0.25 mm, 35%
vs. 30% of the fraction 0.25–0.50 mm, and 15% vs. 25% of
the fraction 0.50–1.00 mm for SP2 and RP2, respectively).
The observed gradient of N and P dynamics from the
coarsest fraction (5–10 mm) to the smallest one (<1 mm)
suggests an increase in stability with decreasing particle
size (from net P release and exponential pattern of net N
mineralization to net P retention and linear pattern of N
mineralization). Similar findings have been reported by
Lopez et al. (2002) for fine fractions of MSW composts but
differ from those of Tester et al. (1979) who found higher
decomposition and N mineralization for the <1-mm fraction
of biosolids composts. Despite their contrasting results,
these authors recommend that selective screening should be
used to take advantage of the properties of each fraction.
Selective screening would allow one to get different
composts from highly stable ones (e.g., for use as a
substrate in plant nurseries) to more dynamic products
(e.g., for use as fertilizer).
Conclusions
Our results indicate that nutrient release from poultry
manure composts was regulated by the type of carbona-
ceous bulking agents and particle sizes of the final product:
sawdust resulted in higher N availability than rice hulls, and
the largest fraction (5–10 mm) contained and released more
N and P than did smaller fractions (1–5 and <1 mm). The
highest degree of stability and lowest fertilizer value
characterized the <1-mm fraction. Despite its higher
fertilizer value, the 5- to 10-mm fraction posed the highest
environmental risk due to elevated P release over time.
However, in this type of compost, involving bulking agents
of small particle sizes, the inclusion of this fraction would
eliminate the need for a final screening. Since it represented
less than 10% of the finished compost, it can be expected
that its inclusion will not have negative environmental
effects but will reduce production costs. If it were screened,
however, it could be used as a supplement to increase the
fertilizer value of other amendments. Further studies on the
main fraction properties of composts obtained by blending
different organic materials should be conducted, in order to
understand the degree of fraction stability, which would
allow a better design of different end-use products.
Biol Fertil Soils (2011) 47:897–906
Acknowledgments We wish to thank L. Roselli, F. Laos, E.
Kowaljow, and M. Iglesias for laboratory assistance and general
support. We are also grateful to C. Tognetti for useful comments on the
manuscript. Funds were provided by the Cátedra de Microbiología
Agrícola (Universidad Nacional del Noreste) and Project 04-B142
(Universidad Nacional del Comahue).
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