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Composted Rabbit Manure as Organic Matrix for Manufacturing Horticultural Growing Media: Composting Process and Seedling Effects

Author

Listed:
  • Rangling Li

    (College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Hongyun Hao

    (College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Hui Sun

    (College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Liangju Wang

    (College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Hongying Wang

    (College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China)

Abstract

This study investigated composted rabbit manure as an organic matrix to replace peat for manufacturing horticultural growing media, where three kinds of rabbit manures were composted with temperatures > 50 °C lasting > 7 days, with a germination index > 70%. The heavy metal contents in rabbit manure were far lower than the thresholds in Chinese standards for safe use as horticultural growing media. Then, different ratios of compost and peat were mixed with perlite and vermiculite to manufacture growing media, which were evaluated in a 28-day seedling experiment with cabbage. The manufactured growing media characteristics could satisfy the seedlings’ requirements; air spaces in particular were improved from 15.7% to up to 28.7% by mixing composted manure. Seedling emergence percentages > 90% and good seedling qualities (including enhanced root length, seedling height, and chlorophyll content) indicated that composted rabbit manure could effectively replace peat to manufacture horticultural growing media. The best seedling performance was obtained with the following ratio of composted manure, peat, perlite, and vermiculite: 3:3:2:2. However, the mixing ratio could be further optimized, and other methods to reduce the salinity may be required for the different requirements of specific crops in further research.

Suggested Citation

  • Rangling Li & Hongyun Hao & Hui Sun & Liangju Wang & Hongying Wang, 2022. "Composted Rabbit Manure as Organic Matrix for Manufacturing Horticultural Growing Media: Composting Process and Seedling Effects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-16, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:9:p:5146-:d:801283
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lu Zhang & Xiangyang Sun & Yun Tian & Xiaoqiang Gong, 2013. "Composted Green Waste as a Substitute for Peat in Growth Media: Effects on Growth and Nutrition of Calathea insignis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(10), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Faisal Zulfiqar & Xiangying Wei & Narmeen Shaukat & Jianjun Chen & Ali Raza & Adnan Younis & Muhammad Nafees & Zainul Abideen & Abbu Zaid & Nadeem Latif & Muhammad Naveed & Kadambot H. M. Siddique, 2021. "Effects of Biochar and Biochar–Compost Mix on Growth, Performance and Physiological Responses of Potted Alpinia zerumbet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-14, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rangling Li & Hongying Wang & Enze Duan & Jiayu Fan & Liangju Wang, 2022. "Rabbit Manure Compost for Seedling Nursery Blocks: Suitability and Optimization of the Manufacturing Production Process," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-17, December.

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