Zelen kmetijski odpad lahko predelamo v kompost, ki se nato lahko uporabi kot organsko gnojilo, s čimer zmanjšamo okoljski vpliv proizvodnje hrane in krme. Raziskava je osredotočena na iskanje izvedljivega postopka kompostiranja hmelejvine na kmetiji. Pripravljeni in spremljani so bili trije različni načini kompostiranja (z različnimi dodatki na začetku — biogljem (BC) in efektivnimi mikroorganizmi (EM), brez dodatkov (CON); z in brez prekrivanja kupa; z različno velikostjo začetnih delcev). Vzorci so bili po sedmih mesecih kompostiranja analizirani glede vsebnosti hranil, fitotoksičnosti ter prisotnosti bakterij in gliv. V 100 g suhe snovi je povprečni kompost vseboval 2,7 g dušika (N), 0,38 g fosforja (P) in 1,08 g kalija (K). Vsi analizirani načini kompostiranja so vsebovali več kot 2 % celotnega dušika v suhi snovi, zato jih je mogoče uporabiti kot gnojilo. Največjo vsebnost hranil je imel kompost iz biomase z majhnimi delci (˂5 cm) in dodatkom bioglja (11 kg/t sveže biomase). Vendar pa je ta kompost vseboval najmanj bakterij in gliv zaradi zelo visokih temperatur v termofilni fazi tega kupa. Glede na indeks kalitve redkvice kompost ni imel fitotoksičnih lastnosti ter je bil stabilen in pripravljen za uporabo v rastlinski pridelavi. Upoštevajoč test kalitve vrtne kreše pa kompost deluje kot hranilno bogat in biostimulativen dodatek tlom. Vsi trije končni komposti so bili stabilni glede na hitrost dihanja, rast in teste kalivosti. Rezultati so pokazali, da ima hmeljevina velik potencial za kompostiranje.
EN New scientific paper writen on the basis f the projet results was published and is available on: On-Farm Composting of Hop Plant Green Waste—Chemical and Biological Value of Compost.
Green agro waste can be turned into compost, which can then be used as an organic fertilizer, thus reducing the environmental impact of food and feed production. This research is focused on finding a feasible on-farm composting treatment of plant biomass to produce high-quality compost. Three different composting treatments were prepared and followed (with different additives at the start—biochar (BC) and effective microorganisms (EM), no additive (CON); covering and not covering the pile; different start particles size). Samples were analysed for nutrient concentrations, phytotoxicity and bacterial and fungal presence after seven months of composting. In 100 g of dry matter, the average compost contained 2.7 g, 0.38 g and 1.08 g of N, P and K, respectively. All investigated treatments contained more than 2% of total nitrogen in dry mass, so they could be used as a fertilizer. The highest nutrient content was observed in compost of small particle size (˂5 cm) and added biochar (11 kg/t fresh biomass). However, this compost had the least bacteria and fungi due to very high temperatures in the thermophilic phase of this pile. According to the radish germination index, the prepared composts have no phytotoxic properties and are stable and ready to use in plant production. Taking the cress germination test into consideration, they provided a nutrient-rich and biostimulative soil amendment. All three final composts were stable in terms of respiration rate, growth and germination tests. Results have shown that hop biomass after harvest has great potential for composting.