Combining pre-treatment strategies for broilers industry waste valorization

aiming at expanding the possibilities for broiler slaughter wastes valorization, composting piles were submitted, at different time points (T(0), T(10), T(20), T(30) and Control) representing the treatments, to a solid-liquid fraction separation (FS), after being submerged in water (2:1, water:compost, in the fresh weight). After FS, solid material separated with a strain was again placed in piles for the final stage of composting, being evaluated the organic composts obtained after the stabilization phase (65 days) and maturation (95 days), in the different treatments. Reductions in mass (60–62%) and volume (56–64%) were greater in piles submitted to FS in comparison to control piles (52% and 54%). On the other hand, the FS induced greater losses of C (70.3–71.3%), N (55–62%), P (41.7–54.4%) and K (62.3–72.1%) in comparison to the control (65.2%, 48.0%, 28.1%, and 37.6%, respectively). We conclude that, as a way of integrating bioprocesses, FS does not have negative effects on the composting process. Moreover, compost mixtures from FS-treated piles, when used as substrate, yield better seedlings in comparison to mixtures from control.