U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home News & Events News Articles Research News 2003





- ARS News & Events
- AgResearch Magazine
- Image Gallery
- News
- Search News & Events
- Pesticide Drift May Endanger Pollinators
- ARS Seeks a Fire Ant Fix
- Scientific Discoveries 2024
- ARS Featured Photos
- Down on the Farm
- Facebook Live Events
- Food and Nutrition Research Briefs
- News Archive
- Science in Your Shopping Cart
- Scientific Discoveries
- Social Media
- Under the Microscope
- AgResearch magazine
- ARS at Work
- ARS Memorial Lectures
- ARS Science Hall of Fame
- Citrus Disease (Huanglongbing)
- Contact Office of Communications
- Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- Mobile Apps
- Public Affairs Contacts
- Publications and Other Resources
- USDA Blog
- Videos

Archived Page
 This page has been archived and is being provided for reference purposes only. The page is no longer being updated, and therefore, links on the page may be invalid.
 Researchers examine bacterial colonies on nutrient media to detect and count various pathogens in manure samples before composting.Click image for caption and other photo information.
Read the magazine story to find out more.
Composting Research Improves a Time-Tested Technique
By Sharon DurhamAugust 6, 2003
Composting continues to have a place in farm animal operations, according to Agricultural Research Service scientists who are finding ways to make composting even more feasible for animal producers.
In field experiments by microbiologist Patricia Millner at the ARS Environmental Microbial Safety Laboratory in Beltsville, Md., 99.99 percent of the pathogens Escherichia coli and Salmonella were eliminated from manure after composting. But the scientists stressed that composting for the right amount of time, and at the proper temperature, is the key to controlling pathogens in compost.
Composting is one of several methods farmers can use to treat animal manure, sewage sludge and other organic residuals that contain pathogens or parasites of public health concern. The temperature of an aerated compost pile—one that's turned frequently to allow air to penetrate —must be at least 131 degrees Fahrenheit for three consecutive days to reduce pathogens to safe levels. For unaerated compost piles—those that are turned only five times—the temperature must reach 131 degrees Fahrenheit for two weeks.
In many states, untreated manure can be applied to farm fields. However, this can introduce pathogens and parasites into soils, and even into runoff or irrigation water. As organic vegetables and fruits gain popularity, the demand for animal manure is expected to increase.
Millner is conducting research on what she calls hybrid composting systems. Not only do these systems reduce numbers of pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella, they also reduce excess available phosphorus and keep the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus within a range acceptable for use in areas that have nutrient-management plans. This approach means that composting can address nutrient, pathogen and odor concerns all at the same time.
More information about this research is in the August issue of Agricultural Research magazine.
ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.


Return to top


Research
                            Media
                            About ARS
                            Work With Us


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov