# The Quantity and Composition of Leachate from Hop Plant Biomass during Composting Process
## 3 Results and Discussion
### The Impact of Composting Procedure on the Leachate Quantity and Composition during Composting
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Parameter: Factor** & **Count** & **LS Mean** & **LS Sigma** & **Homogeneous Groups** **\({}^{**}\) \\ \hline
**NH4: Procedure** & & & & \\ ROZ & 5 & 363.056 & 1871.64 & a \\ ZUP & 9 & 3184.38 & 1225.27 & b \\ LES & 9 & 4807.64 & 1225.27 & b \\ \hline
**NH4: Time stamp** & & & & \\
1 & 9 & 1801.02 & 1225.27 & a \\
3 & 7 & 3190.07 & 1581.82 & a \\
2 & 7 & 3363.99 & 1581.82 & a \\ \hline
**NO3: Procedure** & & & & \\ ROZ & 5 & 2648.71 & 16,247.4 & a \\ LES & 9 & 14,461.7 & 10,636.5 & a \\ ZUP & 9 & 39,610.7 & 10,636.5 & a \\ \hline
**NO3: Time stamp** & & & & \\
1 & 9 & 7.4111 & 10,636.5 & a \\
2 & 7 & 152.478 & 13,731.6 & a \\
3 & 7 & 56,561.2 & 13,731.6 & b \\ \hline
**Total N: Procedure** & & & & \\ ROZ & 5 & 797.778 & 3756.96 & a \\ LES & 9 & 9503.14 & 2459.51 & b \\ ZUP & 9 & 10,970.6 & 2459.51 & b \\ \hline
**Total N: Time stamp** & & & & \\
1 & 9 & 2894.48 & 2459.51 & a \\
2 & 7 & 5663.63 & 3175.21 & a,b \\
3 & 7 & 12,713.4 & 3175.21 & b \\ \hline
**Total P: Procedure** & & & & \\ ROZ & 5 & 5.74111 & 4.44921 & a \\ ZUP & 9 & 8.39 & 2.91269 & a \\ LES & 9 & 18.4811 & 2.91269 & b \\ \hline
**Total P: Time stamp** & & & & \\
1 & 9 & 13.71 & 2.91269 & b \\
2 & 7 & 15.6322 & 3.76027 & b \\
3 & 7 & 3.27 & 3.76027 & a \\ \hline
**pH: Procedure** & & & & \\ ROZ & 5 & 8.33333 & 0.135628 & b \\ ZUP & 9 & 8.57778 & 0.08879 & b \\ LES & 9 & 7.98889 & 0.08879 & a \\ \hline
**pH: Time stamp** & & & & \\
1 & 9 & 8.38889 & 0.08879 & b \\
2 & 7 & 8.56667 & 0.114627 & b \\
3 & 7 & 7.94444 & 0.114627 & a \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} \({}^{**}\) Different letters denote statistically significant differences between the means at 95% confidence level.  
\end{table} 
Table 3: Leachate parameters—[PERSON]’s multiple-range tests for two factors (nutrient quantity leached in mg/m2; pH values are overall). covering and was sheltered from rain and melting snow, which could have a substantial impact on the leachate quantity and concentration. It is recommended that compost piles are covered during the winter and during the periods of heavy rain [28]. [PERSON] [29] suggests that composting sites be covered or roofed to prevent excessive water in compost piles as a result of precipitation. In their lab studies using compost mixes from feedstocks (food waste, manure, leaves, corn stalks, switchgrass), [PERSON] et al. [30] discovered that the leachate NO\({}_{3}\) concentration from the fresh compost was 2.17 mg/L and increased to 1300 mg/L in mature compost. They claimed that mature compost poses a higher risk of NO\({}_{3}\) leaching than fresh compost, therefore preventive measures must be taken. In our experiment, the lowest values of NO\({}_{3}\) were found in the covered pile, ROZ. Because of the anaerobic conditions, aerobic nitrification is inhibited, resulting in low NO\({}_{3}\) concentrations in Bokashi leachates [31]. In terms of Total N, similar to the NH\({}_{4}\) trend, the interaction between Time stamp and Procedure was not s.s. The lowest values were recorded at the ROZ location (798 mg/m\({}^{2}\)), followed by LES (9503.14 mg/m\({}^{2}\)) and ZUP (10,970.60 mg/m\({}^{2}\)) locations. The highest loss of this parameter was recorded in Time stamp 3, followed by Time stamp 2 and Time stamp 1, resulting in 2894.48, 5663.63, and 12,713.40 mg/m\({}^{2}\), respectively. The Procedure \(\times\) Time stamp interaction was not significant. The composting procedure with Total P was s.s. (\(p\) = 0.0365); the lowest values were observed in pile ROZ, followed by pile ZUP. The amount was significantly higher in pile LES. When comparing Time stamps, total P in Time stamp 3 (3.27 mg/m\({}^{2}\)) was significantly lower than in the previous two time stamps (13.71 mg/m\({}^{2}\) in Time stamp 1 and 15.63 mg/m\({}^{2}\) in Time stamp 2). Although biochar has absorption properties, [PERSON] et al. [32] discovered that adding biochar to mature compost (25%:75% by volume) had no effect on nitrate, ortho-phosphorus, and dissolved organic carbon leaching when compared to compost alone.