Chemical characteristics of beddings for swine: Effects of bedding depths and of addition of inoculums in a pilot-scale

The effect of depths and of addition of inoculums on the chemical content of swine beddings was evaluated. For beddings 0.25 m (25D) and 0.50 m (50D) deep, three treatments were tested in two repeats with the same beddings: control (no inoculums); T1 (250 g of Bacillus cereus var. toyoii at 8.4 × 107 CFU/g); and T2 (250 g of a pool of Bacillus sp. at 8.4 × 107 CFU/g) (250 g for 25D and 500 g for 50D). For 25D, the C:N ratio was lower, but N, K and C contents were greater than for 50D (P < 0.05). The inoculums did not benefit any chemical parameter (P > 0.05). In the second repeat, beddings presented lower C:N ratio and greater N, P and K contents than in the first repeat (P < 0.05). Thus, the compost produced after using 25D twice had greater fertilizer value than that of 50D.