Waste Management Through Composting: Benefits, New Insights and Challenges, 2nd Edition

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are composing a topic with the title “Waste Management Through Composting: Benefits, New Insights and Challenges, 2nd Edition”, based around the notion that most residues of domestic and agricultural origin are bio-waste, with high value for obtaining diverse end-products of interest, one of which is compost. Different technologies have been developed over recent decades for the production of compost, among which aerobic composting represents the most frequently used and studied operation, and has yielded many innovative ideas for improving the composting process and optimizing the application of the respective valuated products as soil amendment. In this topic, we intend to offer a platform for presenting such innovative approaches and offering strategies for their optimization (e.g., the utilization of additives and microorganisms) and adaption for use in agriculture, as well as showing their applicability as tools for ecological restoration, soil remediation, or amelioration. In addition, we appreciate the submission of contributions discussing compost use for the elaboration of growing media and biofertilizers, as well as their potential application as C sequestration amendments in smart agriculture. We believe that this topic may be of interest to you, and thus we cordially invite you to submit a manuscript. We look forward to receiving your contribution.

Dr. Jorge Medina
Prof. Dr. Heike Knicker
Dr. Humberto Aponte
Dr. Marcela Calabi-Floody
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Agronomy agronomy	4.1	7.6	2011	17.7 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Biomass biomass	6.1	6.7	2021	19.3 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Clean Technologies cleantechnol	5.9	9.4	2019	20.9 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Environments environments	4.3	5.7	2014	18.6 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Fermentation fermentation	4.1	7.7	2015	16.8 Days	CHF 2100	Submit
Resources resources	4.3	7.3	2012	20.3 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Soil Systems soilsystems	4.1	6.9	2017	32.7 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	4.1	8.9	2009	16.9 Days	CHF 2400	Submit

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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All Sustainability Agronomy Environments Resources Fermentation Clean Technol. Soil Systems Biomass

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23 pages, 975 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Biochar as an Additive in Co-Composting: Impacts on Physicochemical Properties, Enzyme Activity, and Substrate Quality

by Gonzalo Carreño, Ricardo Marambio, Uri Aceituno-Valenzuela, Humberto Aponte, Marcela Calabi-Floody, Rodrigo Ivan Contreras-Soto, Claudia Rojas and Jorge Medina

Agronomy 2026, 16(13), 1268; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16131268 - 30 Jun 2026

Viewed by 292

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable alternatives to non-renewable growing media components, such as sphagnum peat, has driven interest in compost–biochar combinations as high-quality horticultural substrates. Nevertheless, the effects of incorporating biochar at the onset of co-composting on process dynamics and the quality of [...] Read more.

The growing demand for sustainable alternatives to non-renewable growing media components, such as sphagnum peat, has driven interest in compost–biochar combinations as high-quality horticultural substrates. Nevertheless, the effects of incorporating biochar at the onset of co-composting on process dynamics and the quality of the resulting end-products remain poorly understood and insufficiently characterized. This study evaluated the influence of hardwood residue-derived biochar as an additive on the co-composting of corn stover and swine manure under greenhouse conditions over 94 days. Three treatments were established: a Control (C; without biochar), CB1 (10% v/v biochar), and CB2 (20% v/v biochar), each with three replicates. Physicochemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, water holding capacity, bulk density, particle size distribution, total organic carbon), enzyme activities (FDA hydrolysis, dehydrogenase, urease, arginine ammonification, acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase), compost stability (Solvita^® test), and phytotoxicity (germination index) were monitored throughout the process and at process completion. Results showed that biochar addition significantly influenced physicochemical and biological parameters in a dose-dependent manner. The CB2 treatment reduced electrical conductivity by 46% relative to the Control (1.87 vs. 3.45 mS/cm) and increased water-holding capacity by 32% (479 vs. 364%), while all treatments met the Chilean composting standard NCh 2880. Enzyme activities were generally higher in the Control and CB1 treatments, indicating that high biochar rates may limit microbial activity due to recalcitrant carbon inputs, yet a 20% biochar addition improved compost maturity and reduced phytotoxicity. These findings indicate that, within the tested range (10–20% v/v), biochar incorporation appears to enhance the quality, supporting its potential as a sustainable component in growing media formulations as an alternative to peat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Waste Management Through Composting: Benefits, New Insights and Challenges, 2nd Edition)

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25 pages, 4266 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Back-Mixing Accelerates Pleuromutilin Degradation and Improves the Composting Performance of Pleuromutilin Mycelial Residue Without Aggravating Antibiotic Resistance Risk

by Jingze Guan, Yanqiong Wang, Xuesong Hui, Peng Wang, Huiling Liu and Xiaohu Dai

Sustainability 2026, 18(12), 6210; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18126210 - 16 Jun 2026

Viewed by 293

Abstract

Back-mixing has been widely applied during practical composting to initiate the process and improve compost product quality. However, for antibiotic mycelial residue (AMR), a fermentation by-product containing residual antibiotics, the ecological safety of this treatment remains unclear. In this study, pleuromutilin mycelial residue [...] Read more.

Back-mixing has been widely applied during practical composting to initiate the process and improve compost product quality. However, for antibiotic mycelial residue (AMR), a fermentation by-product containing residual antibiotics, the ecological safety of this treatment remains unclear. In this study, pleuromutilin mycelial residue (PMR) was subjected to a 35-day aerobic composting experiment with a back-mixing treatment (T group) and the conventional composting group (CK group) to evaluate composting performance and antibiotic resistance risk. The results demonstrated that the T group exhibited more rapid heating and a higher degree of humification. Additionally, the T group not only exhibited faster pleuromutilin degradation, reaching below the detection limit 3 days earlier than in the CK group, but also achieved up to a 3.1-fold reduction in antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and a 93.2% overall reduction in mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Redundancy analysis (RDA), variance partitioning analysis (VPA), and co-occurrence network analysis indicated that microbial community structure appeared to be more strongly associated with ARG variation than MGEs under the tested conditions. Overall, back-mixing accelerated pleuromutilin degradation and enhanced PMR composting performance, while no substantial enrichment of the detected ARGs was observed under the tested composting conditions. This study provides a scientific basis for the safe resource utilization of AMR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Waste Management Through Composting: Benefits, New Insights and Challenges, 2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 1403 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Beyond the C/N Ratio: The Critical Role of Carbon Bioavailability in Aerobic Composting of Agricultural Waste

by Bo Shen, Xiaoyan Zheng, Lili Zheng, Yang Yang, Dao Xiao, Zhanwu Sheng, Yiqiang Wang and Binling Ai

Clean Technol. 2026, 8(2), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol8020046 - 1 Apr 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1224

Abstract

The initial carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio is a fundamental parameter for aerobic composting, with a generally recommended optimal range of 25:1 to 30:1. However, in practical applications, the optimal C/N ratio often deviates from the recommended value. We attribute this discrepancy to the limitations [...] Read more.

The initial carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio is a fundamental parameter for aerobic composting, with a generally recommended optimal range of 25:1 to 30:1. However, in practical applications, the optimal C/N ratio often deviates from the recommended value. We attribute this discrepancy to the limitations of traditional stoichiometric methods in assessing the bioavailability of carbon and nitrogen sources. This study investigated how carbon bioavailability governs composting efficiency and product quality. Laboratory-scale aerobic composting experiments were conducted using six types of raw crop straws and two physically pretreated straws, representing a biodegradability gradient. Results demonstrated that carbon bioavailability significantly modulated the composting performance. Substrates rich in labile carbon pool (LCP), such as wheat straw and extruded cassava plant residue, demonstrated superior thermogenesis, humification, and seed germination indices compared to those dominated by recalcitrant carbon pool (RCP), such as untreated cassava plant residue. Principal component analysis confirmed a strong positive correlation between LCP content and key quality indicators. Microbiological analysis revealed that carbon source variations shaped bacterial succession: Bacteroidota abundance correlated positively with LCP, driving rapid initial degradation, whereas Pseudomonadota were more abundant in RCP-rich treatments, suggesting a role in complex polymer breakdown. This study confirmed that carbon bioavailability, rather than the bulk C/N ratio alone, is a critical limiting factor. This finding logically extends to the role of nitrogen bioavailability, suggesting that a “biochemical C/N ratio”—accounting for the lability of both carbon and nitrogen—could be a more accurate predictor of aerobic composting performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Waste Management Through Composting: Benefits, New Insights and Challenges, 2nd Edition)

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11 pages, 1181 KB  

Open AccessCommunication

Out of the Box: Let’s Talk About Invasive Biomass

by Joana Jesus, Cristina Máguas and Helena Trindade

Resources 2026, 15(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources15010002 - 23 Dec 2025

Viewed by 811

Abstract

The increasing challenges posed by climate change demand holistic approaches to mitigate ecosystem degradation. In Mediterranean-type regions—biodiversity hotspots facing intensified droughts, fires, and biological invasions—such strategies are particularly relevant. Among invasive species, Acacia longifolia produces substantial woody and leafy biomass when removed, offering [...] Read more.

The increasing challenges posed by climate change demand holistic approaches to mitigate ecosystem degradation. In Mediterranean-type regions—biodiversity hotspots facing intensified droughts, fires, and biological invasions—such strategies are particularly relevant. Among invasive species, Acacia longifolia produces substantial woody and leafy biomass when removed, offering an opportunity for reuse as soil-improving material after adequate processing. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of invasive A. longifolia Green-waste compost (Gwc) as a soil amendment to promote soil recovery and native plant establishment after fire. A field experiment was carried out in a Mediterranean ecosystem using Arbutus unedo, Pinus pinea, and Quercus suber planted in control and soils treated with Gwc. Rhizospheric soils were sampled one year after plantation, in Spring and Autumn, to assess physicochemical parameters and microbial community composition (using composite samples) through Next-Generation Sequencing. Our study showed that Gwc-treated soils exhibited higher moisture content and nutrient availability, which translated into improved plant growth and increased microbial richness and diversity when compared with control soils. Together, these results demonstrate that A. longifolia Gwc enhances soil quality, supports increased plant fitness, and promotes a more diverse microbiome, ultimately contributing to faster ecosystem recovery. Transforming invasive biomass into a valuable resource could offer a sustainable, win–win solution for ecological rehabilitation in fire-affected Mediterranean environments, enhancing soil and ecosystem functioning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Waste Management Through Composting: Benefits, New Insights and Challenges, 2nd Edition)

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