MICROBIAL THERMOGENESIS IN THE DECOMPOSITION OF PLANT MATERIALS IV

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The influence of moisture content and the initial temp. on the rate of biological heat production from decomposing oat straw under adiabatic conditions was studied, using the apparatus described by Norman, Richards, and Carlyle (1941) modified somewhat in the design of the decomposition (fermentation) vessel. The series of initial temps. studied was 20[degree], 25[degree], and 30[degree]C. At the lower initial temps. the incubation period was considerably prolonged. The largest hourly increments of temp. rise occurred when the initial temp. was 30[degree]C. The largest hourly increments of temp. rise in each expt. occurred when the temp. had risen about 4[degree] to 8[degree] above the starting temp. The series of moisture contents studied was 275, 225, 150, 100, and 75%. Microbiological activity, as measured by heat production, was highest at the higher moisture content. Although decomposition and heat production were less at the lower moisture contents, the lesser heat capacities of the systems resulted in substantially similar rates of temp. rise at all the moisture contents studied. Since the heat capacity of the apparatus constituted a larger proportion of the total at the low than at the high moisture levels, the data suggest that the more rapid rates of heat rise may occur at moisture contents considerably below the biological optimum.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: