MOROCOMP (LIFE TCY05/MA000141) - Unit of Environmental ...

5.1.5.2. Measuring the temperature of the substrate
In the process of composting, microorganisms break down organic matter and
produce carbon dioxide, water, heat, and humus, the relatively stable organic end
product. Under optimal conditions, composting proceeds through three phases which
may have considerable overlap based on temperature gradients and differential
temperature effects on microorganisms. These are 1) the mesophilic, or moderatetemperature
phase, which lasts for a couple of days, 2) the thermophilic, or hightemperature
phase, which can last from a few days to several weeks, and finally, 3)
the cooling and maturation phase which results to the stabilisation of compost. Figure
2 presents the temperature evolution during the 1 st composting trial. The temperature
values are the mean values obtained from the temperature data loggers and the
temperature probe.
°C
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29
Time (Day)
Figure 2: Temperature profile during the 1 st composting trial
Temperature measurements during the 1 st composting trial showed that the substrate
passed from an initial mesophylic phase (