The objective was to evaluate the differences between distinct types of litter material and their combinations in the dynamics of degradation on the organic matter fractions and the quality of the final compound. The treatments were established according to material used as substrate for broiler litter: treatment 1 - rice husks; 2 - sugar cane bagasse; 3 - wood shavings; 4 - wood shavings + sugar cane bagasse; 5 - rice husks + sugar cane bagasse; and 6 - Napier grass. The following variables were monitored: temperature, levels of total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), mass and volume of the pile, fibrous fraction, and levels and reductions of N, P and K during the process. Piles formed with Napier grass and sugar cane bagasse presented the highest average temperatures during composting. The greater average reductions in TS and VS were attained in piles with sugar cane bagasse (68.12 and 73.07%, for TS and VS, respectively). The reductions of greatest volume occurred in piles with sugar cane bagasse (52.08%), followed by Napier grass (50.56%). Poultry litters composed of rice husks and wood shavings presented 13.21 and 10.23% of lignin, respectively, which contributed to the lower degradation of fibrous fraction and degradability. Substrates with lower lignin content were those with greatest organic matter degradation rate and had reduced losses of N levels during the process. Composting performance is affected by the initial substrate used to compose the poultry litter.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a interferência do tempo de acúmulo sobre o desempenho do processo de biodigestão anaeróbia de dejetos de aves de postura. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos que constaram de 1, 8, 15 e 22 dias de acúmulo dos dejetos, efetuando-se cinco repetições por tratamento, totalizando assim 20 biodigestores. Foram utilizados biodigestores do tipo batelada de bancada com capacidade útil para 3 litros de substrato em fermentação. A eficiência do processo de biodigestão foi avaliada pelas reduções de sólidos totais (ST), sólidos voláteis (SV), número mais provável (NMP) de coliformes totais e termotolerantes, além das produções e dos potenciais de produção de biogás. Foram observadas reduções significativas dos conteúdos de SV presentes nos dejetos de aves à medida que se aumentaram os dias de acúmulo, sendo observados teores de SV (em % dos ST) de 97,1 e 75,6% no primeiro e após 22 dias de acúmulo, respectivamente. A redução de SV contribuiu para reduzir a produção e os potenciais de produção do biogás à medida que se aumentaram os dias de acúmulo, sendo observada redução de 37,2% no potencial de produção de biogás kg de SV-1 entre o menor e maior período de acúmulo, ou seja, 6,81 litros de biogás a menos por dia de acúmulo para cada kg de SV adicionado. Também foram observadas reduções de 100% no NMP de coliformes totais e termotolerantes ao final do processo, independente do tratamento testado. O tempo de estocagem contribui para reduzir os potenciais de produção de biogás dos dejetos de aves de postura.

The objective was to evaluate the interference of the time of accumulation of waste on the performance of the anaerobic digestion process of waste from laying hens. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four treatments, which observed 1, 8, 15 and 22 days of accumulated waste with five repetitions per treatment, with a total of 20 digesters. It was used batch digesters of bench with useful capacity of 3 liters of substrate fermentation. The efficiency of digestion was evaluated by reductions in total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), most probable number (MPN) of total and thermotolerant coliforms, beyond the production and potential of biogas production. There were significant reductions in the levels of VS present in the laying hens waste as it increased the days of accumulation, being observed a level of VS (in percent of TS) of 97.1 and 75.6% of VS for 1 and 22 days of accumulation, respectively. The reduction in VS contributed to reduce the production and potential of biogas production as it increased the days of accumulation, and observed a 37.2% of reduction in the potential production of biogas kg VS-1 between the lowest and longer period of accumulation, or 6.81 liters less per day accumulation for each kg of VS added. It was also observed reductions of 100% in the MPN of total and thermotolerant coliforms at the end of the process, independent of the tested treatment. The storage time reduces the potential production of biogas from manure layers.