Variabilidade espacial do conteúdo de umidade da cama e do ambiente térmico em sistema compost barn

Abstract

In compost barn type systems, spatial variability can be used to explain the organization and agglomeration of animals at certain points in the shed. This heterogeneous distribution of animals can result in compaction of the bed, accumulation of organic waste, which will influence the humidity of the bed and the final quality of the compost material. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate if the thermal environment of the compost barn system influences the microclimate of the shed, the temperature variation and the moisture content of the bed. The microclimatic variables (wind speed, air temperature and relative humidity) were collected at 108 points of the shed located in the São Luiz do Chopim community, in the city of Dois Vizinhos - PR, from October 2017 to February 2018, totaling nine collections. The intervals were regular 2.5 m in mesh form, together with the temperature and humidity of the bed, which were obtained at 20 cm depth. Statistical analysis was performed using geo-statistics, and the statistical software R was applied through the geoR package. The thermal environment of the system influences the variation of the moisture content of the bed. The wind velocity found was below recommended, as well as the temperature and moisture content of the bed, resulting in almost non-existent composting. While the relative air humidity was within the literature referenced, it can be used compost barn system in regions of tropical climate without interference to thermal stress and consequently to animal welfare.