3.1.3. Moisture content
The moisture content tended to decrease due to the combination
of high temperature levels and aeration during the thermophilic
phase and was controlled by applying water at each
sampling date and by humidifying the inlet air. The initial moisture
content (66% of wet weight) was reduced in all experiments to
reach an average moisture content of 41 ± 7% (CV = 11%) of the
wet weight, remaining above the minimum moisture content of
40% suggested by Haug (1993) for optimal composting conditions
(Table 1). However, the composting process may have been temporarily
limited by low moisture content in a few cases due to compost
drying by the airflow although optimal moisture contents
were restored in all cases by water addition on sampling dates