2026-11-12
Three ways to compost manure
| Windrow | Trough | Enclosed tank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Long piles on open ground or under a roof; a crawler turner straddles and turns each pile | Material sits in walled troughs; a turner runs along the walls and moves between troughs on a transfer trolley | Material is composted with forced aeration inside a closed tank |
| Typical size | Piles 2–3 m wide, 1–1.5 m high | Troughs 3–20 m wide, 0.8–1.5 m deep, 50–100 m long | Chamber 32–116 m³ (Renyuan range) |
| Composting time | About 10–15 days with inoculant and regular turning | About 15 days in summer, 25 in winter | Composting is completed inside the tank |
| Strengths | Low civil work; flexible pile layout | Standardised production; not affected by weather or season; low pollution | No odour release; handles manure up to about 80% moisture |
| Watch for | Needs a large yard; weather affects open sites | Trough construction; moisture above 65% risks a failed start | Batch volume is limited by chamber size |
Windrow turners
A crawler turner suits sites with yard space and gives the most flexible layout. Choose the turning width to match the windrow cross-section you plan.
| Model | Turning width | Reference capacity | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| RY-LFD2500 – RY-LFD3500 | 2.5–3.5 m | 577.5–1029 m³/h | up to 132 kW |
| RY-YFD3500 / RY-YFD4000 | 3.5 / 4.0 m | 1250 / 1596 m³/h | 160 / 194 kW |
| RY-YFD5000 | 5.0 m | 2205 m³/h | 247 kW |
| RY-YFD6000 | 6.0 m | 2574 m³/h | 306 kW |
| RY-YLD6000 | 6.0 m | 2772 m³/h | 315 kW |
Trough turners
Trough turners suit plants that want steady, year-round output. The trough width and depth fix the turner model.
| Model | Turning width | Turning depth | Reference capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| RY-ZFP-40A / 50A | 3.76 / 4.76 m | ≤1.0 m | 225.6 / 285.6 m³/h |
| RY-ZFP-40B / 50B | 3.76 / 4.76 m | ≤1.5 m | 338.4 / 428.4 m³/h |
| RY-ZFP-40AY – 50BY (hydraulic) | 3.74–4.74 m | ≤1.1–1.5 m | 246.84–426.6 m³/h |
The RY-YLF impeller turner also mixes, cools and aerates material in troughs, with working height adjustable to the material depth.
Composting controls that apply to every method
- Particle size under 10 mm.
- Moisture around 55–60% for troughs; above 65% risks a failed start.
- Bulking material with a C:N ratio of 20–80:1, typically at a manure-to-bulking ratio of about 3:1.
- Turn once the pile has held 60–70 °C for 24 hours.
How to decide
- Plenty of yard space and a lower civil budget: windrows with a crawler turner.
- Limited space, wet seasons or a need for standardised output: troughs with a trough turner.
- Strict odour limits or small daily volumes: an enclosed fermentation tank.
Renyuan equipment for this line
- RY-LFD Series Crawler Compost Turner
RY-LFD crawler turners mix and aerate composting windrows across several working widths. Start with windrow width, then check site access and the turning requirements of the selected model.
- Fully Hydraulic Crawler Compost Turner
The fully hydraulic RY-YFD4000 and RY-YFD3500 turn organic materials in ground-level windrows. The two widths allow the model to be matched to the composting layout and windrow size.
- RY-YFD5000 Semi-Hydraulic Crawler Compost Turner
RY-YFD5000 turns and mixes manure, straw and other organic materials in open windrows for aerobic composting. Its semi-hydraulic crawler arrangement includes a split-frame lifting design; check both windrow dimensions and transfer space.
- RY-YFD6000 Fully Hydraulic Crawler Compost Turner
RY-YFD6000 is a fully hydraulic crawler turner with a 6,000 mm turning width. It turns, mixes and aerates organic material in open windrows. Check pile cross-section, spacing between windrows and turning radius together.
- RY-ZFP Standard Trough Compost Turner
The standard RY-ZFP series turns and mixes organic material in fixed composting troughs. The 40/50 and A/B combinations have different widths, working depths and main motor ratings, so selection begins with the trough geometry.
- RY-ZFP Hydraulic Trough Compost Turner
A hydraulic-drive trough turner listed with four RY-ZFP models and model-specific dimensions and motor data.
- RY-YLF Impeller Compost Turner
An impeller turner for mixing, cooling and aerating material during organic-waste fermentation.
- Intelligent Aerobic Fermentation Tank
The aerobic fermentation tank combines a chamber, lifting feed system, aeration, hydraulics and biological odor treatment for manure and other organic materials. Compare chamber volume and the stated treatment quantity separately across the four sizes.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, windrow or trough composting?
Neither is better in general. Windrows need more yard space but less construction. Troughs give steadier output and are not affected by season. Choose by site, climate and odour requirements.
How wide should a composting trough be?
Typically 3–20 m wide and 0.8–1.5 m deep, depending on the turner. RY-ZFP trough turners work 3.74–4.76 m widths at depths up to 1.5 m.