International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture
Volume:10 Issue: 4, Autumn 2021

Purpose In Morocco, the olive industry has made remarkable progress thanks to the "Green Morocco Plan" adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture. In 2018, the total production was around 2,000,000 tons of olives, with a growth of 11.93% compared to the previous years. However, each year this activity generates millions of tons of liquid and solid pollutants "olive mill wastewater (OMW)" and "pomace", discharged directly into water streams without prior treatment, which creates serious ecological problems.Method This study focuses on the use of raw and diluted OMW for the fertilization of sorghum. The OMW were characterized, diluted (½ and ¼), and applied at a rate of 5 L /week /m2. Sorghum growth was monitored by studying physiological performance (transpiration, stomatal conductance, the intensity of photosynthesis, and the performance of photosystem II).Results The raw OMW is acidic, salty, highly loaded with organic (COD / BOD5 = 7.1> 3), and inorganic matter and polyphenol content of 9 g/L. All the parameters for monitoring the growth of sorghum are lower for plants irrigated by raw OMW, which are symptoms of water stress. Using the T-test, the plants irrigated by half-diluted OMW have yielded the same results as those of the control.Conclusion Despite the fact that the half dilution of OMW has proved promising results, we suggest that it should be pretreated before its use in sorghum irrigation to reduce its organic loads and acidity.

Purpose Incineration of plant biomass and refusing lignin rich effluent from paper industry to water bodies were seen as usual practice. This product-oriented research had a promising solution for recycling agro waste. Likewise, high quality handmade papers from dead-dry leaves of Ficus citrifolia, Swietenia mahagoni, Pinus roxburgii and Musa acuminate were obtained. Lignin was found to improve soil fertility and nutrient reservoir for microbial growth. So, this research managed and utilized lignin as liquid carriers to phosphate solubilizing bio-fertilizers (PSBs)- Meyerozyma gullerimondi and Providencia rettgeri.Method Handmade papers made were checked for quality by determining breaking length, burst factor, and gram per square meter (GSM). The essential nutrients in lignin waste were analyzed using FESEM-EDX (Field emission scanning electron microscope- energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy). This confirmed suitability of lignin as fermenting carrier media for phosphate solubilizing biofertilizer (PSBs). After fermentation, nutrients were quantified using Carbon Hydrogen Nitrogen Sulphur (CHNS analyzer), Inductively Coupled Plasma- Atomic Emission Spectroscopy and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The nutritional uptake studies of lignin PSBs were done on Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.Results Musa acuminate produced handmade papers with the highest breaking length and burst factor (1160 m, 10.43 kg/cm2) followed by Ficus citrifolia (960 m, 7.2 kg/cm2), Swietenia mahagoni (480 m, 13.75 kg/cm2) and Pinus roxburgii (546 m, 4.0 kg/cm2) leaves. This lignin PSBs increased the growth of Vigna unguiculata (L) plant.Conclusion High quality handmade papers were made from waste leaves. The lignin spent from pulping industry could be utilized as carriers to phosphate solubilizers.

Purpose This study aimed to compare the hydroponic strawberry production using the conventional nutrient solution and treated domestic sewage, seeking fertilizer savings and identifying its nutritional status and physicochemical and microbiological attributes of fruits.Method The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse under the nutrient film technique (NTF) hydroponic system, with three treatments: DW – drinking water and chemical fertilizers, TDSS – treated domestic sewage supplemented with chemical fertilizers, and TDS– only treated domestic sewage. Each treatment consisted of four cultivation benches, a motor pump system, a timer, and a 500-L container to store nutrient solution. Four hydroponic profiles with a capacity for 12 plants were used on each bench, totaling 48 plants per bench and 192 plants per treatment. These benches were divided into four randomized blocks. We compared the nutrient content of treated domestic sewage to the conventional nutrient solution, amount of nutrients used in treatments, microbiological quality and quantitative and qualitative aspects of fruits, nutritional status of plants.Results The TDS treatment showed a significant difference compared to the others, with visual symptoms of nutritional imbalance in plants, lower productivity, and fruits more acid with a smaller diameter. Soluble solids content showed no statistical difference between treatments and the microbiological quality of fruits, which showed no presence of Escherichia coli.Conclusion The use of treated domestic sewage to compose the nutrient solution allowed obtaining savings of 33% in chemical fertilizers in the TDSS treatment compared to DW.

Purpose To investigate the effect of vermicomposted kitchen, market and tea wastes on tomato growth and yield and assess the benefits and costs that arise.Method A field experiment arranged in the randomized complete block design with five experimental treatments: vermicomposted kitchen, market, tea wastes, NPK fertilizer and a control, replicated thrice was conducted. Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, number of flower stalks, fruit number, fruit weight, above-ground biomass, marketable tomato yield, soil nutrient content, pH, texture and exchangeable acidity. Data obtained were analyzed using SAS version 9.4 by subjecting to one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Biophysical crop data means were separated using Tukey’s Studentized Range (HSD) test at p=0.05 significance level. T-test was used to determine the difference in soil nutrient content (Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Carbon (C)) at the beginning and end of the study. The benefits and costs were analyzed using the benefit-cost ratio formula.Results The three vermicomposts had a similar effect (p>0.05) in influencing most of the tomato crop variables such as plant height, leaves number, branch number and flower stalks number. Tea waste vermicompost and kitchen waste vermicompost gave significantly high tomato yields of 115 t ha-1 and 113 t ha-1 at p=0.0001 as well as the highest benefit-cost ratio of 1.4:1.Conclusion Tea, market and kitchen wastes have a potential for use in the production of high-quality vermicompost that can be used as a soil amendment to enhance tomato performance.

Purpose Urban organic solid waste (UOSW) has great potential to be transformed into solid and liquid organic fertilizers, thus avoiding its accumulation in landfills and reducing the environmental impact caused by the generation of gases and leachates. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to study the management of the UOSW in the municipality of Paipa as raw material for obtaining solid organic fertilizer through composting and a liquid fertilizer through fermentation.Method The UOSW of Paipa was combined with inorganic salts such as carbonates, phosphates, sulfates and source of carbohydrates to enrich its bacterial load and chemical composition. The content of essential nutrients that contribute to good soil-plant synergy, heavy metals and pathogenic microorganisms  in the primary and final material were determined.Results The experiment showed a high COO load, between 24-35%, and similar values in  organic N content in the primary materials. Heavy metals were found below the minimum allowed by the CTS 5167 of 2011 for the organic solid residue, and no pathogenic microorganisms were found. Composting and fermentation processes improved the physical-chemical properties of the materials; however, the liquid mineral organic fertilizer did not comply with the established parameters, while the solid one was in compliance with the requirements.Conclusion After a period of 4 months, the study showed that solid UOSW from the municipality of Paipa can be used as a potential source for producing organic fertilizers by adding nutrients in mineral forms, complying with the nutrient requirements for plants and soil feeding organisms.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to to produce vermiwash and vermicompost using organic waste material and study its effect on the growth, development and yield of tomato plants(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in field condition. Method The experiment was carried out in two phases: the production of vermicompost followed by vermiwash using Eisenia foetida earthworms and the cultivation of tomato plants using the same. In the first phase of production of vermicompost,  three types of organic waste (dry grass clippings, dry neem leaves and a combination of dry grass clippings and dry neem leaves) were utilized with three replications. The second phase consisted of a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four treatments and three replications in the field condition. The treatments were control (C), vermicompost (V), vermiwash (W) and a combination of vermicompost and vermiwash (VW).ResultsThe results revealed that the vermicompost produced had a dark color, finely divided peat-like material, with desirable soil odor and a fine smooth texture and an adequate nutritional value, which was confirmed to have good quality. The vermiwash produced from the different vermicomposting bins was brownish colour liquid and had all the essential macro and micro-nutrients. The combination of vermicompost and vermiwash (0.05 kg + 0.05 l) significantly (p < 0.05) resulted in the highest yield followed by vermiwash (0.1 l) and vermicompost (0.1 kg).Conclusion The combination of vermicompost and vermiwash as a bio-fertilizer had a positive effect on the plant growth parameters and production of the tomato plants.

Purpose Crude oil pollution adversely affects the environment and its remediation presents significant challenge due to its complex nature. Bioremediation approaches have proved effective and the use of organic wastes makes the process eco-friendly. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of organic manures amendments of crude oil polluted soil on the growth and performance of maize (Zea mays L.) under potted environment at the botanic garden of University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.Method The loamy soils in different pots (5.0 kg each) were polluted with crude oil in six factorial treatments set (0.0%, 2.0%, 4.0%, 6.0%, 8.0% and 10.0%) and allowed for two weeks. Thereafter, the polluted soils were subjected to different organic manure amendment: poultry-manure, cow-dung, saw-dust, combined poultry-manure + cow-dung, combined poultry-manure + saw-dust and combined cow-dung + saw-dust manures with two sets of control: polluted soil + no organic manure and non-polluted soil + no organic manure. The amended soils were allowed for two weeks before sowing viable maize seeds and the seedling monitored every two weeks after germination for a period of eight weeks.Results Crude oil pollution impaired the maize seed germination, growth and development. Organic manures amendments of polluted-soil significantly improved (P < 0.05) maize plant agronomic characteristics with combined manures especially poultry-manure + cow-dung showing highest improvement than other combined or single manure treatment.Conclusion Combined organic manures amendments of crude oil polluted soil especially cow-dung + saw-dust were found to be environmentally friendly and beneficial for maize crop production.

Purpose Improving physio-chemical properties under irrigation regime by using natural conditioners to achieve the highest possible crop yield and water productivity.Method  A field experiment was conducted in a split-plot design with three replicates by addition of canal clay scouring (CS) and compost (CO) during two consecutive growing winter seasons of 2018/19 and 2019/20. The treatments were: control (100% and75% of water requirements), 20 and 40 (ton. ha-1) of CO and 40 and 80 (ton. ha-1) of CS as alone or mixed with each other under drip irrigation.Results The results showed that soil organic matter and cation exchange capacity increased by increasing the application rates of CO and CS. The lowest values of bulk and hydraulic conductivity were observed at 80 ton. ha-1 CS +40 ton. ha-1 CO. Also, field capacity, wilting point and available water were 20.94,5.97 and5.07%, respectively. The lowest values of ETa were observed at 80 ton. ha-1 CS +40 ton. ha-1 CO under 75% water irrigation requirement in all growth stages. The highest rates of the studied materials as a mixture gave a significant increase in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents of grains and straw of wheat crop. The highest yield of straw and grain were 9523.81 and 6428.57 kg ha-1, respectively. Also, it could be observed that the highest percentage of CWP and IWP were 21.05 and 14.53%, respectively, under 75% irrigation water requirement.Conclusion Application of clay and compost can improve soil physio-chemical properties, water productivity and crop yield under irrigation water regime.

Purpose In this study, the effects of green manure and animal waste on economic of strawberry yield, fruit quality and soil fertility were investigated.Method The experiment was set up with four replicates in a randomized complete block design. The treatments consisted of green manure parcels divided into two parts and green manure + poultry manure slurry were given to one part, and the other part was not applied complete. Seed planting was carried out in the first year of the experiment (2015) while strawberry plants were removed during the second year (2016) and the seeds of green manure plants were planted. Soja hispida [Soja] and Vigna sinensis [Cowpea] plants were mown and mixed into the soil when they were in bloom.Results The results from the study shows that the yield realized from control plot during first year was between 10.68 and  22.33 t ha-1, second year yield was between 8.81  and 23.39 t ha-1 and  third year was 10.68 and 16.98 t ha-1. After harvest, soil organic matter content increased by 12% in the first year and 5.10% in the second year in green manure + poultry manure slurry application, the total nitrogen content increased by 75% in the first year and 10% in the second year. In the fruit, it gave higher content of Vitamin C and nitrate level.Conclusion From our findings, it was discovered that green manure and poultry manure slurry gave better results in terms of fruit yield, quality, soil fertility and economy.

Purpose Shortage, high prices and adverse effects of fertilizers drive to hunt alternative sources (such as compost) for crop husbandry and environment sustainability. A field trial was executed to observe the effect of various composts on growth and macronutrients' concentration in fodder maize (Zea mays L. cv. Akbar).Method The treatments with four repeats included: Control (No amendment), Recommended NPK, Water hyacinth compost, Fruits + vegetables compost, and Banana leaves compost; each compost was supplemented at the rate of 15 tons ha-1. The experimental soil was fine textured (clayey), slightly alkaline in reaction, non-saline, poor in organic matter content, calcareous in nature, low in nitrogen, marginal in phosphorus and adequate in potassium.Results The supplementation of composts and NPK fertilizer significantly increased the growth and yield parameters (plant height up to 26%, number of leaves plant-1 up to 20%, stem girth up to 22%, and fresh weight of maize fodder up to 25%), and the concentrations of selected macronutrients (N up to 46%, P up to 27%, and K up to 38%) in maize leaves with respect to control. There was no significant variation among various compost treatments and NPK fertilizer application for defined parameters, except for P concentration in maize leaves. A significant enhancement in macronutrients' concentrations in surface and subsurface soil, over control plots, has also been observed where inorganic and organic applications were made.Conclusion We conclude that compost should be included in maize husbandry for enhanced productivity and quality and to minimize the dependence on inorganic fertilizers.