International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture
Volume:12 Issue: 1, Winter 2023

Takakura Composting Method (TCM) is a simple and cost-effective aerobic composting method using locally available materials and has been widely introduced in Indonesia and other countries. This study tracked the progress of scaling the TCM up to 1 tonne/day of organic waste input at the decentralised composting centre in Bandung City, Indonesia. A comparative study was conducted to assess the environmental and economic impacts by using the performance data of TCM.

 A combination of Life Cycle Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis were performed to compare the net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and Net Present Value (NPV) of six different municipal solid waste treatment scenarios to treat 1 tonne of food waste. The impacts were also assessed between different system boundaries with or without compost use, and by applying different emission factors for composting to the static windrow and TCM.

  Home composting showed the least GHG emissions (-601 kg CO2-eq/t) and highest NPV (Indonesian Rupiahs (IDR) 518,790/tonne) and is thus suggested to be the most favourable option. While the least favourable options were either landfilling which showed the highest GHG emissions (628 kg CO2-eq/t), or incineration which showed the lowest NPV (IDR -818,373/tonne).

 As the home composting was not considered to be a realistic option for wide application, a combination of one large centralised composting centre and a small decentralised composting centre in each sub-district is suggested in the case of Bandung City.

Purpose:

 Poultry litter (PL) and basalt rock powder (BRP) are raw materials highly produced in some Brazilian regions. The association of these products can generate greater added value for the agribusiness chain and be a sustainable source of fertilizer.

Method:

 The experiment consisted of an incubation trial over time for chemical characterization of the materials. The treatments used were the mixtures 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 g of BRP per 100 g of PL, as well as the pure PL and BRP controls. During the incubation period, the atmospheric releases of CO2 (40 days) and N-NH3 (43 days) were determined. At the end of the process, the chemical quantification of the essential elements in all treatments was performed.

Results:

 In our study, we observed that adding 30% of BRP to the PL promoted less volatilization and a faster stabilization of the N-NH3 release, associated with a greater release of CO2 into the atmosphere. The extractable P and K contents decreased starting with treatment T30. The T10 treatment showed the highest total nutrient contents, although it showed no statistical difference for some nutrients when compared with PL.

Conclusion:

 The use of up to 30% of BRP in PL can be an economic and advantageous alternative for sustainable agricultural fertilization.

Purpose :

The main aim of this study was to treat olive mill wastewater (OMW) using a photo-Fenton's solar reactor;  to investigate its potential use as liquid fertilizer and to evaluate its impact on pepper crop.

Method:

 Olive mill wastewater was collected in a tank 1000 L and supplemented with 2000 gr FeSO4.7H2o. After that, 150 ml H2O2 was added to the tank to start Fenton's reactor. The treated OMWwas collected in a container and NaOH with a concentration of 1 M was added to improve the pH of the treated OMW. Pepper seedlings were cultivated on 16 February, 2020 inside the greenhouse for a period of five months. The treated OMW was used as liquid fertilizer and compared with chemical fertilizer as control.

Results :

The pH and electrical conductivity of treated OMW were 7.5 and 7.6 dS/m, respectively. Furthermore, the control produced the highest yield and fruit number significantly (p < 0.05) compared to the other treatments, followed by OMW treated by stabilization bond (SB-OMW100%). Also the treatments fertilized by OMW treated by solar reactor (SR-OMW50%) and stabilization bond (SB-OMW100%) produced the same plant length at the end of the growing period.

Conclusion :

The concentrations of N, P, and K of treated OMW (0.21, 0.06, and 0.68 respectively) were quite low and supplementary fertilization was necessary to improve the nutrients value of the treated OMW. The solar reactor could be a valuable and useful tool in treatment of olive mill wastewater for agricultural purposes mainly on small scale sites.

Purpose :

The leather industry produces huge quantities of proteinous solid wastes and is being dumped or improperly utilized resulting in economical losses or causing an environmental problem. An efficient, low-cost procedure was developed to convert animal fleshings into plant growth promoters (PGP).

Method :

The fleshings were hydrolyzed and analyzed for moisture, fat, ash, and nitrogen contents. The protein hydrolysate is incorporated with phosphorous and potassium in a suitable method to convert into plant growth promoters. The obtained product is characterized and field application studies have been conducted with ladyfinger plants (Abelmoschus esculentus).

Results :

The detailed characterization of PGPs through physicochemical analyses gave a deeper understanding of microstructures. Spectroscopic features and FT-IR studies confirmed the potential of PGP.  The bio-metric results have shown that the application of plant growth promoter yielded better results and chemical characteristics.

Conclusion:

 Hence this study provided a viable solution for the conversion of proteinous solid wastes into plant growth promoters.

Purpose:

 This study investigated the potentials of crop residues to improve the growth and yield of plantain as well as its proximate compositions.

Method:

 Biochar, Cocoa pod husk and Rice bran were applied at the rates 4, 6, 8, and 10 tons/hectare after three weeks of sucker establishment on experimental plots. The experiments were carried out in two different locations; FUTA and Ejigbo, and were laid out in a completely randomized block design with four replications. The following growth parameters including leaf number, plant height, stem girth, leaf area, and sucker number were monitored for six consecutive months commencing from 90 days after sucker establishment while the yield parameters including bunch weight, finger number, finger girth, bunch length, and yield per hectare were determined during harvesting. These parameters were determined for both parents and ratoon. Also, the proximate composition of the plantain was determined.

Results:

 There was no statistically significant difference for all the growth parameters determined in both FUTA and Ejigbo locations for both the parent and ratoon crops except the leaf area which increased significantly in amended soils compared to the control. All amendments produced higher bunch weight, finger number, and yield per hectare compared to the control. The different soil amendments did not alter the proximate compositions of the plantain significantly for the two locations.

Conclusion:

 It is therefore concluded that crop residues especially cocoa pod husk at the rate of 10 tons/hectare be used as alternative to mineral fertilizers to enhance soil health and productivity.

Purpose:

 Coir dust was utilized to manufacture soilless mixture for ornamental plant reproduction. Coconut coir provides more air and moisture to the root zone. Growing medium with coir does not shrink from container walls upon drying.

Method:

 This study was performed in a greenhouse, Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Zabol during 2019-2020; the experiment carried out on a completely randomized design with 4 treatments, 8 months of measuring and 3 replications. Treatments had contained equal volume ratio of coco peat+ rice hull; coco peat + spent mushroom compost, cocopeat + leaf mold, coco peat + perlite. Measurable factors like plant height, stem diameter, number of new leaves, fresh and dry weight of leaves and the amount of chlorophyll were assessed for comparison of pothos growth, and finally plants had compared as stated by their general form and morphology too. Characteristics were analyzed with SPSS software and mean comparisons were represented by Duncan test in P≤ 0.05.

Results:

 The findings showed that the variables such as substrate, months of measuring and their interplays had significant effects on all factors (except stem diameter). Mainly, media containing leaf-mold characteristics such as plant height, leaf number and leaf area were better than the others. The results of cocopeat + spent mushroom compost were nearly similar to cocopeat + leaf-mold, but two other media didn’t show good growth after 8 months. On the other hand, growth rate of the plants improved by warming the air from autumn to summer and the most growth rate were related to July.

Purpose:

 Rice biomass waste can  be used as a soil amendment. This study examined the effect of the application of rice husk biochar and straw compost on several soil properties and yields of rice and soybeans in tropical upland. 

Method:

  Field experiments were carried out with two applications of rice husk biochar and straw compost on upland rice and soybean cultivation, respectively. Three-levels of rice husk biochar application (5, 10, and 20 t ha-1) and straw compost (5 t ha-1) along with the control. The changes in soil chemical properties like pH, C, N, CEC, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, and physical properties including soil bulk density, particle density, total porosity, macropores, micropores, permeability, and soil water content at various pressures were measured. The grain yields of rice and soybean were also recorded.

Results:

 Total-C and exchangeable-K increased after the second application of rice husk biochar and straw compost. There was a significant improvement in total porosity and micro-pores, soil water content especially at PF 2.54 (0.33 Pa) and PF 4.2 (15 Pa), and increased soybean yield compared to control. Based on the overall results, we got a significant effect of rice husk biochar at higher doses (10 and 20 t ha-1).

Conclusion :

The application of rice husk biochar (at doses 10 or 20 t ha-1) and straw compost 5 t ha-1 gave a positive effect on several soil properties including total-C, soil porosity, and soil water content, especially at pF 2.54 and pF 4.2, and also increased soybean yields.

Purpose:

 Organic residues of coffee pulp, sugarcane bagasse and mature bovine manure are a source of organic matter and nutrients for the multiplication of endomycorrhizae consortia. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to multiply the AMFs in such substrates to decrease soil and water pollution.

Method:

 A pot experiment under greenhouse conditions was conducted in order to evaluate the influence of agricultural residues (C2-GEC, C3-PAR, C12-PRO, C14-ZAR) with different genera of endomycorrhizae isolated from semi-arid soils, 75 days after the crop was established. Agronomic characteristics and mineral content of N, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe in root and shoot were evaluated in wheat (Triticum aestivum).

Results :

Multiplication of endomycorrhizae was influenced by the residue type. Greater production of spores was observed in the coffee pulp, followed by the sugarcane bagasse, where a higher colonization was obtained in combination of C2-GEC and C3-PAR consortia. This consortia combination also was one of those that have increased the content of N, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe in roots and shoots of wheat.

Conclusion:

 Combination of native endomycorrhiza substrates and consortia provides an alternative tool that benefits the physiology and nutrition of the plant to be used in sustainable agricultural production systems.

Purpose :

Our study concerned the recovery and reuse of sludge from aquaculture system implemented in Ain Defla District situated in the North-West of Algeria. As a biotreatment and ecological stabilization technique, vermicomposting of aquacultural sludge with Eisenia fetida earthworms has been advocated. The main goals were to assessthe impact of vermicomposting on the quality of aquacultural sludge in terms of stabilization and hygienization, and to investigate its potential use in agriculture as a biofertilizer without compromising the quality of agricultural products.

Method :

The vermicompost was used to amend the soil and assess its impact on some growth parameters of Phaseolus vulgaris.L snap bean was considered. The physical and chemical parameters of sludge were also evaluated.

Results:

 Significant increase of earthworms’weight and length by more than 27 and 22%, respectively, after 21 days of sludge vermicomposting was obtained. Also, significant differences were noted for selected plants’ agronomic parameters in soils amended with aquacultural sludge, compared to the control (unamended soil). In fact, beans with vermicomposted sludge had substantial increases in plant height, leaves weight, and chlorophyll (a) level of 29 cm, 3.6 g, and 0.8 g/g, respectively, compared to 20 cm, 1.5 g, and 0.46 g/g in control.The results also showed that the vermicomposting process allowed for decreased faecal coliforms and streptococcus in the aquacultural sludge.

Conclusion:

 The end-product was a safe biofertilizer for use in agriculture.

Purpose :

Scarcity of effective manures frustrates the adoption of organic-based soil fertility management in tropical agriculture. Cattle dung (CD) is hugely generated but underutilised due to its high carbon-nitrogen ratio and low mineralisation rate compared with poultry droppings (PD), hence the need to enhance CD's efficacy.

Method:

 Effects of CD utilisation options on fertility of sandy-loam Ultisols and maize growth were assessed under glasshouse conditions. Four options, CD in its cured form (CD), CD-derived biochar (BC), CD water-soaked CD fermentate (FM) and CD+urea (CDU), were assessed against cured PD and NPK-15:15:15 as reference manure and fertilizer, respectively, using 5-kg potted soils watered to and maintained at field capacity. Organic amendments were added at 10-t-ha–1 equivalents before sowing except FM added alongside CDU’s urea at 250 kg ha–1 equivalent after sowing. Also, NPK-15:15:15 was added at 400 kg ha–1 equivalent after sowing.

Results :

After 9 weeks, BC, CDU and PD had similar effects on soil pH, organic matter, total N and available P which increased by 49-51%, 30-34%, 200-333% and 164-176%, respectively relative to the control. The BC always showed maize plants similar to the tallest ones in PD. Maize dry matter was the highest in CDU/PD (35.06-35.56 g pot–1) and the lowest in control (9.56 g pot–1). Residual effects showed that BC and PD maintained the increases in soil pH, while CDU/PD always showed tallest plants and enhanced dry matter over the rest except BC. Soil pH, Mg2+ and base saturation together caused 93% of treatments’ effects on dry matter.

Conclusion:

 Converting CD to BC or supplementing it with urea (CDU) in coarse-textured tropical soils could have prolonged liming and/or biomass productivity-enhancing effects as PD.