Standardizing the Quality of Composts Using Stability and Maturity Indices: The Use of Sawdust and Rice Husks as Compost Feed Stocks — Oak Academic Publishing
Research ArticleOpen AccessGoogle Scholar indexed
Standardizing the Quality of Composts Using Stability and Maturity Indices: The Use of Sawdust and Rice Husks as Compost Feed Stocks
Department of Horticulture, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
,
Department of Horticulture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
,
Department of Horticulture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
1 Department of Horticulture, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
2 Department of Horticulture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
3 Department of Horticulture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Many organic materials found in urban areas of sub-Saharan Africa have not been exploited for the development of feedstock specific quality standards of compost especially for use as soilless media. The objective of this study was to determine feedstock specific quality standard of compost using referenced stability a nd maturity indices and establish a simple model for predicting compost maturity based on different feedstock. Two sawdust feedstocks from Daniellia oliveri sawdust (single sawdust) and Daniellia oliveri + Chrysophylum albidum sawdust (mixed sawdust) including one rice husk feedstock were composted individually with poultry manure in three volumetric ratios of 2:1, 3:1 and 4:1. The 2:1 Daniellia oliveri sawdust compost achieved acceptable values for stability and maturity parameter at 8 th week, and had the highest nitrogen (N) level (2.46%) and lowest carbon to nitrogen (C :N ) ratio (15). In terms of associative relationships for single species sawdust compost, total nitrogen (TN) accounted for 93% of the variation in the C :N content of the compost. In the mixed species sawdust compost, TN explained 87% of the variation in the C :N . Total nitrogen only explained 77% of the variation in the C :N content of the rice husk compost. The study established an empirical relationship between TN and compost maturity and concluded that using stability and maturity indices and their relationships established in this study as standard, compost of higher quality could be obtained within the shortest possible time irrespective of the feedstock used.
KeywordsCompost MaturityNutrient RecyclingWaste ManagementSoilless Media
Drechsel, P. and Gyiele, L. (1998) On-Farm Research on Sustainable Land Management in Sub Saharan Africa: Approaches, Experiences, and Lessons. IBSRAM Proceedings No. 19. IBSRAM, Bangkok.
Kindness, H. (1999) Supply and Demand for Soil Ameliorants in Peri-Urban Kumasi. Kumasi Natural Resources Management Project, KNUST/NRI/DFID.
Cofie, O., Montangero, A., Strauss, M. and Zubruegg, C. (2003) Co-Composting of Faecal Sludge and Municipal Organic Waste for Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture in Kumasi, Ghana. Final Report (Unpublished) Submitted to the French Foreign Ministry.
Drechsel, P., Cofie, O., Fink, M., Danso, G., Zakari, F.M. and Vasquez, R. (2004) Closing the Rural-Urban Nutrient Cycle. Options for Municipal Waste Composting in Ghana. Final Scientific Report Submitted to IDRC. https://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/africa/westafrica/
Cofie, O., Gordana Kranjac-Berisavljevic, O. and Drechsel, P. (2005) The Use of Human Waste for Peri-Urban Agriculture in Northern Ghana. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 20, 73-80. https://doi.org/10.1079/RAF200491
Danso, G., Drechsel, P., Fialor, S. and Giordano, M. (2006) Estimating the Demand for Municipal Waste Compost via Farmers’ Willingness-to-Pay in Ghana. Waste Management, 26, 1400-1409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2005.09.021
Cofie, O., Abraham, E.M., Olaleye, A.O. and Larbi, T. (2008) Recycling Human Excreta for Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture in Ghana. In: Parrot, L., Ed., Agricultures et development urbain en Afrique subsaharienne, Environment et enjeux sanitaires, L’Harmattan, Paris, 191-200.
Adamtey, N., Cofie, O., and Forster, D. (2009) An Economic Analysis of Co-Compost Fertilizer Mixture (Comlizer) Use on Maize Production in the Accra Plain of Ghana. Research Progress Report. Submitted to IWMI and Eawag/Sandec, 10.
Mensah-Bonsu and Owusu-Ansah (2011) State of the Environment in Kumasi. In: Future of the Tree, University Printing Press, Kumasi, 176-194.
Bationo, A., Hartemink, A., Lungu, O., Naimi, M., Okoth, P., Smaling, E. and Thiaombiano, L. (2006) African Soils: Their Productivity and Profitability of Fertilizer Use. The African Fertilizer Summit, Abuja, Nigeria, 9-13 June 2006.
Amoah, P., Drechsel, P., Abaidoo, R.C. and Ntow, W.J. (2006) Pesticide and Pathogen Contamination of Vegetables in Ghana’s Urban Markets. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 50, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-004-0054-8
Issaka, R.N., Buri, M.M., Tobita, S.T., Nakamura, S. and Adjei, E.O. (2012) Indigenous Fertilizing Materials to Enhance Soil Productivity in Ghana, Soil Fertility and Integrated Nutrient Management-Global Perspective.
Duku, M.H., Gua, S.C. and Essel, B.H. (2011) Biochar Production Potential in Ghana—A Review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15, 3539-3551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.05.010
Leconte, M.C., Mazzarino, M.J., Satti, P., Iglesias, M.C. and Laos, F. (2009) Co-Composting Rice Hulls and/or Sawdust with Poultry Manure in NE Argentina. Waste Management, 29, 2446-2453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2009.04.006
Gao, M., Liang, F., Yu, A., Li, B. and Yang, L. (2010) Evaluation of Stability and Maturity during Forced-Aeration Composting of Chicken Manure and Sawdust at Different C/N Ratios. Chemosphere, 78, 614-619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.10.056
Bakry, M., Lamhamedi, M.S., Caron, J., Margolis, H., Abidine, A.Z., Bellaka, H.M. and Stowe, D.C. (2012) Are Composts from Shredded Leafy Branches of Fast-Growing Forest Species Suitable as Nursery Growing Media in Arid Regions? New Forests, 43, 267-286. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-011-9280-x
Kotaro, K., Miura, N., Tabuchi, H. and Nioh, I. (2005) Evaluation of Maturity of Poultry Manure Compost by Phospholipid Fatty Acids Analysis. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 41, 399-410. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-005-0855-6
Saebo, A. and Ferrini, F. (2006) The Use of Compost in Urban Green Areas—A Review for Practical Application. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 4, 159-169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2006.01.003
Amlinger, F., Gotz, B., Dreher, P., Geszti, J. and Weissteiner, C. (2003) Nitrogen in Biowaste and Yard Waste Compost: Dynamics of Mobilisation and Availability—A Review. European Journal of Soil Biology, 39, 107-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1164-5563(03)00026-8
Leconte, M.C., Mazzarino, M.J., Satti, P. and Crego, M.P. (2011) Nitrogen and Phosphorus Release from Poultry Manure Composts: The Role of Carbonaceous Bulking Agents and Compost Particle Sizes. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 47, 897-906. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-011-0591-z
Wilson, S.B. and Stoffella, P.J. (2001) Evaluation of Compost as an Amendment to Commercial Mixes Used for Container-Grown Golden Shrimp Plant Production. HortTechnology, 11, 31-35. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.11.1.31
Brewer, L.J. and Sullivan, D.M. (2001) Maturity and Stability Evaluation of Composted Yard Trimmings. Compost Science & Utilization, 11, 96-112. https://doi.org/10.1080/1065657X.2003.10702117
Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) (1997) Soil Survey. Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala, 9-22.
Okelabo, J.R., Gathua, K.W. and Woomer, P.L. (1993) Laboratory Methods of Soil and Plant Analysis: A Working Manual. TSBF, Nairobi, Kenya.
Nelson, D.W. and Sommers, L.E. (1982) Total Carbon, Organic Carbon and Organic Matter. In: Page, A.L., et al., Eds., Methods of Soil Analysis: Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties, ASA Monograph, 539-579.
Heanes, D.L. (1984) Determination of Total Organic C in Soils by an Improved Chromic Acid Digestion and Spectrophotometric Procedure. Communications in Soil Science and plant Analysis, 15, 1191-1213. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103628409367551
Watanabe, F.S. and Olsen, S.R. (1965) Test of an Ascorbic Acid Method for Determining Phosphorus in Water and Sodium Bicarbonate Extracts from Soil. Soil Science Proceedings, 29, 677-678. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1965.03615995002900060025x
Cataldo, D.A., Haroon, M., Shroder, L.E. and Younger, V.L. (1975) Rapid Colorimetric Determination of Nitrate in Plant Tissue by Nitration of Salicylic Acid. Communication in Soil and Science and Plant Analysis, 6, 71-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103627509366547
Koroleff, F. (1976) Determination of Nutrients. In: Grasshoff, K., Ed., Methods of Seawater Analysis, Verlag Chemie, Weinhein, 317.
Van Soest, P.J. (1963) Use of Detergents in the Analysis of Fibrous Feeds. II. A Rapid Method for the Determination of Fiber and Lignin. Journal-Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 46, 829-835.
Iannotti, D.A., Pang, T., Toth, B.L., Elwell, D.L., Keener, H.M. and Hoitink, H.A.J. (1993) A Quantitative Respirometric Method for Monitoring Compost Stability. Compost Science & Utilization, 1, 52-65. https://doi.org/10.1080/1065657X.1993.10757890
Tiquia, S.M., Richard, T.L. and Honeyman, M.S. (1996) Carbon, Nutrient, and Mass Loss during Composting. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 62, 15-24. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015137922816
McClintock, N.C. and Diop, A.M. (2005) Soil Fertility Management and Compost Use in Senegal’s Peanut Basin. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 3, 79-91. https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2005.9684746
Wilson, S.B. and Stoffella, P.J. (2001) Evaluation of Compost as an Amendment to Commercial Mixes Used for Container-grown Golden Shrimp Plant Production. HortTechnology, 11, 31-35. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.11.1.31
Gomez-Brandon, M., Lazcano, C. and Dominguez, J. (2008) The Evaluation of Stability and Maturity during the Composting of Cattle Manure. Chemosphere, 70, 436-444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.06.065
Ali, M., Griffiths, J.A., Williams, K.P. and Jones, D.L. (2007) Evaluating the Growth Characteristics of Lettuce in Vermicompost and Green Waste Compost. European Journal of Soil Biology, 43, S316-S319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2007.08.045
Jayasinghe, G.Y., Liyana Arachchi, I.D. and Yoshihiro, T. (2010) Evaluation of Containerized Substrates Developed from Cattle Manure Compost and Synthetic Aggregates for Ornamental Plant Production as a Peat Alternative. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 54, 1412-1418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2010.06.002
Abubakari, A.-H., Atuah, L. and Banful, B. (2015) Growth and Yield Response of Lettuce to Irrigation and Growth Media from Composted Sawdust and Rice Husk. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 41, 221-232.