In this work the physical, chemical and microbial properties of four locally composted green waste composts (GWCs) namely Almukhasib, Growers, Plantex, and Super along with four imported GWC (Florabella, Mikskaar, Potgrond, and Shamrock) were studied to evaluate the quality of these composts with the acceptable standards. All composts showed normal physical properties, except the bad smell from sulfur reducing bacteria in Almukhasib, light brown color Plantex and one viable weed seed in Shamrock compost. The germination indexes of the composts comparable to the standard (90%) were 100% for Mikskaar, followed by Shamrock (92%), Florabella (97), Potgrond (95%), Plantex (98%), Growers (77%), and 5% for both Super and Almukhasib. The physical and chemical properties vary considerably as follows: pH 3 - 10.5, 5.1 - 6.5 (standard 5 - 8), electrical conductivity (EC) 0.4 - 10.2 mS·cm<sup>-1</sup>, 0.8 - 1.8 mS·cm<sup>-1</sup>(standard 0.0 - 4.0 mS·cm<sup>-1</sup>), moisture content (MC%) 29% - 43.7%, 64% - 74% (standard 35% - 60%) and water holding capacity (WHC%) 92% - 200% and 400% - 800% for the locally produced and imported composts, respectively. Wide ranges in the chemical properties were expressed as ammonia concentration 512.4 - 1640.1 mg·kg<sup>-1</sup>, 459.4 - 656.5 mg·kg<sup>-1</sup>(standard < 500 mg·kg<sup>-1</sup>), organic matter 17% - 67.6%, and 53.3% - 66.2% (standard 35%) for the locally composted and imported composts, respectively. The concentrations of the heavy metals (Zn, Ni, Pb, Hg, As, Cd, and Cr) were lower than the recommended levels. The average of the bacterial colony forming unit per gram of locally produced and imported composts ranged between 260 - 1740 CFU/g and 330 - 2870 CFU/g, whereas the fungal CFU were 10 - 2800 CFU/g and 27 - 1800 CFU/g, respectively. The most probable number (MPN) for coliform bacteria was 43 - 1100 CFU/g for locally produced composts, and 23 - 480 CFU/g for the imported composts. Therefore, these composts can not be used directly without effective treatment as substrate for plant growth, soil amendment and as biofertilizer
Abstract. El-Nagerabi SAF, Elshafie AE, Alburashdi H. 2014. Hydrophysical, chemical and microbial properties of imported green waste composts. Nusantara Bioscience 6: 13-18. To study the hydrophysical, chemical and microbial properties of the imported green waste composts (GWCs) and their suitability as an alternative to agrochemicals, four types of GWCs (Florabella, Mikskaar, Potgrond, and Shamrock) were selected. All composts showed normal physical properties, except weed seeds in Shamrock. The germination indexes comparable to the standard (90%) were 100% for Mikskaar followed by Florabella (97%), Potgrond (95%), and Shamrock (92%). Variations in physico-chemical properties were shown as acidic pH 5.1-6.5 (standard 5-8), electrical conductivity (EC) 0.8-1.8 mScm -1 (standard 0.0-4.0 mScm -1 ), moisture content (MC) 54-70.5% (standard 35-60%) and water holding capacity (WHC%) 400-800%. The chemical properties were expressed as ammonia concentrations 2871-6565 mg kg -1 (standard <500 mg kg -1 ), organic matter 53.3-66.2% (standard 35%). The concentrations of heavy metals (Zn, Ni, Pb, Hg, As, Cd, and Cr) were lower than the recommended levels. The bacterial colony forming unit per gram compost ranged between 330-2870 cfu/g, the most probable number (MPN) for coliform bacteria was 23-460 cfu/g, whereas the fungal cfu were 30-1800 cfu/g. Aspergillus niger was the predominant fungus recovered from all compost samples (100%), followed by A. fumigatus (75%), whereas A. sparsus, A. versicolor and yeasts (50%), and the remaining species of the genus Acremonium sp., Aspergillus flavus, A. restrictus, Cladosporium spp., and Penicillium spp. recovered from 25% of the samples. Generally, these composts revealed normal hydrophysical properties with obvious variation in moisture contents and elevated chemicals and microbial contamination. Therefore, there is an urgent need for quality control measurements and restrict abide to legislations and quarantine regulations.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.