Kitchen Waste Compost’s Impact on Rice Quality, Yield, and Soil Environment

Abstract

In order to investigate the usefulness of kitchen waste as compost for rice production, three groups of kitchen compost dosage gradients (15 t/hm 2 , 30 t/hm 2 , and 45 t/hm 2 ) were established on the basis of field plot experiments, and the local common chemical fertilizer of equivalent nitrogen (1.88 t/hm 2 ) and chicken manure compost (13.49 t/hm 2 ) were used as controls for fertilization treatments. We measured and assessed rice yield, rice quality, soil nutrients and heavy metal content. The findings demonstrated that rice yields in the kitchen waste compost treatment were greater than the chemical fertilizer treatment in the equivalent nitrogen fertilizer condition. Comparing kitchen waste compost to chemical fertilizer and chicken manure compost treatments, kitchen waste compost greatly decreased the chalkiness of rice and significantly enhanced flavor quality. The 15 t/hm 2 kitchen waste compost treatment greatly decreased the Hg concentration in rice in terms of safety quality. There was no discernible difference between the treatments in terms of the other residual rice heavy metal content, which was within the Chinese national standard's allowable limits. The addition of kitchen waste compost to the soil improved the soil's organic matter and fast-acting potassium contents. Regarding the safety of the soil, none of the treatments went beyond the heavy metals limit, and the levels were substantially below the maximum allowed by the Chinese national standard and were within the safe range. This demonstrates that, in line with national requirements, kitchen waste compost is an acceptable substitute for chemical fertilizers that provide the same amount of nitrogen for rice growing and is safe for agricultural soils.

Analysis of Total Organic Waste and Potential for Replacing Chemical Fertilizers in China

“…Only 38% of the nutrients in our farmland are now derived from organic fertilizers [32], and when compared to Denmark, where 70% of the nitrogen nutrients in farmland are derived from organic fertilizers [33], China's level of organic [35]. Furthermore, long-term organic fertilizer application not only sustains crop yields, but also enhances soil carbon sequestration and increases soil organic carbon content [36]. As a result, increasing the rate of organic waste utilization and minimizing fertilizer application are significant implementation pathways to attain carbon peak and carbon neutrality.…”