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Compost Maturity And Germination Index Profile Of Municipal Solid Waste Materials Composted With Organic Additives
ABSTRACT
Composting municipal solid waste is a viable organic waste management strategy, and with the potential to enhance waste management system. However, a conventional composting is rarely applied due to the longer time consumed to reach maturity phase. The present study was undertaken to investigate the compost maturity and germination index profile of composted municipal solid waste materials with organic additives. Effective microorganisms (bacteria and yeast strains) isolated from plant root, soil and fruit samples were employed in the biosynthesis of nanocomposites using standard microbiological and nanotechnological techniques. The nanocomposites and effective microbes were applied in the biocomposting of 5.5 kg shredded and dried final waste mixture of approximately 55 % food waste, 15 % saw dust waste, grass chopping waste 22 % and 8 % paper and control for 56 days. The waste materials and compost end products were analysed for chemical and plant seed growth characteristics like total organic carbon, nitrogen, carbon nitrogen ratio and germination index on Zea mays and Glycine max seeds using standard procedures. The result revealed that paper waste had the highest carbon nitrogen ratio value of 173:1 while food scrap waste had the lowest carbon nitrogen ratio value of 24:1, respectively. Also, after 56 days of the composting, the magnesium nanocomposite setup had the highest germination index value of 88.00 % while control set up had the lowest germination index value of 57.00 % for Z. mays seeds. Furthermore, the magnesium nanocomposite setup had the highest germination index value of 93.00 % while control set up had the lowest germination index value of 62.00 % for G. max seeds, respectively. Statistical significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in GI parameters among the means of treatment set ups relative to control set up. Thus, all the compost treatment regimen do not have phytotoxicity effect and are potential phytonutrient or phytostimulant to Zea mays and Glycine max seeds while the control setup had moderate phytotoxicity to both plant seeds, respectively.
Key words: Compost, Germination index, Glycine max, Zea mays, Phytotoxicity