Comparative assessment of biodegradation of household food waste and compost quality | |
| Author | Nguyen Xuan Hoa |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AS-06-30 |
| Subject(s) | Compost--Evaluation Organic wastes--Evaluation Refuse and refuse disposal--Evaluation |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Agricultural System and Engineering, School of Environment and Resources Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AS-06-30 |
| Abstract | Composting household food waste is becoming an increasingly important need to minimize environmental pollution in Thailand. Although there are many different types of rapid composting methods developed, no specific method has been introduced to households. This study was conducted to assess different rapid decomposition methods for effective and rapid decomposition of household food wastes and the quality of composts yielded from specific composting ways for household biodegradable food wastes. The composts were made using food waste and hulking material in three ratios (viz 1:1. 2:1, and 3:1) and four combinations of activators (viz. effective Microorganisms - EM, Trichoderma harcianum- Tri, EM + Tri, and EM + Tri + urea) and a control without an activator. These composts were evaluated using seed germination test followed by the preparation of potting media of compost, sand and top soil (1:1:1 ratio). Compost material having the composition of 1: 1 food waste and bulking material showed early maturity (42 days) with the EM + Tri + urea activator compared to the rest of the activators (56 days to mature) including control. The other composting materials of 2:1 and 3:1 ratio took 63 and 70 days, respectively to mature. Thermophilic stage was reached at 9. 12 and 15 days from the commencement of composting in 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 ratios of composting materials, respectively. The total Carbon in compost varied among the composition of composting material and decreased during composting process, but total N, P and K contents increased, and hence showed its fertility value. The quality of composts yielded from the study showed that 1:1 ratio of composting material (i.e. food waster and bulking material) with EM + Tri + urea gave the highest seed germination, yield of lettuce and nutritive values of composts |
| Year | 2006 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AS-06-30 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Aquatic Systems (AS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ranamukhaarachchi, S.L.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Visvanathan, C. ;Clemente, R.S.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Ministry of Education and Training Scholarship Vietnamese Government; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2006 |