Benefits of Various Fermented Organic Composts Made from Plant Waste

Greg Howard
31st August, 2024

Benefits of Various Fermented Organic Composts Made from Plant Waste

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study by the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro evaluated alternative, locally available materials for cost-effective compost production
  • Replacing high-cost ingredients with local materials affected compost quality, with pH values ranging from 4.62 to 5.3
  • Alternative materials like rice bran and passion fruit peel bran increased the C/N ratio and required additional nitrogen supplementation
  • Fermented composts produced the highest biomass in greenhouse tests, but traditional nitrogen sources like ammonium nitrate provided superior nitrogen availability
Soil health and nutrient availability are critical factors in agricultural productivity. Traditional composts like "bokashi," created from the fermentation of bran mixtures inoculated with microorganisms, have been shown to improve these soil characteristics. However, the high cost of commonly used ingredients such as wheat and castor bean bran poses a challenge. A recent study by the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro aimed to evaluate alternative, locally available materials for producing cost-effective and sustainable composts[1]. The study was conducted in two stages: a laboratory incubation test and a greenhouse bioassay. In the laboratory test, researchers used two raw materials with low carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios—castor bean bran (CAB) and cottonseed bran (COB)—and three materials with high C/N ratios—wheat bran (WHB), rice bran (RIB), and passion fruit peel bran (PFPB). These materials were mixed, moistened, inoculated with microorganisms (Embiotic®), and incubated for 21 days. The greenhouse bioassay used forage sorghum as an indicator species to assess nitrogen availability and plant biomass production. The results showed that replacing high-cost ingredients with locally available materials had varying effects on compost quality. The pH of the standard compost was 4.75, whereas other formulations ranged from 4.62 to 5.3, with the highest values observed when WHB was fully replaced by RIB. Electrical conductivity (EC) values, which indicate the salt concentration in the compost, were all below the adequate threshold, ensuring they would not harm plant growth. Interestingly, replacing CAB with COB and WHB with RIB and PFPB resulted in a reduction in nitrogen content and an increase in the C/N ratio. This suggests that while these alternative materials are cost-effective, they may require additional nitrogen supplementation to match the nutrient profiles of traditional composts. Moreover, replacing WHB with PFPB led to an increase in potassium content but a reduction in phosphorus and magnesium content. In the greenhouse bioassay, the highest biomass production was observed in treatments with fermented composts. Notably, the highest biological recovery of nitrogen was obtained in the ammonium nitrate treatment, followed by CAB, COB, and WHB treatments. This indicates that while alternative composts are effective, traditional nitrogen sources like ammonium nitrate still provide superior nitrogen availability for plant growth. This study aligns with previous research that highlights the benefits of organic composts for soil health and plant productivity. For instance, a study conducted in Italy demonstrated that compost application increased carbon storage in the soil, promoting plant growth and yield to levels comparable to mineral fertilization[2]. Additionally, another study found that microbial fertilizers could significantly reduce the transfer of harmful radionuclides like 137Cs into plants, further emphasizing the multifaceted benefits of organic composts[3]. The findings from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro provide valuable insights into the potential of using locally available materials for compost production. By reducing the reliance on high-cost ingredients, farmers can produce more sustainable and cost-effective composts, thereby enhancing soil health and agricultural productivity. This research not only contributes to the ongoing efforts to make agriculture more sustainable but also underscores the importance of exploring alternative resources to improve soil and plant health.

AgricultureSustainabilityPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Agronomic potential of different fermented organic composts based on agro-industrial plant waste.

Published 30th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-024-12983-7

Related Studies

2) Effect of compost application on the dynamics of carbon in a nectarine orchard ecosystem.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.093

3) Impact of effective microorganisms on the transfer of radioactive cesium into lettuce and barley biomass.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.08.005


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