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Feasibility of Sustainable Recycling of Municipal Solid Waste as Organic Fertilizer for Plant Growth and Development

K. Mizanur Rahman
Department of Crop Botany, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur 1706

A. H. Molla
Department of Crop Botany, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur 1706

M. Atikur Rahman
Department of Crop Botany, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur 1706

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The feasibility of decomposed municipal solid waste (MSW) use as compost was examined by growing of tomato plant in pot. Its prospect in reducing conventional fertilizer use and impact on disseminating heavy metals were evaluated with the objective of sustainable recycling as organic amendment for plant growth and development as well as assisting to preserve congenial environment. The results illustrated that the application of MSW compost supplemented with urea for tomato cultivation enhanced significant plant growth such as plant height, longevity of leaf greenness, branch and fruit development and dry matter production. The plant height, number of fruits and fruit weight per plant, SPAD values (greenness of leaves) and number of branches per plant increased significantly (P≤0.01) over control by MSW compost application supplemented with urea. The MSW compost supplemented with urea treatments also reduced the number of total dry leaves per plant. The treatment 50% MSW compost + 50% urea provided the lowest number of dried leaves per plant, which was significantly lower than those of the control and 100% urea applied treatments. The total dry matter production was also enhanced at MSW compost treatments but it was lower than that of the 100% urea contained treatment. The uptake of nutrients and heavy metals due to MSW compost application were not significant and the heavy metals levels in fruits were much lower than the international standard limit. Finally, the present study suggests that the MSW compost application can reduce the use of at least 50% of urea in agronomic and horticultural practices.

Keywords: Municipal solid waste, Compost, Plant growth, Nutrient uptake, Heavy metals

Location: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Manures

Objectives:

To investigate the effect of municipal solid waste compost on growth performance, yield attributes and nutrients/heavy metals uptake by different parts of tomato in pot culture.

Methodology:

The decomposed MSW compost was collected from Gazipur Municipality area in polyethylene bag and kept at 4°C in the lab for next use. All the foreign materials were separated and removed from it unless it became more or less uniform at look before use. Prior to utilization the quality of the compost was evaluated through monitoring of germination index of mustard seeds (result was not presented here) by using water extract. The collected MSW compost was found suitable for conducting the experiment. For pot preparation clay loam soils were collected from surface soils of agricultural farm of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University. For making more or less uniform sizes of clods and moisture, removing foreign substances, the soils were air dried for two days in glasshouse. Based on the treatments, the required amount of fertilizer and MSW compost were thoroughly mixed with soil before taking into pot. Twelve kg soil was used in each earthen pot in the present experiment. The triple super phosphate and muriate of potash (1.32 and 1.5 g per pot, respectively) were applied as basal dose. The treatments were assigned based on the standard rate of urea for tomato plantation of the used soil. The six treatments were (i) T₁: Control (without urea and MSW compost), (ii) T₂: 100% urea, (iii) T₃: 100% MSW compost (iv) T₄: 25% urea + 75% MSW compost, (v) T₅: 50% urea + 50% MSW compost and (vi) T₆: 75% urea + 25% MSW compost. The treatment 100% urea was equivalent to 2.64 g urea (i.e. 1.21 g N) per pot. The used MSW compost contained 0.82% N (wet basis) and 148 g MSW compost equivalent to 1.21 g N was applied per pot at treatment of 100% MSW compost. The amount of urea in respective treatment was applied in three equal installments such as basal, 25 and 50 days after transplanting (DAT) of seedlings. The experiment was conducted in completely randomized design (CRD) with four replication. Analysis of variance and comparison of means were conducted separately with the statistical package MSTAT-C. The means were compared by using the least significance difference (LSD) test.

Source of Information: The Agriculturists, Vol: 4, (No-1&2), pp: 7-14, Dec 2006

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

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Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Generally compost possesses the potential physical properties, aggregation, and aeration ability that ensure adequate water and nutrients regime at the period of plant growth. Therefore, the application of compost enhanced superior crop growth compared to conventional fertilizer while supplemented with urea. In the present study all of the biometric measurements in MSW compost plus urea supplemented treatments clearly showed significant (P≤0.01) improvement over control as well as closer or above (in some cases) to the values obtained in 100% urea treated plant. It clearly implies that the use of MSW compost could reduce 50-75% of the cost of urea in agronomic or horticultural practices. No doubt the heavy metals contamination to the food chains and environment by such kind of organic wastes is a great threat to living beings. But the present results assured that the used MSW compost and techniques were almost free from such kinds of risk. Finally, the present finding is an encouraging message of potential recycling of municipal solid waste, which could reduce the cultivation cost of agronomic and horticultural product and help sustain congenial environment of urban area.

Knowledge Management: Journal