Tag Archives: compost

xxx M. Rebai, K. Guimeur, N. Boulelouah, H. Bedjaoui and D. Haddad
Effect of different date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) compost modalities on soil parameters in the Algerian Semi-Arid Zone
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Effect of different date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) compost modalities on soil parameters in the Algerian Semi-Arid Zone

M. Rebai¹²*, K. Guimeur¹², N. Boulelouah³², H. Bedjaoui¹² and D. Haddad⁴

¹University of Biskra, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Natural and Life Sciences, Department of Agronomic Sciences, S BP 145 RP, 07000, Algeria
²Laboratory for Ecosystem Diversity and Agricultural Production Systems Dynamics in Arid Zones (DEDSPAZA), University of Biskra, Algeria
³University of Batna 1, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Allées 19 mai, Route de Biskra, Batna 05000, Algeria
⁴University Batna2, department of Health and Safety, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Fesdis, 05078 Batna, Algeria
*Correspondence: messaouda.rebai@univ-Biskra.dz

Abstract:

In the vast regions of eastern Algeria, the calcareous soils are characterised by low fertility. Moreover, these soils frequently lack organic matter and essential nutrients, limiting sustainable yield potential. This study aimed to assess the impact of using locally sourced date palm compost with mineral fertilisers on the improvement of soil fertility in a cereal-based system. A field experiment was arranged in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with 11 treatments: date palm compost applied at three rates (C1: 30 t ha⁻¹, C2: 50 t ha⁻¹, C3: 70 t ha⁻¹), either alone or combined with monoammonium phosphate (C1M, C2M, C3M: 100 kg ha⁻¹ MAP) or urea (C1U, C2U, C3U: 50 kg ha⁻¹ urea), one treatment with sheep manure at 45 t ha⁻¹, and an untreated control.. The study evaluated the effects of varying rates of date palm compost and mineral fertilisers on soil chemical characteristics at two depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm). Results indicated that elevated compost rates, whether applied alone or combined with mineral fertilisers, significantly improved organic matter content, nutrient availability, and soil chemical balance at both depths. Combined treatments C3U (70 t ha⁻¹ compost + 50 kg ha⁻¹ urea) and C3M (70 t ha⁻¹ compost + 100 kg ha⁻¹ MAP) showed the greatest improvements, with C3M identified as the optimal treatment. Integrated date palm compost fertilisation is well-suited to the region’s calcareous soils, enhancing nutrient availability, improving soil fertility, and efficiently utilising a locally available resource. These findings suggest that integrating date palm compost with mineral fertilisers is a sustainable approche to improving soil fertility in semi-arid mediterranean systems.

Key words:

calcareous soils, compost, date palm, integrated fertilisation, semi-arid zone, soil fertility

913-937 A. Doughmi, F. Benradi, E. Cherkaoui, M. Khamar1, A. Nounah and A. Zouahri
Fertilizing power evaluation of different mixtures of organic household waste and olive pomace
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Fertilizing power evaluation of different mixtures of organic household waste and olive pomace

A. Doughmi¹*, F. Benradi¹, E. Cherkaoui¹, M. Khamar¹1, A. Nounah¹ and A. Zouahri²

¹Mohammed V University, High School of Technology, Civil Engineering and Environment Laboratory (LGCE), Materials Water and Environment team, MA11060 Sale, Morocco
²INRA, Regional Center for Agricultural Research in Rabat, Research Unit on Environment and Natural Resource Conservation, MA10112 Rabat, Morocco
*Correspondence: ayoub_doughmi@um5.ac.ma

Abstract:

From the perspective of sustainable agriculture established by the Green Morocco Plan, it is interesting to direct research more towards the agronomic valorization of olive pomace, to give birth to a clean olive growing which leads to a viable economy thus respecting a pillar of sustainable development. Several studies have shown the effectiveness of using olive pomace as a soil amendment. Therefore, in this study we want to increase the agricultural performance of olive pomace by composting by mixing it with other waste.

Morocco is considered one of the major olive-producing countries with an annual production of 1.41 million tonnes (MT), part of it is dedicated to olive oil production. Morocco produces approximately 26.8 MT of waste annually, 8.3 MT are household waste, 70% are organic household waste (5.8 MT). The current production of organic household waste in urban areas is estimated at 4.8 million tonnes per year, or an average of 0.76 kg hab^-1 day^-1, and in rural areas 1 million tonnes per year, or an average of 0.30 kg hab^-1 day^-1 (SNRVD, 2015). Agri-food industry waste is around 3 million tonnes with 600,000 to 700,000 tonnes of olive oil waste (pomace) (Agricultural Development Agency, 2018). The rejection of this waste without any prior treatment contributes to the environment deterioration. However, a large part of this waste remains recoverable, which would reduce both waste volume to be eliminated and the associated management cost. This; will contribute to reducing the negative impacts on receiving environments and the cost of restoring the environment state, and ensuring a transition towards a circular economy.Our work is part of the context of solid waste management and recovery, in particular organic waste from household and food-processing activities, and is oriented towards the pomace recovery by composting, mixing it with different percentages of organic household waste.

This work consists on composting olive pomace from the three phases system with another structural agent (organic household waste). Comparing the mixtures (6 treatments) with different concentrations in terms of composting process parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter temperature, etc.), organic matter evolution and composts quality, with manual aeration of the compost, in order to increase the agricultural yield of the olive pomace. Residues from the fermentation process can be used in agriculture. All the different mixtures of the different percentages are characterized at the initial state and at the end of the composting process in order to highlight their nutritional values.

Key words:

compost, olive pomace, organic household waste, physico-chimical and bacteriological characterization

1911–1925 T. Ahmadi, C.A. Casas, N. Escobar and Y.E. García
Municipal organic solid waste composting: development of a tele-monitoring and automation control system
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Municipal organic solid waste composting: development of a tele-monitoring and automation control system

T. Ahmadi¹*, C.A. Casas¹, N. Escobar² and Y.E. García¹

¹University of Cundinamarca, Faculty of Engineering, 18th Diagonal 20-29, Fusagasugá, Colombia
²University of Cundinamarca, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, 18th Diagonal 20-29, Fusagasugá, Colombia
*Correspondence: tahmadi@ucundinamarca.edu.co

Abstract:

The Organic Solid Waste (OSW) generation have experienced high growth in the last decades. Moreover, the treatment and management of them have become a priority in the environmental policy of many cities, due to the sanitary and environmental problems related to the OSW elimination. Between 2 and 3 metric tons per day of organic residues are generated in the local market square of Fusagasugá-Colombia, without having any transformation program or technological alternatives for their decomposition. This paper presents the design and implementation of an experimental reactor for composting that includes a measurement stage, signal conditioning, data acquisition (DAQ), and data storage, together with a control and telemetric supervision system through a Human-Machine Interface (HMI), which allows manipulation of some key variables of the composting process remotely via the Internet.

Key words:

aerobic, compost, environment, humane machine interface, municipal wastes, process control, telemetry

1444–1454 L. Regni#, D. Pezzolla#, G. Gigliotti and P. Proietti
The sustainable reuse of compost from a new type of olive mill pomace in replacing peat for potted olive tree
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The sustainable reuse of compost from a new type of olive mill pomace in replacing peat for potted olive tree

L. Regni¹#*, D. Pezzolla²#*, G. Gigliotti² and P. Proietti¹

¹Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, via Borgo XX Giugno, 74, IT06121 Perugia, Italy
²Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Perugia, via G. Duranti 93, IT06125 Perugia, Italy
#these authors contributed equally to the work
*Correspondence: regni.luca.agr@gmail.com; daniela.pezzola@unipg.it

Abstract:

The attention for the replacement of peat in growing substrates is increasing due to its environmental and economic advantages. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the impact of peat substitution by new type olive mill pomace and its compost on the vegetative activity of potted olive trees. A new type of humid pomace (hP) derived from an innovative two phase extraction system and its derived compost (C-hP) are used as total or partial (50% vol/vol) replacement of peat in olive growing substrate. The main chemical characteristics (moisture, water extractable organic carbon, total nitrogen, C/N ratio and electrical conductivity) of the hP and C-hP were measured. In order to evaluate the effects of the peat substitution on the plants vegetative activity, measurements of mortality, plant height, leaf net photosynthesis and plant growth (through final destructive measurements) were carried out. The use of hP resulted in a significant increase of the salinity of the substrate. The water extractable organic carbon concentration was higher in all substrates where peat was ewplaced and in particular when C-hP was used. The total replacement of peat with hP caused 100% mortality of the plants while C-hP can substitute peat up to 50% without causing a significative reduction of the final plant growth.

Key words:

compost, olive pomace, olive tree, peat replacement