Comparing Open And Closed Composting System For Empty Fruit Bunches-Goat Manure Biofertilizer Processing

Abstract

Composting of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) and palm oil mill effluent (POME) in supplementation of goat manure was studied in two methods of composting (open and closed). The ingredients were consists of 0.2kg shredded EFB, 0.6kg POME and 0.04kg goat manure. The changes in temperatures, moisture content, pH, carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio, nutrient and metal element were analyzed. The measure temperature was around 25 to 30oC throughout the composting process. The pH of control, open and closed compost pile was 9.98, 9.39 and 9.83, respectively while the moisture content was about 50% at the end of the treatment. The C:N ratio was about 3.10:1, 6.85:1 and 12.08:1 for control, open and closed compost pile respectively were achieved in about 40 days composting. Decomposition of compost material in closed system was faster than the open system. The final cured compost contained a considerable amount of nutrient (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, iron) and trace amounts of manganese and zinc. In addition, very low of heavy metal (lead) was detected in the compost. The results obtained indicated that composting of EFB with partially treated POME and goat manure gave acceptable quality of compost and ease constructed in closed composting system. Composting of EFB-goat manure had potential for organic fertilizing process.