Development of bio-fertilizers of fermented sludge mixed with banana pulp and fermented sludge mixed with bagasse as additive nutrients to the plants.

Abstract

Natural compost or organic fertilizers suitably applied to soil since it improves soil quality, is cheap and easy to manage, and has no pollution residues. However, the right ratio of ingredienttypes as well as enough fermentation period have to be tested in order to obtain suitable fertilizer for each particular plant species. In this study, researchers have conducted experimental fermentation of organic composts composed of various ratios of either residues of bagasse or banana pulp mixed with sludge. This organic compost performs as organic fertilizer adding nutrients to the sludge since the sewage sludge, by itself, can only help improve soil structure, but has insufficient nutrients for the growth of plants. The sludge in the experiment was obtained from sewage sludge at WatSuanKaew, Nonthaburi province. The results of the organic compost after fermented 49 days showed that the compost turned to brown and black and most plant materials were already macerated. The compost of sewage sludge mixed with banana pulp in the ratio of both 0.75 to 5.0 and 1.0 9 to 5.0 yielded the best growth of the morning glory. Both formulas accelerated the growth of seedlings of the plant to a high average of 15.0 ± 0.3 cm after grown for14 days. The concentration of main nutrients was also close to the values specified by the standard compost. This banana pulp compost with pH 7-9 helpedreduce the acidity in the soil. While organic fertilizer derived from sewage sludge mixed with bagasse could only help accelerate the growth of the seedlings, but did not accelerate the proliferation of immature plants. Additionally, the ratios of carbon to nitrogen in all bagasse composting samples were more inflated, whereas the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were under the specified standard. This bagasse caused lower pH to 5.0-6.0, contributing more acidic to soil. From all results of these findings, the organic compost from the fermentation of banana leafs was, therefore, appropriated for improving soil quality, by mixing with sludge. The organic compost provided enough major and minor nutrients that stimulated the plant growth as well. However, the formulated ratio of the bananas leafs and sludge mixtures needed to be prior experimentally tested.