Changes in physico-chemical properties during composting of three common household organic solid wastes amended with garden soil

Abstract

Composting is the most convenient and effective treatment of solid organic waste. In the present study composting of lemon peels, mixed vegetable waste and cooked food waste amended with garden soil was carried out. The thermophilic phase was reached by 21 days in all the composts mixture, with a range of 42 to 49 °C. The temperature in the cooked food waste mixture could not decrease to ambient temperature at the end of 90 days while lemon peel and mixed vegetable waste decreased to ambient temperature. The organic C, total N, available P and K declined from initial till the final stage in the lemon peel and mixed vegetable waste composting, while total N increased at final phase in the cooked food waste composting. The significant correlation of organic C with total N, available P and K in the composting process could be the reason for the declining trend. The amendment of garden soil leads to a lower thermophilic phase and a prolonged composting period. However, the quality of the composts were within the recommended ranges showing composting of these common household waste can be done at home successfully by adding the most easily available material garden soil using box method.