Physiological Conditions of Decomposition Process and Quality of Compost Based on Beef Cattle Feces Enriched with Azolla sp.

Abstract

The research was aimed to determine the effect of the addition of Azolla sp. on physiological conditions, the kinetics of temperature, and the quality of compost which includes carbon content, and compost organic matter. The method used was experimental with A Completely Randomized Design (CRD). There were three treatments that were the addition of Azolla sp. 0% (P0), 10% (P1), and 20% (P2). Each treatment was repeated 6 times, so that the number of experimental unit was 18 mounds of compost. Variables measured were temperature kinetics, levels of organic carbon and compost organic matter. Observations of temperature were carried out on days 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 at 01.30 – 02.30 pm. The carbon content and compost organic matter of the final compost product were analyzed in the laboratory. Data on the kinetics of temperature were analyzed using Repeated Measure Analysis of variance (RMA), while those of the levels of organic carbon and organic matter compost were analyzed using Analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results of the variance analysis showed a significant interaction (P < 0.05) between the treatment and the days of observation on the kinetics of temperature. The highest temperature kinetics observed for P2 and P1 were achieved on day 4 (54.00˚C and 50.50˚C, respectively), while the highest temperature for P0 was achieved on day 8 (50.33˚C). The temperature of P0, P1 and P2 ranged 27.17-50.33˚C; 28.17-50.50˚C and 30.00-54.00˚C, respectively. Least Significance Different (LSD) results showed significant variations in temperature kinetics. Enrichment of compost with Azolla sp had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on the levels of organic carbon and compost organic matter.