Sustainable valorization of Moringa oleifera Lam. co-products and zoo waste

Abstract

Moringa oleifera (moringa) stands out as a promising plant in several segments, being produced worldwide. However, its co-products, particularly valves and seed husks, which represent more than 70% of its fruit, remain underutilized. Therefore, this work aimed to assess the use of parts of the moringa fruit in conjunction with sediment from an artificial pond in a zoo enclosure inhabited by Tapirus terrestris (tapir), exploring the potential treatment of these wastes, using Eisenia foetidaearthworms. Five experimental conditions were analyzed, whose waste proportions were varied. The vermicomposts were not phytotoxic and differed regarding the C/N ratio; those that received parts of the moringa fruit had a higher C/N ratio. As commonly observed in stabilization processes, the contents of P, K, Ca, and electrical conductivity increased, while carbon and pH decreased during stabilization. Plant development of Catharanthus roseus was evaluated using, in addition to the vermicomposts, two commercial composts. The vermicomposts provided better development of C. roseus than the commercial composts, with T2 (65% sediment+35% fruit valves) and T3 (50% sediment+35% valves+15% seed husks) standing out as the best treatments. Vermicomposting associated with moringa co-products and zoo waste is a viable alternative via aerobic treatment, favoring waste management and the search for sustainability.