The quality of compost made from mixture of Mucuna bracteata and oil palm empty fruit bunch

Abstract

Mucuna bracteata and Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) forages are large amount of palm oil plantation wastes, but they have not optimally utilized yet. This study analyzed the compost from forage of M. bracteata combined with OPEFB. The study used a complete non factorial randomized design with different treatment composition of M. bracteata and OPEFB as compost material, that is: 100% OPEFB, 75% OPEFB + 25% M. bracteata, 50% OPEFB + 50% M.bracteata, 25% OPEFB + 75% M. bracteata, and 100% M. bracteata. The results showed the differences of M. bracteata and OPEFB as forage composition were significantly affected the content of N, K, and compost yield but did not significantly affect the content of P and C/N ratio of compost. The average of compost C-organic content is 35.97-39.14%, N is 2.3-4.42%, P is 0.53-0.64%, K is 3.75-6.59%, C/N ratio is 8.9-17.9, and compost yield is 56-69%. The greater the composition of M. bracteata, the higher the N content of the compost, but K content is lower and vice versa. If the composting was using OPEFB and M. bracteata as the materials, it is suggested to use a composition of 75% OPEFB and 25% M. bracteata.