Comparison of sago pith waste vermicompost characteristics to vermicomposts of different feedstock in Malaysia

Elton T., . and Rosenani A. B., . and Fauziah C. I., . and Kadir J., . Comparison of sago pith waste vermicompost characteristics to vermicomposts of different feedstock in Malaysia. pp. 103-114. ISSN 1394-7990

The vermicompost industry in Malaysia has grown rapidly in recent years. However there is a lack of documentation on the quality of commercially available vermicomposts; moreover there are no guidelines for the production of quality vermicomposts. Therefore a trial was conducted in Universiti Putra Malaysia to convert sago pith waste into a value-added organic fertilizer through vermicomposting using cow goat and horse dung manure as co-composting materials. Two types of sago pith waste vermicomposts were produced in Universiti Putra Malaysia and compared with fifteen different vermicomposts available in the market. The chemical characteristics of these vermicomposts were determined. Results showed that pH of the vermicomposts ranged from 4.5-6.5 indicating significant difference between the different feedstock. The macronutrients of the different vermicomposts varied greatly that is total N total P and total K were 1.5-2.16 0.54-1.89 and 0.39-1.73 respectively. Humic acid concentration in the vermicomposts ranged from 16.7- 24. Study results indicate that the chemical properties of the vermicomposts varied according to the type of initial feedstock and earthworms used and the vermicomposting procedure adopted.

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Abstract

The vermicompost industry in Malaysia has grown rapidly in recent years. However there is a lack of documentation on the quality of commercially available vermicomposts; moreover there are no guidelines for the production of quality vermicomposts. Therefore a trial was conducted in Universiti Putra Malaysia to convert sago pith waste into a value-added organic fertilizer through vermicomposting using cow goat and horse dung manure as co-composting materials. Two types of sago pith waste vermicomposts were produced in Universiti Putra Malaysia and compared with fifteen different vermicomposts available in the market. The chemical characteristics of these vermicomposts were determined. Results showed that pH of the vermicomposts ranged from 4.5-6.5 indicating significant difference between the different feedstock. The macronutrients of the different vermicomposts varied greatly that is total N total P and total K were 1.5-2.16 0.54-1.89 and 0.39-1.73 respectively. Humic acid concentration in the vermicomposts ranged from 16.7- 24. Study results indicate that the chemical properties of the vermicomposts varied according to the type of initial feedstock and earthworms used and the vermicomposting procedure adopted.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Sago
AGROVOC Term:	Vermicomposting
AGROVOC Term:	Animal manures
AGROVOC Term:	Sawdust
AGROVOC Term:	Combustion
AGROVOC Term:	Kjeldahl method
AGROVOC Term:	Atomic absorption spectrometry
AGROVOC Term:	Pot experimentation
AGROVOC Term:	Glasshouses
AGROVOC Term:	Zea mays
Depositing User:	Mr. AFANDI ABDUL MALEK
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 00:54
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/8022

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