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Preparation of organic compost using waste tea powder

Minakshi Gurav1, Smita Sinalkar2
1
Abasaheb Marathe Arts & New Commerce, Science College, Rajapur, Ratnagiri
2
Department of Biotechnology, C.K. Thakur A.C.S. College, New Panvel, Maharashtra, India
[email protected]
[email protected]

Abstract : The present study was carried out to use the tea-powder that is any how wasted, especially in urban areas which
is not utilized for any purpose and discarded as wet garbage. Tea powder can be a great source of biodegradable garbage but it
can make a good source of compost as well. The research is about preparing compost using waste tea powder which is
generally thrown away and analyzing the physico-chemical parameters of the compost. The compost prepared by using
waste tea powder has increased concentration of essential nutrients needed for plant growth and development as compared to
the regular soil which are Chloride, Sulphate, Total Phosphorus, Available Phosphorus, Organic matter, Calcium and Magnesium.
By using this compost, the plants grow very rapidly and there is increment in the leaf area, leaf density, height, and germination
period and germination frequency of the plant. The use of this compost also reduces environmental pollution and also gives
better yield of crops.
Key word : Tea powder, organic matter, pH

Introduction Table 1: Methods for Physico-Chemical Analysis of the Soil

Parameter Method
Compost application to agricultural land can result in
PH Digital pH meter
changes in soil physical properties such as structure, water Conductivity Digital Conductometer
retention and infiltration rates, biological properties and crop Sulfate Turbidimetric Method
yields. Moreover, organic materials such as compost can Chloride Argenometric Method
act as a valuable source of plant available nutrients (e.g. Organic Matter Walkely-Black Method
Total Phosphorus StannouslChloride
nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S) Method
and magnesium (Mg)) and thereby reduce the need for Available Stannous Chloride
manufactured fertilizer inputs (Rollett et al;2010 ). Phosphorus Method
Silica Ammonium Molybdate
Compost is rich source of nutrients with high organic method
matter content and use of compost can be beneficial to Calciumand EDTA Method
Magnesium
improve organic matter status. Physical and chemical
properties of soil can be improved by using compost, which Equal layers of soil, cow-dung and soil were laid at the
may ultimately increase crop yields. The soils, which were, top of the other. The material was allowed to decompose for
once well supplied with available nutrients, are now three months. The temperature was monitored regularly to
gradually becoming deficient (Zia et al., 1994). So use of check the process of completion of the decomposition. The
compost is the need of the time and beneficial to improve temperature rose initially and when the compost was ready,
organic matter status. Physico-chemical properties like pH, it remained constant. The compost thus made was analyzed
conductivity, sulfate, chloride, total phosphorus, available for its following physico-chemical properties, by using
phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, organic matter and silica methods (Table 1) prescribed in Trivedy and Goel (1986).
were significantly improved resulting in enhanced Tagetes
spp., Cicer arietinum and Vigna radiata yields in sodic The following seed were selected to check the
soil (Hussain et al., 2001). efficiency of the compost as they are important in one or the
other aspects as described below-
The present study is conducted with the tea compost
and assesses its effects on crop yield. Vigna Radiata sprouts have been part of Asian cuisine for
centuries. It is one of the most familiar beans in the country. It
Materials and methods is familiar to many because of its use for bean sprouts common
in salad bars across the country. Sprouts are considered a
Compost was prepared at the campus of the
“superfood” because of their high nutrient qualities.
C.K.Thakur college, New Panvel using tea powder that is
thrown after use. It was collected from houses, tea stalls Cicer arietinum has long been valued for their fiber content.
and hotels. They are a very good source of carbohydrates and proteins
which altogether constitute about 80% of the total dry seed
weight. Starch, which is the principal carbohydrate

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98

component, varies in content from 41-50% and is lower in Chlorine is an essential micronutrient for plant and its
Desi varieties than in Kabuli varieties. Total seed minimal requirement for crop growth of 1 g kg -1 dry weight
carbohydrates vary from 52-71%. The crude protein content has been suggested (Pfeiffer 1954).
of chickpea varieties ranges from 16-24%. Crude fibre, an
important constituent of chickpeas is mostly located within Increase concentration of chloride is indicator of
the seed coat. availability of nitrogen and health of the plants. The chlorides
in the compost increased from 0.7% to 7% indicating
Tagetes plants are stout and branching. They vary in size enhancement in the compost.
from 0.1 to 2.2 m tall. They are cultivated all over the world
for their decorative and ornamental purposes. They are Total phosphorus and available phosphorus also
highly valued in festive seasons. They are also known for increased in the compost. The homemade compost usually
their antibacterial, insecticidal and antihelminthic activities. has phosphorus ranging between 0.5 to 4 %. The increase
from 0.03 to 1.2% indicates the phosphorus enrichment
The efficiency of the compost was checked by pot during the present study.
assay of using the above mentioned plants. Two test pots
were made varying in the proportion of the compost and Calcium plays double role in soil fertility as a plant
soil as 1:1 and 1:3 and compared with the control pots. nutrient at the same level as N, P and Mg and as a regulator
of soil pH which determines to a large extent solubility,
Results toxicity and absorption of various soil nutrients. The
compost formed during present study had elevated calcium
The pH of control soil was 7 which was slightly concentration from 1% to 1.3%.
decreased to 6.4 (table 1) indicating insignificant change in
soil pH. Elevated pH are responsible for losses of nitrates Magnesium is the only metal constituent of the
(Rhoades et al. 1976). Though there is slight decrease in chlorophyll and is related to the phosphorus metabolism
pH, it can be taken as a sign as restoration of nitrates through which activates number of plant enzymes. The present study
the process of composting. reveals increased concentration of magnesium from 0.26 to
0.58%.
In non-saline soils, conductivity variations are primarily
a function of soil texture, moisture content, and CEC Organic matter in compost improves soil structure and
(Rouached et al. 2009). The present study reveals indicates water holding capacity. The percent of organic matter for
increased conductivity. It may indicate the availability of general garden compost ranges between 12-20%. In the
nutrient to the plants through increased free ions. given compost, organic matter has not achieved increment
upto 45% and is appreciable. (table 3).
Sulfur (S) is an essential macronutrient for all living
organisms. Plants require large amounts of sulfate for growth The morphological features of the plants were also
and development, and this serves as a major entry point of seen in response to compost to see the efficiency of the
sulfate into the food web. Plants acquire S in its ionic form compost as a good fertilizer. As seen in table 4, leaf length,
from the soil; they have evolved higly controlled mechanisms leaf density, germination rate and height of the Moong, Chick
for the regulation of sulfate uptake in response to its external peas and Mari gold are found to be enhanced. The period of
and internal availability (Marschner, 1995). The enhanced germination has been decreased after application of
sulfur is good indicator of the compost. In the present study compost. It is also apparent that positive control I is showing
sulphates are elevated from 0.05% to 0.5%. improved growth than control II where the later has more
amount of compost than earlier. It indicates that the use of
Table 3: Physico-chemical Analysis this compost should be done optimally.
dĞĂ Table 4: Results of Pot Assay
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Note - I Tagetes spp., II- Cicer arientinum, III- Vigna radiata

ISBN : 978-81-923628-1-6 National Conference on Biodiversity : Status and Challenges in Conservation - ‘FAVEO’ 2013
 99

An estimate of cost efficacy is as mentioned in table 5. Soil Fertility Benefits. Use of manures and organic wastes
The daily approximate amount of tea powder after its use is to improve soil quality and nutrient balances http://
given in the form of wet weight. If so collected as mentioned www. r a m i r a n . n e t / r a m i r a n 2 0 1 0 / d o c s /
below we can have 260 kg day-1. So, in a month we can have Ramiran2010_0224_final.pdf
7800 kg of used tea powder. The amount of compost thus H. Marschner, (1995). “Mineral nutrition of higher plants,”
generated may be approximately 10,000 kg in its dry weight. 2nd ed. London: Academic Press,
If sold at the rate Rs. 20 kg-1, won can have Rs. 2 lakh out of
H. Rouached, D. Secco and A.B. Arpat, (2009). “Getting the
it. If labour and travelling charges are also excluded
most sulfate froms oil: Regulation of sulfate uptake
considering the amount of Rs. 50,000/-, then also there is
transporters in Arabidopsis. Journal of Plant Physiology,
profit of Rs. 1.5 lakhs.
vol. 166, 893-902,
Table 5: Cost Efficacy Hussain, N., G. Hassan, A. Ghafoor and G. Sarwar, (1998)
,ŽƵƐĞƐ ;ƉĞƌ ĚĂLJͿ ZĞƐƚĂƵƌĂŶƚƐ;ƉĞƌ dĞĂƐƚĂůůƐ;ƉĞƌ “Bio-amelioration of sandy clay loamsaline sodic soil,” in
ĚĂLJͿ ĚĂLJͿ Proc. 6th Intl. Micro-Irrigation Congress, p. 293-298.
ϭсϭϬϬŐŵ ϭсϭ<Ő ϭсϭ͘ϱ<Ő J.D. Rhoades, P.A. Raats, R.J. Prather, (1976) “Effects of
ϭϬϬdžϭϬϬсϭϬ<Ő ϭdžϭϬϬсϭϬϬ<Ő ϭdžϭϬϬсϭϱϬ<Ő liquid-phase electrical conductivity, water content, and
surface conductivity on bulk soil electrical conductivity,”
Conclusion Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. vol. 40, 651–655,
The used tea powder is the suitable substrate for M.S Zia, M.I. Nizami and M. Salim, (1994). “Problems of soil
making compost. The composition of various nutrients degradation in Pakistan.”In the collection of land degradation
showed increment in their concentration. The pot assay data. Report of the expert consultation on the Asian network
results show the improvement in plant growth. The on problem soils. RAPA Publication: 1994/3.
approximate of cost efficacy is also in the favour of making Mylavarapu R.S. and Zinati G.M. (2009).Improvement of Soil
compost in this way. Properties using Compost for Optimum Parsley Production
Acknowledgement in Sandy Soils. Scientia Horticulture, 120 (3), 426-430,
The authors are thankful to the management of J.B.S.P. N. Hussain, G. Hassan, M. Arshadullah and F. Mujeeb (2001).
Sanstha and Principal, C.K. Thakur A.C.S College, New Evaluation of amendments for theimprovement of physical
Panvel for their support to carry out the research in the properties of sodic soil. Intl. J. Agric. Bio., 3, 319-322,
college premises. The thanks are also owed to Dr. D.D. R. K. Trivedi and Goel P.K.(1986). Chemical and Biological
Kurlapkar, Prin., Abasaheb Marathe Arts & New Commerce, Methods for Water pollution Studies. Environmental
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Biotechnology, C.K. Thakur A.C.S College, New Panvel for rock phosphate composted with someagricultural wastes
her assistance. The authors also extend the gratitude to all for use in a crop rotation. Agri. Wastes., 18,(1), 73-79.
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Green/Food Compost: Crop Available Nitrogen Supply And

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