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PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF COMPOST TO CHECK ITS MATURITY

AND STABILITY

Article in EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL RESEARCH · April 2016

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 ejpmr, 2016,3(5), 84-87 SJIF Impact Factor 3.628
Research Article
Ameen et al. EUROPEAN JOURNAL European
OF PHARMACEUTICAL
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research
AND MEDICAL RESEARCH ISSN 2394-3211
www.ejpmr.com EJPMR

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF COMPOST TO CHECK ITS MATURITY

AND STABILITY

Ayesha Ameen*1,3, Jalil Ahmad2, Neelma Munir1 and Shahid Raza3

1
Lahore College for Woman University, Lahore, Pakistan.
2
Lahore Compost Pvt Ltd, Punjab, Pakistan.
3
University of South Asia, Lahore Pakistan.

*Corresponding Author: Ayesha Ameen

Lahore College for Woman University, Lahore, Pakistan.

Article Received on 03/03/2016 Article Revised on 24/03/2016 Article Accepted on 15/04/2016

ABSTRACT
The composting process is the most environmentally safe method of recycling the organic waste. Composting is a
natural process and it takes many months to give a quality mature compost which can be used as a bio fertilizer.
The composting process can be speed up by the addition of some biological inoculants e.g. bacteria and fungi or a
consortium of both to get the mature compost early. The present study was designed to check the stability and
maturity of compost prepared with the addition of inoculants on organic waste and without inoculants. The
maturity of compost samples were evaluated after 2.5 months of composting process by performing different
physical and chemical tests.

KEYWORD: biological inoculants e.g. bacteria and fungi.

INTRODUCTION Methodology
The nutrients of plants are key and significant The experimental heaps were treated with microbial
component of sustainable agriculture (Ryckeboer et al., inoculants and control was without any type of
2003). However, the use of chemical fertilizers now a inoculation. The treatment A, B and C was experimental
days to improve the fertility of soil and crop production and Treatment D was control.
usually results in unexpected unsafe environmental Determination of Moisture percentage of compost
effects and cause severe environmental pollution. The china dish was weight with 10g of compost sample.
Alternatively the microbes in soil play a vital role in The china dish was placed in an oven at 120o C for
complementary the dynamics of organic waste minimum 4 hours. The china dish was taken out after 4
breakdown and availability of plant nutrients. Therefore hours of heating and cooled in desiccator. The sample
bio fertilizer made by composting process has been was weight again after heating. Moisture content was
identified as an alternative to chemical fertilizer to calculated by dividing the reduction in weight by initial
improve soil fertility and crop production (Michael et al., weight. (Richard et al., 2002).
1995).
Particle size, smell and color
The mature compost can be investigated for Physical, The pore size, texture, smell and color of the mature
chemical and biological parameters to check its maturity compost made by different treatments was observed.
and stability. The maturity, stability and changes due to
the presence of microbial inoculants and without Determination of pH
microbial inoculants on compost were evaluated. The The compost solution was made by adding distilled
compost windrow consists of 50 tons of organic waste water in 1:10 and for dissolving the maximum salts, it
and it was divided into parts so that the comparison of was placed for 2 hours. The pH meter electrode was dip
control and experimental can be examined. The heaps of in the compost solution. Reading was noted on pH meter
the compost with different treatments were evaluated when it was stabilized. The electrode was washed with
after 2.5 months of composting process. distilled water and dried with tissue paper (Monedero et
al., 2001)
The most important physical and chemical parameters of
compost were inspected with importance on the Determination of electrical conductivity of compost
parameters such as pH, C: N, moisture content, organic The solution of compost was made by adding distilled
Carbon, Cation exchange capacity, electrical water in compost sample in 1:5. The conductance cell
conductivity and organic matter (Vargas et al., 2005). was washed with distilled water. The cell was dipped

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Ameen et al. European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research

into solution of compost the reading was noted on EC control samples. The results are in the line of earlier
meter. Conductivity was displayed in mS Cm-1. (Arnold, findings of Azim et al., (2014) that the initial C: N
2004). ranging 25 to 30 produced the more mature compost.

Determination of organic matter Variance between means of C: N of mature compost

The empty crucible was weight (W1). The crucible was formed by different treatments
weight again when 5 g of compost sample was added in
it (W2). The crucible having compost in it was placed in
an oven at 105o C for 4 hours. After drying the sample,
the crucibles were placed in muffle furnace at 800o C for
2 hours. The crucibles contain ash was weight (W3)
(Yeomans and Bremner, 1988).The percentage of organic
matter was determined by subtracting W1 from W2 and
W1 fromW3.

Determination of C: N
The 0.5g of compost sample was taken and transferred in
digestion tube. 1.0g of digestion mixture was added in
the compost sample. Then 10 to 12ml of sulphuric acid
was also added in digestion tube. The digestion tube was
placed in digestion block and heated for 2 hours at 400o
C. The contents in the tube were changed color from
black to light green. The digestion tube was cooled
down. The sample was distillated on distillation
apparatus in the presence of boric acid and sodium
hydroxide (Tandon, 2005). Carbon was divided by
nitrogen to find the C: N.

Determination of CEC
The 2g of compost sample was taken in 300ml flask and
100ml of 0.1M HCL solution was added in it. The flask
was shake vigorously on shaker for 2 hours. The solution
was filtered after shaking and 1% silver nitrate solution
was added in the filtered solution until it start
precipitation. The solution was transferred in to another To check the significant difference between the mean
300ml flask and 0.25M barium acetate was added in it. values of pH for different treatments and compare with
The flask was placed in shaker for 1 hour. The solution control, an ANOVA statistical test was performed. The
was filtered again and the filtrate was titrated with 0.1M pH value was recorded high in treatment C and B
NAOH using 5 drops of phenolphthalein. experimental treatments and lowest was recorded in
treatment D, the control having no inoculum. The pH
Statistical Analysis was increased with the time interval of composting
The data were analyzed by using ANOVA variance process. Bord na Mona (2003) recommended a range of
(SPSS version 11). Standard deviation of the mean pH from 6.9-8.3 at the end of composting and the results
values was calculated for each treatment. F test was shows this range of pH in all treatments.
applied to the data to analyze the data for significant
differences. The values were also compared for Variance between means of pH of compost formed by
significant difference using Duncan’s multiple range test. different treatment

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The compost heaps that had some type of inoculum
showed smaller pore size, no smell and smooth texture.
Giusquiani et al., (1995) also reported that the larger pore
size is not a positive or good sign of compost maturity.

The statistical ANOVA test was performed to find the

significant difference between the mean values of
treatments and compare the C: N of treatments that had
inoculum with the control. The highest C: N was
observed in treatment B and the all treatments that had
inoculum and lowest was observed in treatment D, the

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Ameen et al. European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research

Variance between means of organic matter of

compost formed by different treatments

The high values of moisture content was observed in

treatment D in the mature compost form by different
treatments and lowest was observed in treatment C. the
moisture content must be decreased from 50 % at the end
of composting. The low moisture content shows the high
activity of microbes (Tiquia et al., 1996).

Variance between means of moisture % of compost

formed by different treatment

The value of EC was increased in experimental and

control treatments. The large EC was recorded in
treatment C and lowest was recorded in treatment B. the
electrical conductivity must be increased with time
interval in composting process and in the mature
compost its value must be high. The more alkaline pH
increases the value of Ec as well (Haung et al., 2004).

ANOVA variance between means of EC of compost

formed by different treatments

The organic matter value was high in treatment D that

had no inoculum and lowest was observed in treatment A
that had inoculum and molasses. Organic matter increase
with decrease in temperature (Burke et al., 1988). The
organic matter content in mature compost must not
exceed from 30%. The amount of organic matter must
not be very high in the mature compost as it indicates
that the breakdown of organic matter and humification
index is slow (Haung et al., 2006).

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 Ameen et al. European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research

The value of CEC was increased with the time interval. 4. Huang D.Y., Lu W.J., Wang H.T., Zhou H.Y. and
The CEC was determined high in treatment B and lowest Wang Z.C. Application of high-efficient cellulose
was determined in treatment D. the higher CEC value utilization microorganisms in co-composting of
determines the more mature and stable compost vegetable wastes and flower stalk. Huan Jing Ke
(Saharinen 1998). Xue, 2004; 25(2):145-149.
5. Michel Jr, F. C., Pecchia, J. A., Rigot, J., and
ANOVA variance between means of CEC of compost Keener, H. M. Mass and nutrient losses during
formed by different treatments composting of dairy manure with sawdust versus
straw amendment. Compost Science and
Utilization, 2003; 23: 1-33.
6. Richard, T. L., Hamelers, H. V. M., Veeken, A., &
Silva, T. Moisture relationships in composting
processes. Compost Science & Utilization, 2002;
10(4): 286-302.
7. Ryckeboer, J., Mergaert, J., Coosemans, J., Deprins,
K., and Swings, J. Microbiological aspects of
biowaste during composting in a monitored compost
bin. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2003; 94(1):
127-137.
8. Saharinen, M. H. Evaluation of changes in CEC
during composting. Compost Science and
Utilization, 1998; 6(4): 29-37.
9. Sánchez-Monedero, M. A., Roig, A., Paredes, C., &
Bernal, M. P. Nitrogen transformation during
organic waste composting by the Rutgers system
and its effects on pH, EC and maturity of the
composting mixtures. Bioresource
Technology, 2001; 78(3): 301-308.
10. Tiquia, S. M., Tam, N. F. Y., and Hodgkiss, I. J.
Microbial activities during composting of spent pig-
manure sawdust litter at different moisture
contents. Bioresource Technology, 1996; 55(3):
201-206.
11. VanderGheynst, J. S., Pettygrove, S., Dooley, T. M.,
CONCLUSION & Arnold, K. A. Estimating electrical conductivity
This study was carried out to achieve a goal of of compost extracts at different extraction
evaluating the mature compost formed by the treatment ratios. Compost science & utilization, 2004; 12(3):
of organic waste with microbial inoculants and without 202-207.
microbial inoculants. The evaluation of prepared
compost by physical and chemical parameters revealed
that the addition of some microorganisms gave a good
quality mature compost as compared with the treatment
having natural composting process.

REFERENCES
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