Exploring the utility of different bulking agents for speeding up the composting process of household kitchen waste
Abstract Household kitchen waste (HKW) is produced in large quantity and its management is difficult due to high moisture content and complex organic matter. Aerobic composting of HKW is an easy, efficient, cost-effective and eco-friendly method. This study is designed to achieve a zero-waste concep...
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| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85433-0 |
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| author | Sania Mussa Muhammad Farhan Shoaib Ahmad Khadija Zahra Amina Kanwal Qaiser Farid Khan Muhammad Afzaal Abdul Wahid Pallab K. Sarker Mohamed A. El-Sheikh Shafaqat Ali |
| author_facet | Sania Mussa Muhammad Farhan Shoaib Ahmad Khadija Zahra Amina Kanwal Qaiser Farid Khan Muhammad Afzaal Abdul Wahid Pallab K. Sarker Mohamed A. El-Sheikh Shafaqat Ali |
| author_sort | Sania Mussa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Household kitchen waste (HKW) is produced in large quantity and its management is difficult due to high moisture content and complex organic matter. Aerobic composting of HKW is an easy, efficient, cost-effective and eco-friendly method. This study is designed to achieve a zero-waste concept and to convert HKW. We optimized the type and size of three different bulking agents to speed up the composting process. The tested bulking agents were fallen leaves, sawdust and fly ash. The results showed a higher and longer thermophilic phase (55oC) for 11 days in C2. Higher moisture content (69%) and higher organic matter degradation (38.4%) were also observed in C2. The pH range in all compost treatments was 7-8.5, Electrical conductivity range was 1.8–3.55 mS/cm, C/N ratio range was 15.4–18.1, water holding capacity range was 3.25–4.3 g water/g dry sample, total potassium range was 1.52–1.61%, total phosphorous range was 0.83–1.14%. The highest germination index (119.1%) was also obtained in C2. The highest chili height (16.7 cm), greater number of leaves (20), greater shoot fresh weight (4.75 g) and root fresh weight (1.2 g) was obtained in the presence of C2. Similarly, greater water WHC (2.8 g water/g DW), higher porosity (55.49%) and higher aggregate stability (54.14%) of soil was also obtained by C2. This research effectively reduced the maturation time to 32 days and converted kitchen waste into compost (resource). This is a very practical idea for home composting and kitchen gardening to combat food security issues in developing countries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5a299b92375149838c2b285313358a7b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-5a299b92375149838c2b285313358a7b2025-01-26T12:28:43ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-85433-0Exploring the utility of different bulking agents for speeding up the composting process of household kitchen wasteSania Mussa0Muhammad Farhan1Shoaib Ahmad2Khadija Zahra3Amina Kanwal4Qaiser Farid Khan5Muhammad Afzaal6Abdul Wahid7Pallab K. Sarker8Mohamed A. El-Sheikh9Shafaqat Ali10Sustainable Development Study Center, Government College University LahoreSustainable Development Study Center, Government College University LahoreState Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing UniversitySustainable Development Study Center, Government College University LahoreDepartment of Botany, Government College Women University SialkotDepartment of Microbiology, Ikam ul Haq Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Government College UniversitySustainable Development Study Center, Government College University LahoreDepartment of Environmental Science, Bahu din Zakaria UniversityEnvironmental Studies Department, University of California Santa CruzBotany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Environmental Sciences, Government College University FaisalabadAbstract Household kitchen waste (HKW) is produced in large quantity and its management is difficult due to high moisture content and complex organic matter. Aerobic composting of HKW is an easy, efficient, cost-effective and eco-friendly method. This study is designed to achieve a zero-waste concept and to convert HKW. We optimized the type and size of three different bulking agents to speed up the composting process. The tested bulking agents were fallen leaves, sawdust and fly ash. The results showed a higher and longer thermophilic phase (55oC) for 11 days in C2. Higher moisture content (69%) and higher organic matter degradation (38.4%) were also observed in C2. The pH range in all compost treatments was 7-8.5, Electrical conductivity range was 1.8–3.55 mS/cm, C/N ratio range was 15.4–18.1, water holding capacity range was 3.25–4.3 g water/g dry sample, total potassium range was 1.52–1.61%, total phosphorous range was 0.83–1.14%. The highest germination index (119.1%) was also obtained in C2. The highest chili height (16.7 cm), greater number of leaves (20), greater shoot fresh weight (4.75 g) and root fresh weight (1.2 g) was obtained in the presence of C2. Similarly, greater water WHC (2.8 g water/g DW), higher porosity (55.49%) and higher aggregate stability (54.14%) of soil was also obtained by C2. This research effectively reduced the maturation time to 32 days and converted kitchen waste into compost (resource). This is a very practical idea for home composting and kitchen gardening to combat food security issues in developing countries.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85433-0Kitchen wasteAerobic compostingFeedstock sizeBulking agentsMaturity |
| spellingShingle | Sania Mussa Muhammad Farhan Shoaib Ahmad Khadija Zahra Amina Kanwal Qaiser Farid Khan Muhammad Afzaal Abdul Wahid Pallab K. Sarker Mohamed A. El-Sheikh Shafaqat Ali Exploring the utility of different bulking agents for speeding up the composting process of household kitchen waste Scientific Reports Kitchen waste Aerobic composting Feedstock size Bulking agents Maturity |
| title | Exploring the utility of different bulking agents for speeding up the composting process of household kitchen waste |
| title_full | Exploring the utility of different bulking agents for speeding up the composting process of household kitchen waste |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the utility of different bulking agents for speeding up the composting process of household kitchen waste |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the utility of different bulking agents for speeding up the composting process of household kitchen waste |
| title_short | Exploring the utility of different bulking agents for speeding up the composting process of household kitchen waste |
| title_sort | exploring the utility of different bulking agents for speeding up the composting process of household kitchen waste |
| topic | Kitchen waste Aerobic composting Feedstock size Bulking agents Maturity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85433-0 |
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