Efficiency of Different Composting Patterns on Organic Fertilizer Quality
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Abstract
The production of compost with aeration by turning piles is a method that is preferred by most farmers, but it requires a lot of labor and time for turning piles. The objectives of this experiment were to test the composting pattern and to study the quality of the organic fertilizer that was undergone the fermentation process at Organic Fertilizer Production Learning Center, Lamtakong Research Station, Nakhon Ratchasima province. The experimental design was 3 x 2 factorial in completely randomized design with a total of 4 replications. Factor 1 was composting patterns which consisted of static piles, turning pile every 7 days and active aeration using mechanical roof’s ventilation fan. Factor 2 was composting pile patterns which included circular and rectangular. The results found that the composting by active aeration using mechanical roof’s ventilation fan resulted in a significant difference in the quality of composting
(P < 0.01), namely potential of hydrogen (pH) and germination index (GI). The composting pile patterns did not result in the statistically different quality of composting (P > 0.05). And when considering the interaction between different composting patterns and composting pile patterns, the germination index was significantly different (P < 0.01). The composting by active aeration using mechanical roof’s ventilation fan with circular type had the highest germination index (86.53 ± 2.31%), not different from the rectangular type (83.37 ± 1.87%). As a result, composting decompose completely faster than other patterns of composting. In addition, resulting in the quality of composting in accordance with the standards of organic fertilizers. The farmers can adopt an active aeration composting pattern using mechanical roof’s ventilation fan in combination with circular or rectangular types to reduce the amount of labor and time for composting.
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