Co-composting of Hair Waste, Water Lettuce, Pig Manure and It’s Effect to the Amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus L.) Growth

Abstract

This study aimed to use hair waste as a compost material with water lettuce and pig manure in
order to achieve the compost with high contents of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The optimum rate
of using this compost for the plantation was also studied. The results revealed that at 30 days composting
of hair waste, freshwater lettuce, dry pig manure and dry leaves at the ratio of 1: 8: 1: 2 by weight. The
compost contained with 88.57–89.78% organic matter, 3.27-3.53% N and 3.26-3.64% P. The experiment
results showed that the most appropriate ratio of compost: soil is 1: 3 or 25% (w/w). The application of this
ratio to the amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus L.) significantly promoted in height, leaf width and leaf length
of the plants, as compared to the other mixing ratios. All of the plant growths showed two times higher than
the control. Thus, the present study indicated that the compost had a potential for agricultural utilization
as plant nutrients for crop production or as soil conditioners for soil improvement.