Characterization of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) derived from unmarketable vegetables and fruits

The Malaysian government has been challenged with handling unmarketable vegetables and fruit waste that pollutes the environment and emits greenhouse gases, mainly methane and nitrous oxide. These greenhouse gases have been contributing to climate change. In contrast, these wastes consist of h...

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Main Authors: Ramarao, Sanjeev, Azman, Elisa Azura, Tajidin, Nor Elliza, Ismail, Roslan, Yahya, Borhan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2024
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111682/1/Full%20Paper%20Published%20May%202024.pdf
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author Ramarao, Sanjeev
Azman, Elisa Azura
Tajidin, Nor Elliza
Ismail, Roslan
Yahya, Borhan
author_facet Ramarao, Sanjeev
Azman, Elisa Azura
Tajidin, Nor Elliza
Ismail, Roslan
Yahya, Borhan
author_sort Ramarao, Sanjeev
collection UPM
description The Malaysian government has been challenged with handling unmarketable vegetables and fruit waste that pollutes the environment and emits greenhouse gases, mainly methane and nitrous oxide. These greenhouse gases have been contributing to climate change. In contrast, these wastes consist of high moisture and readily biodegradable nutrients that can serve as the perfect substrate rate for fermentation. The valuable nutrients contained in these wastes can produce liquid organic fertilizers (LOF), which help improve the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological characteristics and reduce the demand for inorganic fertilizers and costs to farmers. In this regard, a study was conducted to produce and characterize LOF derived from unmarketable vegetables and fruit waste. The waste was identified from the nearest wet market, collected, and incubated in containers with a ratio of 1: 2: 0.1 (10 kg unmarketable vegetable and food waste: 20 L water: 1 kg inducer) for 30, 45, and 60 days. The unmarketable vegetables and fruits were fermented using three different types of inducers: yeast (Y), brown sugar (BS), and shrimp paste (SP). Unmarketable vegetables and fruit waste with no inducer were also included as a control. Samples from the produced LOF were taken after 30, 45, and 60 days of fermentation, filtered, and subjected to analysis for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), macro-, and micronutrients. These experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The highest nitrogen (0.95%), phosphorus (0.31%), potassium (1.68%), copper (0.23 ppm), and manganese (9.03 ppm) were obtained from LOF fermented for 60 days using yeast, indicating that it improved the nutrient availability of agricultural waste. Moreover, this treatment provided optimum pH and EC values for the growth and development of plants. Thus, LOF derived from unmarketable vegetable and fruit waste can be considered an attractive alternative for supplementing chemical fertilizers.
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spelling upm.eprints-1116822024-08-04T09:43:57Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111682/ Characterization of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) derived from unmarketable vegetables and fruits Ramarao, Sanjeev Azman, Elisa Azura Tajidin, Nor Elliza Ismail, Roslan Yahya, Borhan The Malaysian government has been challenged with handling unmarketable vegetables and fruit waste that pollutes the environment and emits greenhouse gases, mainly methane and nitrous oxide. These greenhouse gases have been contributing to climate change. In contrast, these wastes consist of high moisture and readily biodegradable nutrients that can serve as the perfect substrate rate for fermentation. The valuable nutrients contained in these wastes can produce liquid organic fertilizers (LOF), which help improve the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological characteristics and reduce the demand for inorganic fertilizers and costs to farmers. In this regard, a study was conducted to produce and characterize LOF derived from unmarketable vegetables and fruit waste. The waste was identified from the nearest wet market, collected, and incubated in containers with a ratio of 1: 2: 0.1 (10 kg unmarketable vegetable and food waste: 20 L water: 1 kg inducer) for 30, 45, and 60 days. The unmarketable vegetables and fruits were fermented using three different types of inducers: yeast (Y), brown sugar (BS), and shrimp paste (SP). Unmarketable vegetables and fruit waste with no inducer were also included as a control. Samples from the produced LOF were taken after 30, 45, and 60 days of fermentation, filtered, and subjected to analysis for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), macro-, and micronutrients. These experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The highest nitrogen (0.95%), phosphorus (0.31%), potassium (1.68%), copper (0.23 ppm), and manganese (9.03 ppm) were obtained from LOF fermented for 60 days using yeast, indicating that it improved the nutrient availability of agricultural waste. Moreover, this treatment provided optimum pH and EC values for the growth and development of plants. Thus, LOF derived from unmarketable vegetable and fruit waste can be considered an attractive alternative for supplementing chemical fertilizers. Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2024-05-30 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111682/1/Full%20Paper%20Published%20May%202024.pdf Ramarao, Sanjeev and Azman, Elisa Azura and Tajidin, Nor Elliza and Ismail, Roslan and Yahya, Borhan (2024) Characterization of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) derived from unmarketable vegetables and fruits. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, 47 (2). art. no. JTAS-2800-2023. pp. 559-573. ISSN 1511-3701; EISSN: 2231-8542 http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/pjtas/browse/regular-issue?article=JTAS-2800-2023 10.47836/pjtas.47.2.15
spellingShingle Ramarao, Sanjeev
Azman, Elisa Azura
Tajidin, Nor Elliza
Ismail, Roslan
Yahya, Borhan
Characterization of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) derived from unmarketable vegetables and fruits
title Characterization of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) derived from unmarketable vegetables and fruits
title_full Characterization of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) derived from unmarketable vegetables and fruits
title_fullStr Characterization of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) derived from unmarketable vegetables and fruits
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) derived from unmarketable vegetables and fruits
title_short Characterization of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) derived from unmarketable vegetables and fruits
title_sort characterization of liquid organic fertilizer lof derived from unmarketable vegetables and fruits
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111682/1/Full%20Paper%20Published%20May%202024.pdf
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