Open Access

ARTICLE

Effect of Organic Waste and Inorganic Additives on Organic Matter Transformation and Mineral Availability in Composting Green Waste

by Abderrahim Boutasknit^1,2,3, Mohamed Anli³, Rachid Lahlali^4,*, Abdelilah Meddich^2,3,5,*

1 Department of Biology, Multidisciplinary Faculty of Nador, Mohammed First University, Nador, 62700, Morocco
2 Center of Agrobiotechnology and Bioengineering, Research Unit Labeled CNRST (Centre Agro-Biotech-URL-CNRST-05), “Physiology of Abiotic Stresses” Team, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, 40000, Morocco
3 Laboratoire Agro-Alimentaire, Biotechnologies et Valorisation des Bioressources Végétales, Faculty of the Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, 40000, Morocco
4 Department of Plant Protection, Phytopathology Unit, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès, Km10, Rte Haj Kaddour, BP S/40, Meknès, 50001, Morocco
5 African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Laayoune, 70000, Morocco

* Corresponding Authors: Rachid Lahlali. Email: ; Abdelilah Meddich. Email:

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2024, 93(9), 2227-2249. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2024.055629

Received 03 July 2024; Accepted 15 August 2024; Issue published 30 September 2024

Abstract

Applying organic waste and inorganic additives during composting can be an effective and easy-to-control strategy for optimizing humification, maturation, and the availability of essential mineral elements in compost. In this respect, this study aims to evaluate the effect of organic (olive-mill waste and horse manure) and inorganic (phosphogypsum) additives on the evolution of maturity indices, aromatic compounds, and nutrient availability during composting. Four mixtures [horse manure + green waste (M1), olive-mill + green waste (M2), sewage-sludge + phos-phogypsum + green waste (M3), and green waste (M4)] were carried out. Physicochemical (temperature, pH, phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio), infrared-spectroscopic, and phytotoxicity were monitored. The results showed that (in)organic additives have a positive effect on maturity and humification indices, pH stability, and the phosphorus and nitrogen availability in the composts produced. The horse manure additive reduced the carbon and increased the nitrogen, reducing the C/N ratio. Phosphogypsum and olive-mill reduced phytotoxicity, boosting the nitrogen and phosphorus availability of in composts. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis revealed that phosphogypsum and olive-mill addition improved the aromatic compounds and reduced the aliphatic ones in M3 and M4 com-posts. These results suggest new approaches to promoting maturity and stability, as well as phosphorus and nitrogen availability in composts, through better use of organic waste and inorganic additives in composting.

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Keywords

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