Co-composting of Biodegradable Solid Waste and Cow Dung using Termite Mound as Bulking Agent

Abstract

This research evaluated the effects of addition of termite mound on composting time, and the compostability of biodegradable municipal waste and cow dung using termite mound as bulking agent with a view to reducing the amount of solid waste going into landfills or open dumpsites. Co-composting of cow dung, biodegradable waste and termite mound was carried out using pit method of composting for a period of 70 days, between January and April 2016. Five composting pits (pit 1 to pit 5) of 1 m³ each were dug. The proportion of composting was 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% termite mound 95, 90, 85, 80 and 75% biodegradable waste and 5% cow dung in all the composting pits. Bulk density, moisture content, pH, temperature, total organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium of the compost were monitored. Bulk density, pH, and total nitrogen ranged from 410 to 790 kg/m³ , 6.6 to 6.7, and 0.8 to 1.21%, respectively whereas total phosphorous and potassium ranged from 1.53 to 2.88, and 15.3 to 28.13 g/kg, respectively. The time required to achieve maximum temperature ranged from 5 to 18 days. Use of termite mound as bulking agent was found to decrease the composting time and increase the nutrient content of the compost. The compost produced can be used as nutrient supplement on farmlands, especially where synthetic fertilizers are expensive or scarce.