Valorization of kiwi waste through composting

Area of Science:

• Agronomy
• Environmental Science
• Soil Science

Background:

• Kiwi production generates significant waste, posing environmental challenges through landfill deposition.
• Composting offers a sustainable solution for managing kiwi waste and promoting circular economy principles in agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the agronomic potential of composted kiwi waste using wheat straw as a bulking agent.
• To determine the optimal wheat straw content for producing high-quality compost from kiwi waste.

Main Methods:

• Composting trials were conducted with kiwi waste mixed with varying wheat straw percentages (5%, 10%, 20%).
• Key parameters monitored included temperature, organic matter mineralization, C/N ratio, pH, and electrical conductivity.

Main Results:

• Compost piles with 5% and 10% straw reached temperatures above 60°C, indicating effective composting.
• The 10% straw compost demonstrated a high degree of maturation, nutrient richness, adequate pH, low electrical conductivity, and absence of pathogens.
• Higher straw content (20%) led to lower temperatures and reduced organic matter mineralization due to increased aeration and C/N ratio.

Conclusions:

• Composting kiwi waste with 10% wheat straw yields a mature, nutrient-rich compost suitable for agricultural application.
• This approach effectively recycles waste, mitigates environmental pollution, and enhances soil fertility.
• Optimizing bulking agent ratios is crucial for achieving high-quality compost with desirable agronomic properties.