Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2025
08:43
Transformation of Organic Household Leftovers into a Peat Substitute
Published on: July 9, 2019
8.3K
Circular Utilization of Coffee Grounds as a Bio-Nutrient through Microbial Transformation for Leafy Vegetables
Hasan Ozer1, Naime Ozdemir2, Asude Ates1
1Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Sakarya University, Esentepe, 54187 Sakarya, Turkey.
Life (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 26, 2024
Summary
Composting spent coffee grounds with biochar creates nutrient-rich biofertilizer. This compost enhances garden cress and spinach growth, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional fertilizers.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Spent coffee grounds (SCG) are abundant organic waste rich in bioactive compounds.
- Biochar (BC) can improve soil properties and nutrient retention.
- Composting SCG with BC offers a sustainable waste valorization pathway.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the production of bio-nutrients from SCG and BC compost.
- To evaluate the impact of a biological agent and varying BC doses on compost quality.
- To assess the effect of the resulting compost on garden cress and spinach growth.
Main Methods:
- SCG was composted with 0-25% BC and a biological agent.
- Compost maturity, humification, and phytotoxicity were analyzed.
- Metagenome analysis identified bacterial community changes.
- Plant growth trials measured chlorophyll content and growth performance.
Main Results:
- Compost with 10% BC showed optimal maturity, humification, and low phytotoxicity.
- Biological agent inoculation enhanced bacterial diversity and abundance, including Patescibacteria for breaking down phenolic compounds.
- BC addition enriched compost with phosphorus and potassium while retaining nitrogen.
- Compost significantly increased chlorophyll content and growth in garden cress and spinach, comparable to traditional fertilizers.
Conclusions:
- Composting SCG with an optimal BC dose (10%) and biological agent produces a mature, non-phytotoxic biofertilizer.
- The biofertilizer effectively promotes the growth of leafy vegetables like garden cress and spinach.
- This approach offers a sustainable method for waste valorization and nutrient management in agriculture.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
2
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
2
02:11The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
35.1K
Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
35.1K
00:46Bioremediation
18.2K
Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
18.2K
01:27Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry
2
Microorganisms play a crucial role in agriculture and the food industry, contributing to soil fertility, crop protection, and food production. Their functions range from nitrogen fixation and biopesticide production to fermentation and food preservation, making them indispensable to sustainable farming and food safety.Role in AgricultureNitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium (symbiotic) and Azotobacter (free-living), convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia through biological nitrogen...
2
01:20Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism
7.8K
Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
7.8K
02:50Transgenic Plants
7.2K
Recombinant DNA technology called transgenesis is often used to add a foreign gene or remove a detrimental gene from an organism. Such genetically modified organisms are called transgenic organisms.
The first-ever transgenic plant was a tobacco plant developed in 1983 that showed resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus. Since then, many transgenic plants have been developed and commercialized for improving the agricultural, ornamental, and horticultural value of a crop plant. Transgenic...
The first-ever transgenic plant was a tobacco plant developed in 1983 that showed resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus. Since then, many transgenic plants have been developed and commercialized for improving the agricultural, ornamental, and horticultural value of a crop plant. Transgenic...
7.2K