Effective Use of Indigenous Microorganism (IMO) in Composting a Mixture of Food and Yard Wastes on an Industrial Scale

Abstract

The aim of this research is to determine the performance of effective microorganisms (EM) in the composting of mixed food and yard wastes on an industrial scale. Composting parameters such as temperature, moisture content, pH, and the carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N), as well as the maturity of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK), were determined. For this purpose, the type of EM used to accelerate the composting process is Indigenous Microorganism (IMO). The study, which was conducted using the best EM, accelerated the composting process, wherein it only takes approximately 13 weeks for the decomposition process to occur in each heap. The results show that the final temperature for each heap is between 25.57 and 28.03 ͦ C, the percentage of moisture content is between 45.55 and 60.49%, the pH is between 6.81 and 7:41, the ratio of carbon to nitrogen is between 17:1 and 23:1, the NPK value for nitrogen ammonia is between 0 mg/L and 0.56 mg/L, the potassium content is between 2.25 and 3.25 ppm, and the value of phosphorus is between 0.56 and 0.76 ppm. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the quality of the compost produced for all piles is high. Due to the slight differences in parameters between all piles, the effectiveness of EM IMO was not conclusive for either open or closed aerated piles, and further research needs to be done.