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Research articles

ScienceAsia 37 (2011): 17-23 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2011.37.017


Biochemical changes during oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) empty fruit bunches composting with decanter sludge and chicken manure


Wathida Kananama, Thunwadee Tachapattaworakul Suksaroja,b,*, Chaisri Suksarojb,c

 
ABSTRACT:     The aim of this study is to investigate the biochemical changes during oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) empty-fruit-bunches (EFB) composting when using decanter sludge or chicken manure as a nitrogen source. We found that the use of decanter sludge did not have an effect on any biochemical conditions of either aerobic or anaerobic EFB composting. The oil palm EFB compost with decanter sludge in an aerobic condition completed within 30 days whereas compost in the anaerobic condition failed to complete composting within 90 days. Adding red soil to the compost pile did not affect the microbial activity or enhance the composting time, but it reduced the odour generated from the pile. Bacteria played an important role in decomposing with a high organic degradation rate occurring within the first two weeks of composting. The composting product obtained met the compost nutrient standard.

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a Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112 Thailand
b National Centre of Excellence for Environmental and Hazardous Waste Management (EHWM), Satellite Centre at Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112 Thailand
c Environmental Engineering Program, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112 Thailand

* Corresponding author, E-mail: thunwadee.t@psu.ac.th

Received 9 Jun 2010, Accepted 8 Mar 2011