An analysis of organic compost from food waste: A case under tropical climate conditions at Kelantan, Malaysia

Abstract

The main focus of this study is to convert the food waste into compost and to assess the physical and chemical properties of the compost as well as to compare the physical and chemical properties with soil. Food waste was collected from the hostel and was left to degrade for two months. The finished products produced in this research are black in color and have an earthy smell. Three treatments of output were prepared which are T0, T1, and T2. The results obtained revealed that the concentrations of physicochemical parameters in T0, T1, and T2 were in the range of; 7.35-7.65 for pH, 0.59-1.03 g/cm³ for bulk density, 21.13-63.88% for humidity, total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content of 0.11-2.10%, 48.29-76.97 mg/L, and 0.88-49.33 mg/L respectively. In conclusion, the statistical tests of significance using ANOVA revealed significant differences (P<0.05) between the values bulk density, moisture content, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in T0, T1, and T2 except for the pH.