PRODUCTION OF COMPOST MATERIALS FROM DOMESTIC FOOD WASTES IN AKURE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was proposed to produce compost from the domestic food wastes (DFW) collected from the main dump-site at Oda Road in Akure. Microorganisms associated with domestic food wastes were isolated using standard microbiological and biochemical methods. The bacterial isolates were Azotobacter species, Bacillus megaterium, B. sphaericus, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Kurthia spp., Lactobacillus delbrueckii, L. jensenii, Listeria monocytogenes and Macromonas mobilis. The fungal isolates were Amblyosporium botrytis, Geotrichum albidum, Gloeosporium nervisequum, Sepedonium ampullosporum, Streptothrix atra and Variscosporium elodeae. AutocJaved freshly generated domestic food wastes were inoculated with different isolated microflora and left to decompose for 28 days at 28°C; sampling was done to assess the microbial load, physicochemical properties and weights at 7-day intervals. The moisture, protein, fat, fibre, carbohydrate and ash contents were 67.99-76.92%, 5.11- 8.91%, 0.54-1.17%, 0.62-1.26 %, 11.32-15.95% and 3.78-7.71 % respectively. Concentrations of the anti nutritional factors were 8.57 ± 0.06mg/g (phytate), 0.89 ± 0.01% (tannin), 0.17 ± 0.02mg/g (oxalate), 0.18 ± O.Olmglkg (total cyanide) and 0.24 ± 0.01% (saponin) in the composts made with B. sphaericus, M mobilis, L. jensenii and unsterilized wastes from the dumpsite. The best sources of macronutrients (N, P, K, Mg and Ca) required for plant's growth in this work were the composts prepared with B. megaterium, G. stearothermophilus, Geotrichuim albidum, Kurthia species, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, L. jensenii, M. mobilis, Listeria monocytogenes and Variscosporium e/odeae. Among the microbes identified, the composts constituted with L. delbrueckii and B. sphaericus emerged the best, in producing the micronutrients (Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe). The effect of the composts on the growth of maize showed that there was a great positive effect of the composts on the growth of maize. Decomposition of domestic food wastes produced compost that can be used to enhance plant growth. Also, compo sting the DFW can be employed to prevent or reduce environmental pollution and health related problems.