Title: Composting of Posidonia oceanica (Neptune grass) mixed with poultry droppings residues for agricultural and environmental purpose

Authors: Dhouha Tangour; Niar Yeddes; Malika Trabelsi Ayadi; Amel Jrad

Addresses: Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Zarzouna 7021, University of Carthage, Bizerte, Tunisia; Tunis International Centre for Environmental Technologies (CITET), Boulevard du leader Yasser Arafat, 1080 Tunis, Tunisia ' Laboratory Applications of Chemical Resources, Natural Substances and the Environment (LACReSNE), Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Zarzouna 7021, University of Carthage, Bizerte, Tunisia ' Laboratory Applications of Chemical Resources, Natural Substances and the Environment (LACReSNE), Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Zarzouna 7021, University of Carthage, Bizerte, Tunisia ' Tunis International Centre for Environmental Technologies (CITET), Boulevard du leader Yasser Arafat, 1080 Tunis, Tunisia

Abstract: Posidonia oceanica and poultry droppings cause serious economic and environmental problems. Composting is the most reasonable way to profit from their highly valuable organic matter. A mixture of Posidonia oceanica and poultry droppings at different proportion: C₁ (100%, 0), C₂ (80%, 20%) and C₃ (60%, 40%) were selected for composting. The physical and chemical parameters were monitored during composting over 85 days. The most appropriate parameters selected should be to establish the quality and maturity of final compost. The C₃ compost gives a better quality of compost by increasing the bioavailability of nutrient contents such as N, Ca, K, P, Mg and their C/N = 12.20 is the established value for highly mature compost. The germination index (GI) was recorded as 46.67 ± 1.15%, 70 ± 0.82% and 86.67 ± 1.7% for C₁, C₂ and C₃ mature compost, respectively. The GI was best correlated to the poultry droppings percentage in compost substrate (R² = 0.91). Thus C₃ may improve soil fertility and soil quality for horticulture purpose.

Keywords: Posidonia oceanica; poultry droppings; composting; nutrients; physicochemical properties; C/N; germination index; carbon; nitrogen; phosphorus; agriculture; soil fertility; soil quality; horticulture; environmental impact; Neptune grass; organic fertilisers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2015.069964

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2015 Vol.15 No.4, pp.377 - 385

Accepted: 25 Jan 2015
Published online: 16 Jun 2015 *

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