DOI: https://doi.org/10.59321/BAUETJ.V4I1.8
AUTHOR(S)
Tasnim Khan1, Md. Abdullah Yousuf Al Harun1*, Sultana Jahan Moule1 and Md. Shaharuf Islam1
ABSTRACT
The study investigated the effectiveness of coco coir and coconut water-induced kitchen waste compost on soil fertility and vegetable growth. Using a household-based anaerobic composting method, three compost types were prepared: kitchen waste (KW) only, kitchen waste mixed with coco coir (KW+CC), and kitchen waste mixed with coco coir and coconut water (KW+CC+CW). A field laboratory experiment assessed the impact of prepared composts on Lactuca sativa (lettuce), Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), and Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes (turnip) growth, following a completely randomized design with four replicates. Results showed that soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium), micronutrients (iron, chloride), and organic matter were significantly increased in all compost-amended soils compared with control. Growth parameters of the experimental plants cultivated with prepared composts were stimulated substantially compared with control, particularly root length, chlorophyll content, and lettuce height for the treatment of KW+CC+CW compost depicted the strongest significant impact (p ≤ 0.001). The notable impact of composts on lettuce and tomato, and the negligible impact on turnip confirms the species-specific consequence. In summary, KW+CC+CW compost enriched valuable soil nutrients, enhancing vegetable production variably by species. This study highlights the potential of recycling waste into compost for sustainable organic agriculture.