Jutarut Iewkittiyakorn
Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand
Trithep Savisai
Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand
Piyaporn Khunthongkaew
Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand
Juntima Chungsiriporn
Division of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112,
Thailand
Keywords: Agricultural waste, Coffee grounds, Compost, Compost nutrient, Food waste, Soybean meal
Abstract
Food waste (FW) management is a critical global challenge due to its environmental and economic impacts. Composting provides a sustainable recycling pathway but FW alone often requires supplementation with carbon-rich residues to balance moisture and enhance compost quality. This study investigated the effects of co-composting FW with dried coffee grounds, soybean meal (SM), banana peel, and light rubber wood ash (LA) in different proportions (0–20% w/w) for 14 days in foam box systems. The objective was to identify the additive and concentration that most effectively improved the nutrient composition of the obtained compost. Results showed that agricultural residues significantly increased macronutrient levels. In particular, 20% SM yielded the compost with the highest nutrient concentrations, with total N, P₂O₅, and K₂O reaching 3.39%, 1.77%, and 2.89% (w/w), respectively, compared with 1.51%, 0.93%, and 0.61% (w/w) in the control. LA enhanced compost alkalinity and K₂O content. These findings demonstrate that SM and LA are promising additives for producing a nutrient-rich compost from FW that could contribute to sustainable waste management and the development of high-quality organic fertilizers.
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