Evaluation of different substrates enriched with microorganisms for the compost production in natural areas

• Main Authors: Lázaro J. Ojeda-Quintana, Consuelo Hernández-Rodríguez, Anaisa López-Melian, Celso Frómeta-Milanés
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidad de Córdoba 2020-07-01
• Series: Temas Agrarios
• Subjects: descomposición; microorganisms; vegetable decays; temperature
• Online Access: https://revistas.unicordoba.edu.co/index.php/temasagrarios/article/view/2455

The fabrication and use of compost are accepted thoroughly as a sustainable practice. In the "UCTB Soils Cienfuegos", Cuba, a research was carried out with the objective of evaluating the composting process starting from different combinations of plant residues with the addition of a microbial inoculant. A complete randomized block design with five treatments, and three replicates was used. The temperature was measured during the whole process, the decomposition and the chemical composition of the obtained compost was determined. Temperature maintained, indistinctly, for all treatments the sequence of the phases: Mesophyll, Thermophile and Mesophyll II, with a duration of the composting process between 105-110 days, and a percentage of decomposition of 78,2%, 84,6% and 88,6% respectively in the treatments 1, 2 and 3. In treatments 4 and 5, the duration of the process extended between 135-140 days, with a decomposition of 68% and 69,4% respectively, without effect on the decomposition level. The results allow to conclude that all compost types obtained are viable for use provided based on compost properties. Treatment 3 showed the lergest nitrogen value (1,55%), potassium (1,87%), organic matter (62,8%), phosphorus content of 0,53%, carbon/nitrogen (C/N) rate 23,29 and the highest percentage of decomposition.