Comparison of compost production with different formulations of vegetable and livestock wastes

Abstract

Three studies were conducted in the canton of La Maná, province of Cotopaxi, focused on the production of organic fertilizers through the reuse of residues from agricultural and livestock farms, which were focused on decomposition and composting processes, with the objective of finding sustainable solutions that were not only efficient in waste management but also to develop effective and applicable methods for crops. The sites were: "La Playita" experimental center, Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi, organic fertilizers from animal and vegetable waste (bovine manure and Setaria sphacelata grass waste), Comuna San José del Estero, production of humus through the Californian red earthworm by using the rachis of the orito (Musa acuminata), orchard soil, bovine manure and leaf litter, and the "Sacha wiwa" experimental center using waste from: cacao, cut grass, grazing grass and forage. The following variables were analyzed: temperature (°C), humidity (%), pH, total weight of humus (kg), conversion of raw material/humus production, chemical analysis of the compost. Temperatures from 22,26 to 33,97 °C; humidity from 74,47 to 77,10%; pH 7,18 to 8,08, humus weight from 18,46 to 37,50 kg and conversions from 1,39 to 2,78 were observed. The best performance is reported in the formulation: Orchard soil 6,81 kg + Orito rachis 11,36
kg + Bovine manure 25,00 kg + leaf litter 4,54 kg) with 37,50 kg of humus from the Comuna San José del Estero. The chemical composition of macro and micro elements varies in each experiment.