Assessment of the suitability of pineapple waste as feedstock for vermicomposting

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dc.contributor.authorMiito, Gilbert
dc.contributor.authorKomakech, Allan
dc.contributor.authorZziwa, Ahamada
dc.contributor.authorKiggundu, Nicholas
dc.contributor.authorKambugu, Robert
dc.date.accessioned2022-12-26T20:54:16Z
dc.date.available2022-12-26T20:54:16Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractDeclining soil fertility is a challenge to sustainable agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa. However, large volumes of agricultural waste are generated from pineapples that could be converted into soil conditioners through vermicomposting utilizing earthworms. Several types of agricultural waste have been studied extensively as vermicompost feedstock, but little work exists on pineapple waste. The objective of this study was to investigate the suitability of pineapple waste as feedstock for vermicomposting. We assessed the physicochemical properties of fresh, pre-composted pineapple waste and the resultant vermicompost. We also studied the optimal feeding rate and stocking density of the system. The study revealed that pre-composting reduced the moisture content (29%), volatile organic carbon (VOC) (10%), and increased the pH (57%), which was helpful in waste stabilization as well as in the mass reduction of the waste. Vermicomposting after pre- composting increased the bulk density (92%), ash content (25.4%), pH (10%), EC (14%), total phosphorus (21%), and total potassium (28%). The technology also decreased the moisture content (1%), VOC (12%), total organic carbon (81%), total nitrogen (22%), and the carbon to nitrogen ratio (76.4%) of the pineapple waste hence yielding a more stabilized and mineralized vermicompost. The study further revealed an optimal feeding rate of 2 kg feeds/kg worms and a stocking density of 1 kg worms m-2 for total nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization of the pineapple waste. The degradation of the pineapple waste by earthworms demonstrated the practicability of vermicomposting as a low-cost and straightforward technology of converting pineapple waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMiito, G., A. Komakech, A. Zziwa, N. Kiggundu, and R. Kambugu. 2021. Assessment of the suitability of pineapple waste as feedstock for vermicomposting. Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 23(4): 148-159.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://cigrjournal.org/index.php/Ejounral/article/view/6739
dc.identifier.urihttps://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/6606
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherAgricultural Engineering International CIGR Journalen_US
dc.subjectPineapple wasteen_US
dc.subjectVermicomposten_US
dc.subjectSoil conditioneren_US
dc.subjectStocking densityen_US
dc.subjectFeeding rateen_US
dc.titleAssessment of the suitability of pineapple waste as feedstock for vermicompostingen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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