Composting of Cow Dung and Food Waste under Aerobic Conditions for the Improvement of Soil
N.C. Mmonwuba, J. C. Agunwamba, Udeoba Chisom, Nwalioba Francis, Umechukwu Victor
Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports · pp. 483–492 · Published 23 Dec 2024
10.9734/ajarr/2024/v18i12845Abstract
Composting organic materials like cow dung and food waste is a sustainable method to enhance soil quality by recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. This study explores the aerobic composting process, which involves the microbial breakdown of organic matter in the presence of oxygen, leading to the production of nutrient-rich compost. Cow dung and food waste, both abundant in organic carbon and essential nutrients, were composted under controlled aerobic conditions to assess their impact on soil fertility and structure. The composting process was monitored over several weeks, with parameters such as temperature, moisture content, pH, and carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio being closely observed. The results indicated that the temperature peaked during the thermophilic phase, facilitating the breakdown of organic matter and pathogen reduction. The C/N ratio decreased from an initial value of approximately 30:1 to 15:1, indicating efficient decomposition. The final compost was applied to lateritic soil, commonly found in tropical regions, to assess its impact on soil properties. The treated soil showed significant improvements in terms of enhanced nutrient content, increased organic matter, better moisture retention, and improved soil structure. This, in turn, led to better plant growth and higher yields, demonstrating the effectiveness of composting cow dung and food waste under aerobic conditions. The study concludes that aerobic composting of cow dung and food waste is a viable strategy for improving soil fertility and sustainability in agriculture practices. It not only reduces organic waste but also provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly means of enhancing soil health.
References (2)
- 1 The Design of Sewage Treatment Plant for Agulu Community, Nigeria [DOI]
- 2 Hazardous Waste Management at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala, Anambra State [DOI]
Cited by 2
Nessrin Abdi, M. Benaissa, Abdesselem Si Mohammed · Compost Science & Utilization · 2026
Showing 1 of 2 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.
Related research
- Evaluating the Effect of Gamma Irradiation and Steam Sterilization on the Survival and Growth of Composted Sawdust Fungi in Ghana — shares topic coverage
- Microbial Contributions in Alleviating Decline in Soil Fertility — shares topic coverage
- Evolution of the Dominant Groups of Micro-organisms during the Composting Process of the Household Refuses from the Dschang Municipality – Cameroon — shares topic coverage
- Role of Trichoderma spp in Composting to Improve Soil Physicochemical Properties, Growth, Yield and Crop Protection: A Review — shares topic coverage
- Feasibility and Product Maturity of Compost Developed from Poultry Waste in Temperate Agroclimate of Kashmir Region — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
9
Page views
0
PDF downloads
0
Outbound clicks
2
Citations
Views over time
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.