Formation and Characterization of Leaf Waste into Organic Compost

Abstract

Abstract In solid waste management, pollution-free disposal of leaf waste in urban areas is still not standardized and adopted. This project was designed to undertake and understand the composting of leaf waste and characterizing the organic fertilizer formed from it. The composting of the leaf waste was set up through the essential microbe (EM) method to produce compost. Different parameters like pH, electrical conductivity, macronutrients, micronutrients, and heavy metals contents were measured at zero to fifty days of composting using appropriate methods. Leaf waste composting attained its maturity within 21–40 days of composting. The values were used to calculate its fertility index based on six parameters like total carbon, total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur contents. The Potentially Toxic Elements (PTE) and trace elements in the compost were analyzed through ICP-MS. An analysis was also done on samples of other popular matured composts like Kitchen Waste compost, Vermicompost, Cow dung manure, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) organic waste compost, and Neem cake compost. Arsenic, Chromium, and Mercury were high in all the compost except the leaf waste compost. The trace elements such as Ba, Be, Se, Ti, Tl, and V concentrations were moderate in all the compost. The PTE values were used to calculate their clean index. It was found that leaf waste compost has very good fertility index only next to Neem Cake Compost and has the best clean index. Leaf waste compost could be categorized as good quality compost.