Effects of using digested kitchen wastes as alternative nutrient source for hydroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Date

4-2009

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Ronaldo B. Saludes

Committee Member

Marion Lux Y. Castro, Moises A. Dorado

Abstract

Increase in demand for agricultural production drove the increased use of inorganic fertilizers. Consequently excessive application of inorganic fertilizers as well as the increased generation and improper disposal of kitchen waste has caused environmental impacts such as groundwater contamination. These factors became the basis in exploring the effects of using digested kitchen wastes as alternative nutrient source for hydroponically grown lettuce. Five treatments were tested through manual fertigation of lettuce plants in Styrofoam growing boxes with coconut coir dust as the growing medium. Three treatments containing kitchen waste leachate (dilute with water using 1:1 ratio) were prepared in the following proportions: a) 50% Inorganic fertilizer and 50% Diluted kitchen waste leachate: b) 50% Diluted kitchen waste leachate and 50% Water, and c 70% Inorganic fertilizer and 30% Diluted kitchen waste leachate. These treatments were then compared to the lettuce grown using 100% inorganic fertilizer and to the control (water).The treatment composed of 70% Inorganic fertilizer and 30% Diluted kitchen waste leachate was comparable to the control in terms of fresh weight, root length, and soil cover. Meanwhile, its percent dry weight was the highest among the treatments. Both treatments however. with 50% Kitchen waste leachate suffered from several damages such as chlorosis and tipburn. The potential of the 70% SNAP solution and 30% Diluted kitchen waste leachate can be better exhibited if the application of the effluent was done in alternate with water. Moreover, lower amount of diluted kitchen waste leachate mixed with the inorganic fertilizer was found to be desirable. This will lessen the effect of excessive amounts of phosporus and potassium in the digested kitchen waste leachate. The use of lower amount of inorganic fertilizer that can be mixed with the digested kitchen waste such as in 50% SNAP solution and 50% Diluted kitchen waste leachate; and 50% Water and 50% Diluted kitchen waste leachate can be better explored if the anaerobic digestion process of kitchen wastes was maintained at optimum conditions. Since the digestion process was not monitored, the complete digestion of the influent may have not occurred as one of the processes may have failed to proceed, hence affecting the quality of the effluent.Although the use of inorganic fertilizer was proven to be the most effective among the treatments tested, the use of digested kitchen waste can still be used as a supplement to inorganic fertilizer. Its usage can lower both the operational expenses due to possible cut down on the use of inorganic fertilizer as well as the d3crease in greenhouse emissions that occur during kitchen waste degradation.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology

Call Number

LG 993.5 2009 A2 M33

Document Type

Thesis

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