Production and Assesment of Compost as A Bio-Fertilizer Using Kitchen Waste From NIT Rourkela Hostels and Study of Comparative Plant Growth

Abstract

This research project deals with the production of compost generated from kitchen waste of NIT Rourkela and its utilization for the growth of “Helianthus annuus”.The kitchen waste from hostels was collected and degraded in a compost bin of dimensions 57X36.5X31.5 (cmXcmXcm). Various parameters of the compost were monitored at an interval of 15 days up to 60 days .The pH of the compost was found to be decreasing from 7.71 to 7.19 on the 60th day .Other parameters like total carbon%, nitrogen% , moisture, pH, C:N ratio and change in colour, texture and odour were also monitored. C:N ratio (%) was found to be decreasing from 55.6059 to 25.89609 (60th day). The moisture of the compost was maintained between 55-50%. The study was carried forward by planting sunflower plant (Helianthus annuus) in different ratios of compost and soil of 1:1 and 2:1 respectively and two soil samples without compost were used as control to study the growth. Their change in shoot length and thickness were observed. It was found that the sample containing compost and soil in the ratio 2:1 had the best growth with a difference between initial and final shoot length of 5.9 cm. This was followed by the sample containing compost and the soil in the ratio of 1:1 which showed the difference as 5.5 cm. This experimental study concludes that compost made in a compost bin is also efficient and can be used as bio-fertilizer to enhance the plant growth.