Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 15 (2) 199-205 December, 2008
ISSN 1319-562X
The Official Journal of the Saudi Biological Society
 

 


Composting a Mixture of Date Palm Wastes, Date Palm Pits, Shrimp, and Crab Shell Wastes in Vessel System

AMohammad Khiyami*, Ibrahim Masmali and Mohammad Abu-khuraiba
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, P. O. Box 231672, Riyadh 11321
Email: mkhiyami@kacst.edu.sa

Abstract

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Composting provides an economical and environmentally significant method to reduce wastes. A vessel system bioreactor was designed to study a composting mixture consisting of 70% date palm wastes and date palm pits and 30% shrimp and crab shell wastes. This mixture took about 13 weeks to mature. The compost so prepared had all the quality of a good fertilizer as exhibited by its various consyituents. The final compost product had 57.1% moisture content with pH 7.9 and an organic matter of 891.0 g/kg dry matter with significant amounts of 2.2, 0.82, 14.3, and 1.3 g/kg calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium, respectively.

Key words: date palm wastes, date palm pits, shrimp and crab shell wastes, bioreactor, composting, mesophilic, thermophilic

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