From Waste to Compost
Without healthy soil, we can’t farm crops or animals. Especially hard-hit are deserted regions like Mauritania. Without good fertilizer, we’d simply have no crops. No crops mean no food, and ultimately no humans. The volume of accumulated palm waste in some regions in Mauritania increases at each stage of the year. The central principle of waste management is always the same regardless of the scale of the waste. First, to identify an in-demand resource out of it. Second, to acquire that resource for a low price (or, for no price at all). Third, sell or transform it to create value. Waste Management is not just a matter of virtue — it also makes money.
The economic value of transforming locally produced waste, locally into something that can be reused makes a larger difference to divert inherent economic value to the local communities.
One experiment conducted by the Accelerator Lab in Mauritania demonstrates that compost fertilizer is more effective than any other fertilizer in the local market to restore soil degradation.
The experiment was conducted in partnership between AccLab (UNDP) and RIM-COMPOST through Hadina RIMTEC and focuses on the establishment of a composting unit for the processing of waste from date palm by-products and promote the dissemination of agro-ecological methods in the waste management sector and its impacts on health, the environment, agricultural productivity, and job creation is expected in the implementation of the scaling-up of the project.
Waste management in developing countries faces many difficulties, from technical, economic, methodological, and organizational points of view. The main objective of this experiment was to develop a system for the valorization of organic waste produced in agricultural and oasis areas through the production of compost, a quality organic amendment for the soil and an organic fertilizer for plant nutrition.
In Mauritania, palm date plays a very important role in the arid Saharan regions, where palm tree is the backbone of the economy of these regions. It also plays an important role on the socio-economic and ecological level. This fruit tree is produced in five regions in Mauritania namely, Adrar, Tagant, Assaba and the two Hodhs and covering an area of 19 687 ha. The sector has about 2,641,343 palm trees ensuring a total production of 58,870 tons. There is therefore a sufficient biomass for the installation of a compost station because of its availability, knowing that a palm tree gives 10 to 20 dry palms each year and the weight of a dry palm varies from 3 to 5 kg.
Methodology of the experiment
Data collection
To plan the experimentation, and to evaluate the acceptability and the profitability of this product, a market study was conducted.
i. Summary of data collection
The analysis of the results of the market research questionnaire shows that:
- 37% of participants are between the age range of 31 and 40 years old followed by 21 and 30 years old representing 26.1% of the survey participants.
- 47.8% of participants grow plants at home and 55.8% use fertilizers to improve their crop yields and 91.3% are interested in using organic fertilizers.
- 93.5% of participants are interested in purchasing natural products (Compost) and are willing to spend annual budgets for the acquisition of 100% natural products.
Development of MVPs
Improvements were made to the quality of the initial compost by modifying the technical characteristics (organic matter content, water retention capacity, pH, etc.) to obtain a quality compost for the tests.
Samples of the compost was also sent for testing to a laboratory; the results of the analyses carried out by the laboratories gave the following composition:
- Organic matter 83%,
- Nitrate (N) 27mg/l,
- Phosphorus (P) 63%.
- Potassium (K) 455mg/l.
These values have been improved in comparison to the test carried out before the beginning of the experiment.
Experimentation and tests
The experimentation were undertaken with three crops (Bean, Okra and Mint), we applied different doses of organic fertilizer (compost) and chemical fertilizer (NPK). The experimental set-up consisted of 12 elementary plots of 1 m2 each without repetition with the following four treatments
Okra
T0 Okra (control)
T1 Okra + 1kg of compost/m2 T2 Okra + 2kg of compost/m2 T3 Okra + 2kg of NPK
Bean
T0 Bean (control)
T1 Bean + 1kg of compost/m2
T2 Bean + 2kg of compost/m2
T 3 Bean + 2kg of NPK
Mint
T0 Mint (control)
T1 Mint + 1kg of compost/m2
T2 Mint + 2kg of compost/m2
T 3 Mint +2kg of NPK
The follow-up of the growth parameters was carried out according to a weekly rhythm from 24/07/2021 to 12/09/2021, it is determined on 9 plants arbitrarily (?) of each crop identified at the beginning.
The technique used consists of mixing in a homogeneous way, on a flat surface of the ground, crushed by-products of the date palm, in successive layers and manure followed by abundant watering with turning over every 15 days for 45 days.
To apply this technique and succeed in the experimentation, the following activities were carried out:
- Collection of manure and organic matter available locally (by-products of the date palm)
- Collection of seeds (bean, okra and mint) and organic matter in the form of compost
- Compost and chemical fertilizers
- Acquisition of equipment for the experimentation:
- Watering equipment: watering razor, roll of hose, faucet and drippers, watering barrels…
- Other: Measuring tape, caliper, tarp, gloves.
- Preparation, layout, and equipment of the experimental perimeter
- Sowing of three types of crops (beans, okra and mint)
- Application of compost and NPK compound fertilizer
- Regular monitoring and measurement of plant growth and development
a. The effect of compost on the okra crop
- Effect on the number of leaves
The average values of leaves formed during the different measurement dates are grouped in Table 1. This table shows that the average number of leaves formed on the compost was higher than the control and the amount of compost 2kg had no effect. For this parameter the observations of values with 1kg of compost are higher than those recorded with 2kg of compost.
- Effect on plant height
The average values of leaves formed during the different measurement dates are grouped in Table 2. From the beginning, the growth in height on the 1kg amount of compost was comparable to those values recorded with NPK fertilizer.
b. The effect of compost on the bean crop
- Effect on the number of leaves
The average values of leaves formed during the different measurement dates are grouped in Table 3. This table shows that initially the values were the same. For the measurements D3 and D4 the number of leaves was higher for 2kg of compost.
- Effect on plant height
The average values recorded are shown in Table 04. Examination of this table shows a superiority of average values recorded on 2kg of compost. The amount of 1kg of compost revealed the low values with the control.
c. Summary of results
The average yield per crop constituted by the fruits that reached maturity on the first clusters by each type and dose of substrate. The average values recorded are represented in table .
Examination of this table shows a superiority of values recorded on the compost, particularly the 2kg quantity. The control showed the lowest values. Compost improved growth and fruiting parameters. It improved the cumulative yield and the percentage of fruits with marketable sizes. These results support the use of date palm by-product compost as a potential organic fertilizer for vegetable crops in Mauritania.
Finally, waste management is inextricably linked to raw material demand and the consumption that fuels it. We often think of waste management as a way of compensating for our rampant consumption — atoning for our sins, so to speak. But the reality is more complicated since our insatiable desire to consume and the growing waste management industry go hand in hand.
Indeed, there’s a proven correlation here between income, consumption, and compost waste management.
