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Comparison of Environmental Performance of Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Chemical Fertilizer

Received: 8 August 2016     Accepted: 24 August 2016     Published: 10 April 2017
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Abstract

Addis Ababa city is undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization where solid waste generation is also increasing at the same pace. It would be difficult to continue with the current landfilling waste disposal in the city. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the positive environmental effect of municipal solid waste (MSW) composting and its environmental effect over the synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer; (ii) compare the environmental performance of MSW compost and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. We investigated the application of MSW effects on selected soil properties, wheat yield and yield components and leachate chemistry. Application of MSW composts to the soil also increased soil total nitrogen (Nt), organic C, available P, pH, and other micronutrients. Similarly, the application of both MSW compost and N-fertilizer produced higher concentrations of NO3-N fluxes in the collected leachate that clearly showed fertilization during application poses serious threat to water quality in the absence of growing plants. In general, both MSW compost and N-fertilizer applications had positively responded in improving wheat yield and yield components. The results of the present study revealed that using MSW as a soil amendment after appropriate composting techniques and soil management not only improve soil fertility and reduce the investment on chemical fertilizers but also can alleviate the contribution of MSW to environmental pollution.

Published in American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics (Volume 2, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.11
Page(s) 96-101
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Greenhouse Gas, Leachate Chemistry, Nitrogen Fertilizer, Soil Properties, Wheat Yield

References
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[2] Ministry of Water Resources and National Metrological Agency (MWRNMA, 2007), report on climate change Technology Needs assessment Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[3] United Nations Environment Programme (2005). Solid waste management volume one, ISBN: 92-807-2676-5.
[4] Christopher O Akinbile and Mohd Suffian Yusoff (2012). Solid waste generation and decomposition using compost bin technique in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Journal of Effects of MSW compost and urea on plant nutrient status Waste Management & Research, 30: 498-505.
[5] Folefack, A. J. J. (2009). The substitution of mineral fertilizer by compost from household waste in Cameroon: economic analysis with a partial equilibrium model. Journal of Waste Management & Research, 27: 207-223.
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[7] Kassie, M., Zikhali, P., Manjur, K., Edwards, S. (2009). Adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: evidence from a semi-arid region of Ethiopia. Natural resources forum, 33: 189-198.
[8] Muhammad Ibrahim, Anwar-UL-Hassan, Muhammad Iqabal (2008). The response of Wheat Growth and Yield to Various levels of Compost and Organic Manure. Pak. J. Bot., 40: 2135-2141.
[9] Wood, S, Cowie, A. (2004). A Review of Greenhouse Gas Emission Factors for Fertilizer Production IEA Bioenergy Task 38.
[10] Teklu Erkossa and Hailemariam Teklewold (2010). Agronomic and Economic Efficiency of Manure and Urea Fertilizers Use on Vertisols i n Ethiopian Highlands. Agricultural science in china, 8: 352-360.
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[12] Walkley, A. and I. A. Black. 1934. An examination of Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci. 37: 29-37.
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[15] Weber, J., A. Karczewska, J. Drozd, M. Licznar, S. Licznar, E. Jamroz, and A. Kocowicz (2007). Agricultural and Ecological aspects of a Sandy Soil as affected by the Application of Municipal Solid Waste composts, Soil Biology and Biochemistry 39: 1294-1302.
[16] Frank Mangan, Allen Barker, Steven Bodine and Peter Borten (1996). Compost Use and Soil Fertility, University of Massachusetts Extension.
[17] Barry, A., C. Cogger and D. Sullivan (200). What does compost analysis tell you about your compost? (Online pdf) Poster at Biologically Intensive and Organic Farming Research Conference. Yakima, WA.
[18] Antonio García-Gómez, María Pilar Bernal and Asunción Roig (2003). Carbon mineralization and plant growth in soil amended with compost samples at different degrees of maturity. Journal of Waste Management & Research, 21: 161-171.
[19] Manasah Sibusiso Mkhabela (2005). The influence of municipal solid waste compost on yield, soil phosphorus availability, and uptake by two vegetable crops grown in a Pugwash sandy loam soil in Nova Scotia, 106: 57-67.
[20] G. sarwar, H. Schmeisky, N. Hussain, S. Muhammad, M. Ibrahim and EhsanSafdar (2008). Improvement of Soil Physical and Chemical Properties with Compost Application in Rice-Wheat Cropping system. Pak. J. Bot., 40: 275-282.
[21] Keshav Raj Adhikari and Zueng-Sang Chen (2011). Combining compost with urea: Nitrogen and Phosphorus recovery by Cabbage and Leaching under Imposed high rainfall Condition in the Greenhouse. Scientific research and Essays, 6: 819-829.
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[24] Lomoljo N. M. and Ismail A. (2009), Nitrate, ammonia and phosphate concentration in the surface water of Kuala gula Bird Sanctuary, west coast of peninsular, Malaysia, Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, 32 (1), pp 1-5.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Zerihun Abate, Berhanu Assefa, Wakene Negassa. (2017). Comparison of Environmental Performance of Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Chemical Fertilizer. American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics, 2(3), 96-101. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.11

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    ACS Style

    Zerihun Abate; Berhanu Assefa; Wakene Negassa. Comparison of Environmental Performance of Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Chemical Fertilizer. Am. J. Environ. Resour. Econ. 2017, 2(3), 96-101. doi: 10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.11

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    AMA Style

    Zerihun Abate, Berhanu Assefa, Wakene Negassa. Comparison of Environmental Performance of Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Chemical Fertilizer. Am J Environ Resour Econ. 2017;2(3):96-101. doi: 10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.11,
      author = {Zerihun Abate and Berhanu Assefa and Wakene Negassa},
      title = {Comparison of Environmental Performance of Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Chemical Fertilizer},
      journal = {American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics},
      volume = {2},
      number = {3},
      pages = {96-101},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajere.20170203.11},
      abstract = {Addis Ababa city is undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization where solid waste generation is also increasing at the same pace. It would be difficult to continue with the current landfilling waste disposal in the city. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the positive environmental effect of municipal solid waste (MSW) composting and its environmental effect over the synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer; (ii) compare the environmental performance of MSW compost and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. We investigated the application of MSW effects on selected soil properties, wheat yield and yield components and leachate chemistry. Application of MSW composts to the soil also increased soil total nitrogen (Nt), organic C, available P, pH, and other micronutrients. Similarly, the application of both MSW compost and N-fertilizer produced higher concentrations of NO3-N fluxes in the collected leachate that clearly showed fertilization during application poses serious threat to water quality in the absence of growing plants. In general, both MSW compost and N-fertilizer applications had positively responded in improving wheat yield and yield components. The results of the present study revealed that using MSW as a soil amendment after appropriate composting techniques and soil management not only improve soil fertility and reduce the investment on chemical fertilizers but also can alleviate the contribution of MSW to environmental pollution.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Comparison of Environmental Performance of Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Chemical Fertilizer
    AU  - Zerihun Abate
    AU  - Berhanu Assefa
    AU  - Wakene Negassa
    Y1  - 2017/04/10
    PY  - 2017
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.11
    T2  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
    JF  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
    JO  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
    SP  - 96
    EP  - 101
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2578-787X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.11
    AB  - Addis Ababa city is undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization where solid waste generation is also increasing at the same pace. It would be difficult to continue with the current landfilling waste disposal in the city. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the positive environmental effect of municipal solid waste (MSW) composting and its environmental effect over the synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer; (ii) compare the environmental performance of MSW compost and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. We investigated the application of MSW effects on selected soil properties, wheat yield and yield components and leachate chemistry. Application of MSW composts to the soil also increased soil total nitrogen (Nt), organic C, available P, pH, and other micronutrients. Similarly, the application of both MSW compost and N-fertilizer produced higher concentrations of NO3-N fluxes in the collected leachate that clearly showed fertilization during application poses serious threat to water quality in the absence of growing plants. In general, both MSW compost and N-fertilizer applications had positively responded in improving wheat yield and yield components. The results of the present study revealed that using MSW as a soil amendment after appropriate composting techniques and soil management not only improve soil fertility and reduce the investment on chemical fertilizers but also can alleviate the contribution of MSW to environmental pollution.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • School of Chemical and Bio Engineering, Addis Ababa Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • School of Chemical and Bio Engineering, Addis Ababa Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • School of Chemical and Bio Engineering, Addis Ababa Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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