Biofertilizer from Kitchen Waste: Potential for Sustainable Agricultural and Waste Management
Abstract
The study examines the recovery of NPK in kitchen waste, with a focus on the production of nitrate, phosphate, and potassium The kitchen waste samples, include yam peels, banana peels, plantain peels, potato peels, egg shells, and cooked rice (sink waste), were collected from different kitchens in the city of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. This exhaustive study, employed diverse methodologies such as microbiological analysis to determine the total heterotrophic bacteria count (THB), and the total heterotrophic fungal count (THF). Subsequent studies were aimed at optimizing the extraction process by taking pH, temperature, and reaction time into consideration. The total Nitrate, phosphate and potassium was evaluated. Bacterial isolates were identified based on notable biochemical parameters. The bacteria genera include Bacillus spp., Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Citrobacter spp., Proteus spp., and Escherichia coli. While fungal isolates were identified based on macroscopy and microscopy, the genera include Penicillium spp., Candida spp., Fusarium spp. Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus spp., Trichoderma spp., Trichophyton tonsurans, Crytococcus spp., and Rhodotorula spp. The pH changes from acidic 3 to alkaline 8. The Nitrate, phosphate and potassium recovered ranged from 11.758 mg/kg – 29.114 mg/kg, 1.746 mg/kg – 6.972 mg/kg, 13.235 mg/kg – 22.784 mg/kg respectively. The study evaluated the suitability of the recovered nutrients for agricultural uses and their purity. Additionally, this strategy supports sustainable waste management techniques and the circular economy by keeping organic waste out of landfills and turning it into useful resources.
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