Co – composting Production from Elephant Fodder with Elephant Dung and Fermented Slurry using Anaerobic Digestion.

Abstract

This research performed to investigate the compost production from elephant fodder with elephant dung and fermented slurry using anaerobic digestion. Lab scale experiment was conducted with a one-stage anaerobic digestion by controlling the temperature at 55 ºC. Raw materials were mixed at the ratio of Napier grass: pineapple stalk: elephant dung: fermented slurry from biogas digester equal to 2.5: 2.5: 3.5: 1.5 by volume. The objective of this research aims to evaluate the anaerobic compost characteristics from these materials. After the end of experiment (45 days), the results showed that the physical properties of compost were a brown semi-liquid solid and rancid odor. Control parameters as pH, moisture content, and temperature were in the range of 5 – 6, 70 – 80 %, and 50 – 55 ºC, respectively. For the important nutrients as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium at the end of experiment were 0.42 %, 0.57 %, 0.035 % respectively. They meet the requirement of Department of Agriculture standard except for potassium which is lower than the standard. This product can be used as soil amendment for soil rehabilitation.