Composting and Characterization of Sugar Cane Filter Cake and Vinasse for Use as Organic Fertilizer
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Date
2018-06-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Composting of sugar cane filter cake can improve soil quality and productivity as well as
sustainability of agricultural production by replenishing soil organic matter and supplying
nutrients. In Metehara Sugar Factory, filter cake and vinasse generation is estimated to be 33,600
tons/year and 500 m
3
/day respectively. Thus, composting of byproducts generated in the factory
is essential to reduce the environmental impact due to disposal of the waste to water bodies. In this
research paper, windows composting of filter cake and vinasse has been investigated at Metehara
Sugar Factory for about 8 weeks of composting period. During this process, the degradable
organic substrate undergoes chemical and physical transformation to give a stable and humidified
end product. The present study deals with the sources, composting and strategies for future
management of filter cake. The study also, includes the quantification, characterization and
economic analysis of the compost from Metehara Sugar Factory. In the experiment, the physical
and chemical characteristics has been analyzed at Metehara and Wonji research center. According
to the laboratory results, fresh filter cake contains 20% organic carbon and 0.8, 0.86 and 1.1 %
NPK respectively. Similarly, the matured compost has 17.8% organic carbon and 1.4 %, 0.63 %
and 1.27 % NPK respectively. Thus, the product is of value in agriculture both as an organic
fertilizer and soil improver. The economic analysis of composting shown that recycling the
nutrient yield can substitute 0.2 % of DAP consumed or saves 322,560 USD/year.
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Keywords
Sugar industry, filter cake, Soil quality, organic fertilizer, composting