Comparison of Environmetal Performance and Economic Benefit of municipal Solid Waste Compost and Chemical Fertilizer
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2011-07
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Abstract
With the increasing rate of urbanization and industrialization, the current method of municipal
solid waste (MSW) management cannot be effective and efficient to handle thousand tons of
waste generated daily in big cities like Addis Ababa. The objectives of the present study were
therefore, to (i) demonstrate the positive environmental effect of municipal solid waste
composting and the negative impact of nitrogen (N) fertilizer (ii) compare the environmental
performance of municipal solid waste compost and nitrogen fertilizer (iii) compare economic
benefit of MSW compost and N- fertilizer from agricultural and environmental point of views. A
series of experiments such as scenario analysis, incubation, leachate and effects of municipal
solid waste compost on yield and yield components of wheat were conducted to achieve the stated
objectives. The scenario analysis compared either disposing MSW in landfill or compositing for
soil amendment to improve crop production. The results of the scenario analysis revealed that
composting resulted in greenhouse gas reduction due to avoidance of methane emission from
landfill. The addition of MSW compost significantly increased the soil total nitrogen (Nt),
organic C, available P, pH and other microelements. Similarly, the leachate experiment revealed
that 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 establishment
poses serious threat to water quality in the absence of growing plants. Moreover, the application
of both MSW compost and N-fertilizer had positively responded in improving wheat yield and
yield component. The partial budget analysis with minimum acceptable rate of return 100%
revealed that the highest net benefit (7038.35 Eth. Birr) was recorded with combined application
of (20-kg N+3.33-t com) ha-1, however; the highest marginal rate of return (1024%) was
registered for sole application of 5-t compost ha-1. The results of the present study revealed that
using MSW as soil amendment along with appropriate composting techniques and soil
management not only improve soil fertility and reduce investment on chemical fertilizers but also
can alleviate the contribution of MSW to environmental pollution.
Key words: MSW compost, incubation, leachate, economic analysis and urea
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Keywords
MSW compost; incubation; leachate; economic analysis and urea