CE: 9715 CF: cag073172136
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Properties of a compost obtained starting from residuals of the production of cane sugar
Propiedades de un compost obtenido a partir de residuos de la producción de azúcar de caña
Elvis López Bravo1, Anderso Javier Andrade Rivera 2, Miguel Herrera Suárez1, Omar Gonzalez Cueto1 y Armando García de la Figal Costales3
2Instituto Politécnico Universitario de Trujillo, Municipio Valera, República Bolivariana de Venezuela. CP 03101
3Facultad de Ciencias Técnicas, Universidad Agraria de la Habana, San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba. CP 32700
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
The goal of the present work was to determine the main properties of a compost made from bagasse, slowness and ash, obtained from the sugar factory process. To elaborate the mixture a characterization of the raw material was carried out in function of the properties related to the composting process. During the process of anaerobic biodigestion, the control of the main monitoring parameters was carried out, until reaching the maturation state. In the raw material used a bulk density of 0.12 to 0.48 g cm-3 was found, the pH oscillated between 5.2 and 8.7, while the electrical conductivity was in the range of 0,4 to 0,9 S m-1. On the other hand, the contents of P, K, Ca and Mg showed values between 0.3 and 2.8 %. Finally, a bulk density of 0.5 g cm-3 was obtained in the compost. The carbon-nitrogen (C/N) ratio, showed a linear relation with respect to the time of composting, showing a suitable maturation of the mixture. The presence of N, P, K, Ca and Mg with values of 1; 1.3; 1.1; 2 and 1.1 % were also verified. After evaluating the results it is concluded that compost shows a suitable composition to be used as organic fertilizer in agriculture.
