Document Details
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Document Type |
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Article In Journal |
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Document Title |
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Demand, Practices and Properties of Compost in the Western Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia متطلبات وممارسات وخصائص المخلفات فى المنطقة الغربية بالمملكة العربية السعودية |
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Subject |
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Enviromental sciences |
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Document Language |
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English |
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Abstract |
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There is a gap between production and import of compost in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Because the organic waste stream dominates about 67% of the Saudi MSW, it is planned to improve the existing compost plants and/or design new plants to encourage recycling into quality compost in order to save two third of landfilling cost, and reduce the amount of the expensive imported compost. It is also realized that good planning requires categorization of the existing local compost and practices. The current study, for the first time in Saudi Arabia, aimed to identify data related to compost types, quantities, utilization methods, and practices. This has been done through two specially designed questionnaires directed to the major producers and users. It also aimed to determine the compost physical and chemical prosperities of randomly selected samples frompotential selected cities such as Jeddah/ Makkah Al-Mukarrama, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Al-Taif, and Yanbu. The results of interviews which included a total of 153 sample units showed that governorate representing the highest percentage (59.09%) for using compost, 41.31% of compost types are vegetative-animal.The highest percentage(42.37%)of the compost used to increase soil fertility, while the lowest (7.97%) used for decreasing the chemical fertilizers. Three fourth of the compost was local from Saudi Arabia.The winter season is the peak demand time(43.55%). The major complain was in the high decayed level (33.66%). Regarding the environmental problems, unpleasant odor was the highest (65.64%).The most preferred factors for the users at purchase were the price issue (31.37%), odor (27.35%), and N, P, and K contents (21.15%). Around 33% of the users see the compost demand will increase in large amounts.The statistics showed that the main variables positively and significantly affect the quantity of the used compost are winter season, cultivated area, number of nurseries and home gardens, in addition to the educational level by about82%.The variables that negatively affect the quantity are the price and the unpleasant odor of the compost. The physical and chemical properties of the randomly collected samples from eight manufactured compost types showed that none of the studied composts agreed with the typical range for water content and bulk density. The mean particle size distribution shows the fraction between 4 and 6.3 mm was the most abundant, followed by the fraction between 2 and4 mm. The average “coarseness index” was 61.45%, implying excessive aeration and low water retention. The pH results showed that two types only followed the optimal pH range for growing media. The EC results are higher than the established limit for an ideal substrate. One type only has organic matter concentration adequate for potting media. Total nitrogen (TN) ranged between 0.47% and 3.19%, and none of the studied composts agreed with the typical range of (1.0-2.0%). Six of the current studied composts were immature. The results of micro-nutrient and toxic metals violated in some cases the limits of EU standards. All the measured parameters showed highly significant differences among compost types. Based on the obtained results, improving the efficiency of the composting process, environmental awareness educational programs and quality control of composts are requested before supplying these materials to the market. |
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ISSN |
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1991-8178 |
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Journal Name |
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Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, |
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Volume |
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7 |
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Issue Number |
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7 |
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Publishing Year |
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1434 AH
2013 AD |
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Article Type |
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Article |
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Added Date |
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Wednesday, September 25, 2013 |
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Researchers
| اياد الزايدي | Alzaydi, A. | Researcher | Doctorate | ayadalzaydi@gmail.com |
| S. السليماني | Alsolaimani, S. | Researcher | | |
| M. رمضان | Ramadan, M. | Researcher | | |
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Files
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36076.pdf
| pdf | Demand, Practices and Properties of Compost in the Western Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
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