Composting of cabbage wastes and degradation process of the compost in soil

ABSTRACTMASTER THESISCOMPOSTING OF CABBAGE WASTES AND DEGRADATION PROCESS OF THECOMPOST IN SOILNalan TOPÇUFirat UniversityGraduate School of Natural and Applied SciencesDepartment of Environmental Engineering2006, Page: 46In this study, the waste of the cabbage was composted and degradation process of thecompost in soil was investigated.According to results, the volatile solid content of the cabbage waste decreased from92,07 to 88,13 % and TKN content of these waste increased from 1,72 to 2,21 %. The cellulosein composting material increased at the end of the process. The cellulose content of the cabbagewaste increased from 24,4 to 34,2 %. It was found that the total coliform decreased duringcomposting period. It was determined that the maximum C mineralization in soil occured atinitial of incubation. It was determined that the heavy metal concentrations of the compost werebelow the limits established by legislations. Furthermore, the kinetics of degradation of organicmatter in waste was found during composting period. The reaction rate constant of degradationof volatile solid in the wastes of the cabbage was found as 0,0354 day-1 (R2=0,94).Keywords: Aerobic composting, Cabbage wastes, Degradation, Mineralization.