Elaboración de compost a partir de residuos sólidos orgánicos generados en el Mercado Mayorista del Cantón Riobamba

Abstract

The present investigative research was developed in the agro−environmental thematic park Ricpamba of the Canton: Riobamba, in Chimborazo, Province. The fundamental objective was to obtain an organic fertilizer (compost) from the solid organic debris generated in the Mayorista Market and its possible usage in farming. For the experiment was armed a pile of 1.0 ton constituted with fixed proportion in relation weight/weight of three main components: solid organic of the market (600 kg), debris of pruning of trees (300 kg), and debris of pruning of ornamental palm (Phoenix canariensis) (100 kg) to reach an adequate relation of carbon nitrogen (C/N). The elaboration of compost was made by means of an open pile system and manual turning; during the process a weekly control was done of the temperature and humidity, in addition during each turning samples of the material were taken to make the analysis of the most important parameters and control the process. The evolution of the temperature of the pile was adequate, since at the beginning an optimal mesophyll phase was presented for afterwards to start the thermophile phase reaching higher temperatures to 60 °C, the same that was controlled with manual turning. Once, the process finished, the quality of the compost was tested through physical−chemical and biologic analyses, the same which are within the allowed rankings of a quality product. Furthermore, the generated solid debris was classified and quantified in the Public Enterprise: Municipal Market of Agricultural Producers (Empresa Publica Municipal Mercado de Productores Agricolas) “San Pedro de Riobamba” (EP−EMMPA) in the different days of commercial activity. Debris was classified into 6 groups: organic, plastic, paper, card, timber and others, being the organic debris, which was found in a bigger quantity, presenting an average total of 95.59 %. The obtained product possess the adequate physical−chemical and biologic properties for being employed as organic fertilizer or improver of soils through the contribution of essential nutrients, macro−elements and micro−elements required by the plants.