Composting of Empty Oil Palm Bunch

by

Azharan Ramlee
B. Sc. (For.)
1989

Supervisor: Zakariya Abdullah
Co-supervisor: Dr. Nik Muhamad Majid

A study was carried out composting of empty oil palm bunch at varying fractions (bunch cut into two, four, eight, and whole bunch as a control) were mixed with chicken dung at a ratio of 3 parts of empty oil palm bunch and 1 part chicken dung. Temperature of the heaps was taken daily whereas the moisture content, pH, C/N ratio and the nutrient content were taken at 3 different periods: the first week, the fourth week, and the tenth week. Turning and watering onto the heaps were done once in six days. The heaps made up of bunches cut into 8 took 60 days to mature of 32ºC, whereas bunches cut into 4 and 2 took 65 days. The whole bunch, however, did not achieve maturity. The moisture content, pH value, C/N ratio, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus content of the compost show a rise for every heap when the first week's value was compared with the tenth week's value. For the potassium content, all the heaps show a decrease in percentage value. There was no difference in nutrient levels between the different fraction of cuts studied. After the tenth week, heaps made up of bunches cut into 8 became crumbly and loose and the color turned slightly black while the others partly disintegrated with slightly dark brown color.

Citation:
Azharan, R. 1984. Composting of empty oil palm bunch. B. Sc. (For.) Project Report. Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia. 55 leaves. (http://www.oocities.org/EnchantedForest/Palace/1170/abaz.html)