CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS ENRICHED WITH BAT GUANO

Abstract

An alternative to solve the problem of agroindustrial residues is composting, so the objective of this study was to chemically characterize the composts elaborated with agroindustrial byproducts and enriched with bat guano. To generate the compost treatments, a 3^X4 factorial design was used with Saccharum spp. sludge, banana (Musa sp.) waste, cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) chaff, in the amounts of 20, 30, 40 and 50 kg each; and 30, 20, 10 and 0 kg of bat guano in commercial presentation. The Indore process was used with four repetitions. For the control of maturity, the temperature, moisture and ammonium/nitrate relation were evaluated. The temperature changes during the composting process allowed identifying the mesophyll, thermophyll and mesophyll phases; the moisture and the NH₄⁺/ NO₃^? relation confirmed the maturity of the composts, and the pH varied from acid to alkaline, considering this as a beneficial for differentiated applications on the soil. The values of pH, CE, MO, N, and Moisture, as well as the contents of P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn from the composts suggest good quality for the soil supply.