Evaluation of Agricultural and Agro- industrial Residues for Composting for Agricultural Use in Ghana

219 Pages·2014·4.9 MB·English

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Evaluation of Agricultural and Agro- industrial
Residues for Composting for Agricultural Use in
Ghana
(A Case Study in the Kwaebibirem District)
This thesis is submitted to
School of Research and Graduate Studies
Faculty of Science
Environmental Science Programme
University of Ghana, Legon
BY
NOAH ADAMTEY
B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture (Ghana)
In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of
MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE
IN
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
MAY, 2005
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Declaration
Except for references to the works of researchers which have been duly cited,
this thesis is the result of my own original research work undertaken by I, Noah
Adamtey of the Environmental Science Programme, University of Ghana, under the
supervision of Dr. K. G. Ofosu-Budu, Prof .S. K. A. Danso and Dr.P.B. Attengdem. I
confirm that this thesis has neither in whole nor in part been presented for another
degree elsewhere.
Supervisors :
Noah Adamtey Dr. K. G. Ofosu-Budu
Prof. S.K.A. Danso
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Dedication
To my children, Nancy, Harriet and Noah Jnr.
Ill
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Blessed be the name of the Lord for 1 set the Lord always before me throughout
this study and He never forsook nor disappointed me .Rather He encamped me with
His Angels throughout my studies until the goal finally surfaced. As the Bible says,
the young lions do lack, and suffer hunger. But my Lord God never made me lack
anything throughout my studies. His goodness, mercy and favour followed me
throughout the studies.
I am hereby thankful to the following personalities who allowed themselves for
the Lord to work through them during and even after my studies:
Gert Vanders Nissen (Director of Operations, Ghana Oil Palm Development
Company) for cooperation, logistics and material support.
Dr. and Mrs Ofosu-Budu, University of Ghana Agric Research Station-
Okumaning-Kade, for their wonderful love, care, guidance, and support both in cash
and in kind.
Professor S.K.A. Danso and staff of Ecological Laboratory (ECOLAB),
University of Ghana-Legon; staff of Soil Science Department, University of Ghana;
Water Research Institute and UGARS -Okumaning, for the various assistance given
to me during the period of laboratory analysis and field data collection.
Dr. P.B. Attengdem, Head of Extension Department, University of Ghana for
guiding me during the development of the questionnaires.
Dr. Olufunke Cofie of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI),
Ghana who also wonderfully supported me in various ways during the later part of
my research and the writing stage.
Dr. Pay, Director of International Water Management Institute (IWMI) for
allowing me to use materials in their Library.
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The staff of the Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and
Technology (EAWAG) Department of Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries
(SANDEC)-Switzerland for inviting me to use their Library and that of ETHZ
Library in Switzerland as well for using their home page to download all necessary
literature from Science Direct.
My mother Madam Mary Dede Adamnor and wife Mrs.Lucy Adamtey for
their support, encouragement, prayer, patience and tolerance.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
I
TITLE
II
DECLARATION
III
DEDICATION
IV
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
VI
TABLE OF CONTENT
XIV
LIST OF TABLES
XVI
LIST OF FIGURES
XVIII
LIST OF PLATES
XX
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
KEY WORDS XXII
ABSTRACT I
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND 4
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT 4
1.3 THE AIM OF THE STUDY g
1.4 JUSTIFICATION 8
1.5 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 11
1.6 KEY RESEARCH QUESTIONS 12
1.7 SCIENTIFIC HYPOTHESIS TESTED 12
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 AGRICULTURAL AND AGRO- INDUSTRIAL RESIDUES 13
2.2 POTENTIALS OF AGRICULTURAL AND AGRO­
INDUSTRIAL RESIDUES AS FERTILIZER AND SOIL
CONDITIONER
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Page
2.3 COMPOSTING
15
2.3.1 Why Composting Agricultural and Agro- industrial
15
Residues?
2.3.2 Classification of Composting 17
17
(i) Aerobic composting
(ii) Anaerobic digestion \ 7
18
2.3.3 Composting Process
20
2.3.4 Biological Succession During Composting
21
2.3.5 Factors that Influence Composting
27
2.3.6 Compost maturity
2.3.7 Quality of Compost 31
2.4 USES OF COMPOST 32
2.4.1 Using Compost to Control Erosion 32
2.4.2 Using Compost to Alleviate Soil Compaction 33
2.4.3 Using Compost in Landscaping Activities 34
2.4.4 Use of Compost in Reforestation, Wetlands
34
Restoration, and Habitat Revitalization
2.4.5 Use of Compost in Agriculture 35
2.5 THE OIL PALM 37
2.5.1 Oil Palm Agro -industry in the World 37
2.5.2 Challenges Facing the International Oil
Palm Commodity Chain 38
2.5.3 Oil Palm Growing Areas in Ghana
38
2.5.4 Agro Climatic Requirement 39
2.5.5 Soil 39
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2.5.6 Propagation 39
2.5.7 Pre-nursery and Nursery Establishment 40
2.5.8 Nutritional Requirements of Oil Palm 40
2.5.9 Nutritional Requirements of Young Oil Palm
Seedlings at the Pre-nursery and Nursery Stages
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
3.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA
54
3.1.1 Geographical Location ^
3.1.2 Relief and Drainage 54
3.1.3 Geology and Soil 54
3.1.4 Climatic Condition 56
3.1.5 Human and Economic Activities
56
3.2 METHODOLOGY
3.2.1 Quantity of Waste Generated, Perception and
Willingness of Palm Oil Processing Mills and the
Public to Recycle and Use Compost 58
3.2.2 Determination of the Chemical Composition of the
Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) 58
3.2.3 Building of Compost Piles
59
3.2.4 Determination of Maturity Indices
67
3.2.5 Compost, Soil and Plant Analysis
71
3.2.6 Experimental Design for Growth Performance
77
78
3.2.7 Treatments
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
3.2.8 Field Operation and Data Collection 80
3.2.9 Plant Analysis 81
82
3.2.9 Statistical Analysis
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS
4.1 CHARACTERISATION OF RESIDUES GENERATED BY
OIL PALM INDUSTRY, IMPACT ON THE
ENVIRONMENT AND TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES
4.1.1 Palm Oil Mills in the Kwaebibirem District 83
4.1.2 Milling Processes 84
4.1.3 Types and Amount of Residues Generated by Palm Oil
Processing Mills 86
4.1.4 Chemical Composition of Oil Palm Residues 88
4.1.5 Comparison of the Chemical Composition of POME
Generated by the Large Scale and Small Scale Oil
Processing mills 89
4.1.6 Methods Used by the Small and Large Scale Oil
Processing Mills to Manage Oil Palm Residues in the
Kwaebibirem District 90
4.1.7 Impact of Oil Palm Residues on Water Bodies near
Small Scale Oil Processing Mills 91
4.2 BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES DURING COMPOSTING OF
AGRICULTURAL AND AGRO-INDUSTRIAL RESIDUES
AND DETERMINATION OF COMPOST MATURITY
4.2.1 Chemical Characteristics of Composting Materials 93
4.2.2 Composting Process and Evaluation of Compost
Maturity 93
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