TY  - JOUR
T1  - Production, Characterization and Phytotoxicity Evaluation of Compost
Produced from Rice Straw and Goat Manure Slurry
AU - Ch'ng, Huck Ywih AU - Sanusi, Syajariah AU - Othman Osman, Suhaimi AU - Md Zain, Norhafizah 
JO  - Research Journal of Applied Sciences
VL  - 13
IS  - 9
SP  - 559
EP  - 567
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1815-932x
DO  - rjasci.2018.559.567
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjasci.2018.559.567
KW  - Composting
KW  -rice straw
KW  -goat manure slurry
KW  -phytotoxicity test
KW  -SEM-EDX
KW  -agricultural
AB  - Approximately 1.2 million ton of rice straw waste is generated annually in Malaysia. The rice straw
is usually managed through open burning which leads to haze and environmental pollution. This study aims
to recycle this waste through composting of rice straw with goat manure slurry and both the biomass and
compost were characterized for selected physical, chemical and biological characteristics and phytotoxicity test.
The compost was produced by mixing shredded rice straw with goat manure slurry, chicken feed and molasses.
Compost temperature were recorded twice daily. The compost mixture before and after composting were
analysed for physico-chemical properties. The surface morphological changes of compost mixture sample before
composting and after composting were investigated using a Scanning Electron Mcroscope (SEM) and Energy
Dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Spread plate count method was carried out to quantify the viable
bacterial count on the first day of composting and final composting day. A phytotoxicity test based on
germination bioassay was carried out to evaluate whether the finished compost is safe to be applied for
agricultural use. The final rice straw compost had no foul odour and low in heavy metals. The seed germination
indices of phytotoxicity test were above 90% for the finished compost. The SEM image of the finished rice
straw compost indicated uneven compost surface structure with small pores while EDX indicated that the
compost had more minerals such as carbon, oxygen, potassium and magnesium. Composting rice straw with
goat manure slurry can convert the agricultural wastes into value added organic fertilizer.
ER  -