THE STUDY OF FERTILIZER MADE FROM FOOD WASTE AND SAWDUST IN PELLET FORM AND COMPOST

Abstract

Fertilizers are essential in modern agriculture which improve soil health by supplying key nutrients for plant growth. Meanwhile, food waste presents a serious global issue, contributing to methane emissions from landfills and accelerating climate change. Sawdust, another abundant waste byproduct from the wood industry, also poses disposal challenges. This study explores composting and pelleting fertilizers using varying proportions of food waste and sawdust to support sustainable farming. Compost was produced by combining food waste, sawdust, dry leaves, and effective microorganisms (EM) in a bin. Key parameters monitored included pH, temperature, moisture content, as well as carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) and carbon-to-phosphorus (C:P) ratios. Pelleted fertilizer was produced by grinding, mixing, and pelletizing the same materials. Composting results showed pH levels from 3.44 to 7.49 and temperatures between 22.4°C and 34.1°C. Moisture content declined over time. Sample A recorded the highest C:N and C:P ratios of 12:1 and 20:1, respectively. Iron and manganese concentrations remained low (0.36 mg/L and 0.59 mg/L), indicating non-toxicity. The pelleted fertilizer exhibited uniform size and shape due to the precision of the pelleting apparatus. Sample A showed the highest water stability at 88% after 10 minutes. Sample E had the highest bulk density (2.28 g/cm³), while samples A and B recorded the lowest (2.26 g/cm³). All samples displayed consistent pellet sizes in particle distribution. This study demonstrates that composting food waste and sawdust yields nutrient-rich and environmentally safe fertilizers. The results support the integration of food waste recycling into agricultural practices which promote soil fertility and environmental sustainability.