A Study on Monitoring Compost Quality Over Time in Varying Conditions
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Grant: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Kweku McDonald
CoPIs:
Jenny Cruz
College:
College of Business and Public Management
Major:
Public Administration
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Dongyan Mu
Abstract:
The study aims to monitor the composition change in compost over time using Inductively
Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Compost is the product of aerobic
composting, a sustainable method of recycling organic waste and converting it into soil nutrients.
The compost used in the study was produced by the in-vessel composter at Kean University, with
food scraps from the dining hall, woodchips, and leaves collected on campus during the fall and
winter seasons. The compost samples were collected biweekly for four months from four outdoor
piles, an indoor bucket, and the offload from the composting vessel. Monitoring the composition
of compost over time in a variety of settings will provide a better understanding of how compost
application can be approached for use in agriculture, including using the compost to make
compost tea for a hydroponics growing system, personal use such as gardening, and commercial
landscaping. ICP-OES allows elements such as potassium and phosphorus to be tested, as well as
metals, including aluminum and iron. The research findings indicate that over time, both the
organic and total nitrogen increased, which is a significant component of a plant's growth success
but leaves room for further exploration to understand the carbon-to-nitrogen ratios and the
macronutrient and micronutrient levels. The results can be used to understand further how
compost can provide a sustainable growth medium for plants.