Toure M., Kouamé K. A., Bouatenin K. J.P. and Tiho S.
Abstract
The objective of this work was to valorize grass clippings through the production of compost. For its implementation, two composting production processes were used. For the production of conventional compost, grass clippings were first pre-composted, then plastic boxes with a volume of 1.5 l were filled with 800 g of pre-composted substrate and 200 g of hydrated soil. To this compost, earthworms were added to the boxes to have vermicomposting. The experiment lasted 90 days with a check every 10 days. Thus, the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of these two types of compost were studied. The results showed that at the beginning (D1), both composts indicated a pH value of 6±0.02. After 4 major fluctuations up to D90, the two types of compost had similar pH values, including 7.8±1.02 for conventional compost and 7.9±0.6 for vermicompost. The temperature of the vermicompost reached a maximum of 52±0.42 °C on D30 and that of the conventional compost reached its maximum on D40 (69±0.21 °C). In addition, the water content, the main nutrients (N, P and K), and the conductivity of the vermicompost were higher than those of the conventional compost. The C/N ratio was 11.38±0.5 for the vermicompost and 17.50±2.1 for the conventional compost. However, it should be noted that mesophilic aerobic germs, including yeasts and lactic bacteria, are present during the production of these different types of compost. However, these microorganisms were more accumulated in the vermicompost.