The Long Composting Period Effect of Leaf Shallots on the Compost Quality

Abstract

Compost is a solid organic material that biologically changes into a final product that can be used as fertilizer. Utilizing shallot leaf waste as raw material for composting is the latest technology and has never been applied by shallot farmers. This study aimed to determine the best quality of shallot leaf compost with the long treatment of the composting process. This process was supported through Trichoderma, sp activator with 106 cfu/mL density. The treatment design was arranged as follows: K0 = no composting (leaves were simply dried in the sun), K1 = composting for 1 day, K2 = composting for 2 days, K3 = composting for 3 days, K4 = composting for 4 days, K5 = composting for 5 days, K6 = composting for 6 days, K7 = composting for 7 days, K8 = composting for 14 days, K9 = composting for 21 days, and K10 = composting for 28 days. The data were analyzed descriptively. The results showed that the shallot leaf waste with the composting process was dried by the sunlight (natural composting) and had a C/N ratio. Meanwhile, the C-organic and N-total of this composting process were better than that of composting using a solution containing Trichoderma sp. activator.