Evaluation of the physio-chemical and microbial properties of green tea waste-rice bran compost and the effect of the compost on spinach production

Abstract

To study the physio-chemical and microbial properties of green tea waste-rice bran compost (GRC), and feasibility of GRC as the alternative of agrochemicals for quality spinach production, five types of compost were prepared by mixing green tea waste and rice bran. The compost temperature was increased by adding rice bran to the green tea waste. The compost GC made from green tea waste alone contained a relatively large amount of nitrogen (7.55%). On the other hand, the compost RC made from rice bran alone contained a relatively large amount of minerals, such as phosphorus (0.49%), potassium (4.96%) and magnesium (2.28%). Addition of rice bran increased the total number of bacteria, viable bacteria and organic matter decomposing bacteria as well as actinomycetes population in the mature compost. The frequency of organic matter decomposing bacteria in GRC was in the following order: cellulolytic bacteria