Fish Waste Compost - A Fertilizer for Organic Agriculture

Abstract

Fish markets produce a large amount of fish waste such as fish head, gut, intestine, fines, bones and scales that are generally dumped in the river or land-filling areas causing great intuitive pollution to the environment. Such impulsively growing contamination can be mitigated and checked though waste management in the form of organic composting. This study investigates the potential of fish waste compost as a sustainable organic fertilizer by converting fish waste, including gut, head, skin, bones, and fins, into compost using sawdust, banana and jaggery as supplementary materials. The matured compost was then analyzed for nutrient content and maturity through physical, sensory, biological, and chemical tests. Results showed that the compost, reduced to 70% of its original volume, had significant nutrient content with a C:N ratio of 28.6:1, a pH of 6.80, and an electrical conductivity of 1.45 dS/m. Biological tests demonstrated high germination rates, indicating non-phytotoxicity. Fish waste containing 10.56, 2.12, 0.82 and 0.10 percents of C, N, P and K respectively can be converted into an effective organic fertilizer which can enhance soil fertility. This approach not only addresses waste management but also offers a viable solution for recycling fish waste into valuable agricultural resources.