Composting as a Cleaner Production Strategy for the Soil Resource of Potato Crops in Choconta, Colombia

Angie Tatiana Ortega-Ramírez (), Daniela García Moreno and Miriam Reyes Tovar ()
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Angie Tatiana Ortega-Ramírez: Sustainable Processes Research Group (GPS), Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Faculty, America University, Eco Campus de los Cerros, Bogotá 110311, Colombia
Daniela García Moreno: Sustainable Processes Research Group (GPS), Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Faculty, America University, Eco Campus de los Cerros, Bogotá 110311, Colombia
Miriam Reyes Tovar: Faculty of Cultural, Demographic and Political Studies, Guanajuato University, Col. Centro P.C., Lascuráin de Retana No. 5, Guanajuato 36000, Mexico

Resources, 2024, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: Choconta is the municipality in Colombia with the greatest prevalence of potato planting, representing 70.90% of the total territory. However, this crop has been affected by the presence of pests, diseases, and chemical contaminants from pesticides and chemical fertilizers that deteriorate the soil and, therefore, the quality of the final product. Compost (organic waste with specific characteristics and made from waste generated in Choconta) was studied as a sustainable production strategy to increase soil quality and thereby the quality of the local potato crop. For this purpose, a 3 × 2 experiment design was implemented with three treatments (0%, 25%, and 50% compost) and two variables (young potato and mature potato) in duplicate for 4 months. In this experiment, the use of compost led to an improved final product, which went from a floury texture to a dense and creamy texture. The use of compost also reduced the levels of heavy metals, such as lead, with a higher removal in treatment 3 (50% composting). The estimated direct cost of the composting process was USD 280.85, slightly lower than that of the application of fertilizers at USD 294.48. The use of fertilizers has a higher environmental impact due to the use of chemical products that have environmental and health implications. Using compost did not influence tuber harvest time but had a positive impact on tuber texture quality and on soil resources through the reduction in heavy metals, especially lead (16.40–18.03 ppm for treatment 1, 17.96–18.49 ppm for treatment 2, and 15.67–17.88 ppm for treatment 3). Using compost could be environmentally and economically beneficial for local farmers, and it promotes the circular economy and sustainable communities.

Keywords: composting; potato cultivation; sustainable production; soil; waste valorization; waste recovery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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