Suitability of Residues from Seaweed and Fish Processing for Composting and as Fertilizer

Joshua Cabell (), Susanne Eich-Greatorex, Violeta Alexandra Ion, Tore Krogstad, Sevasti Matsia, Maria Perikli, Athanasios Salifoglou and Anne-Kristin Løes
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Joshua Cabell: Norwegian Centre for Organic Agriculture (NORSØK), N-6630 Tingvoll, Norway
Susanne Eich-Greatorex: Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), N-1432 Ås, Norway
Violeta Alexandra Ion: Research Center for Studies of Food Quality and Agricultural Products, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest (USAMV), 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Tore Krogstad: Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), N-1432 Ås, Norway
Sevasti Matsia: Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry and Advanced Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Maria Perikli: Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry and Advanced Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Athanasios Salifoglou: Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry and Advanced Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Anne-Kristin Løes: Norwegian Centre for Organic Agriculture (NORSØK), N-6630 Tingvoll, Norway

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-23

Abstract: There is a need to find novel sources of fertilizers to meet the increasing food demands of a growing human population and alternatives to mined and synthetic fertilizers for the certified organic sector. Composting is a common method for processing and stabilizing organic residues for use in horticulture. To that end, a small-scale composting experiment with six combinations of dried and ground rockweed ( Ascophyllum nodosum ), algae fiber from chemically processed rockweed, ground bones and fishmeal from cod ( Gadus morhua ), and ground blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis ) was conducted in Dewar flasks to assess whether these residues are suitable for composting and have potential for use as fertilizers. Expanded clay aggregates were used as a bulking material. Physicochemical analyses were performed on the residues and their mixtures before and after composting, and the temperature in the flasks was monitored for 92 days. Suitability was determined by evaluating the temperature dynamics, changes in physiochemical parameters, and nutrient profiles. All treatments generated heat, with reductions in C/N ratio, weight, and volume, demonstrating suitability for composting. The treatments with algae fiber had a higher mean temperature (34.5 vs. 29.0 °C) and more degree days above the thermophilic range (mean = 176- vs. 19-degree days), the greatest reduction in volume (mean = 35% vs. 27%), and the lowest C/N ratios at the end of active composting (18 vs. 24) compared to the treatments with dried and ground seaweed. In terms of fertilizer value, none of the finished composts were balanced for use as fertilizers alone and, in some cases, contained too much Na, but contained sufficient concentrations of K, S, Mg, and Ca and could be a valuable source of these nutrients and organic matter in combination with other N- and P-rich sources.

Keywords: compost; marine biomass stabilization and conversion; thermodynamics; organic fertilizer; plant nutrients; composting degree days; electrical conductivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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