MICROBIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL-CHANGES DURING THE COMPOSTING OF OIL PALM EMPTY-FRUIT-BUNCHES - EFFECT OF NITROGEN SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE SUBSTRATE

The composting of oil palm empty-fruit-bunches and of oil palm empty-fruit-bunches in supplementation with either goat dung, cow dung or chicken manure differed in the resulting C:N ratios. The initial C:N ratios (52:1, 35:1, 48:1, 47:1) for the four compost heaps were significantly reduced to 24:1, 14:1, 18:1 and 12:1, respectively, after 60 days of composting, resulting in the production of a stable humus that is suitable for crop production. A temperature of 70 degrees C was maintained for 3 days at the onset of composting. Both mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria showed consistent activity throughout the process, whereas fungal activity was completely suppressed during the peak heating phase. The rate of utilization of cellulosic material showed a positive correlation with the increase in the nitrogen content of the compost.