Floral waste as black gold

Abstract

A substantial quantity of floral waste is generated from sources such as temples, markets, and event venues. In India alone, nearly 8 million tons of floral waste are discarded into rivers each year. When disposed of in open areas or water bodies, this waste undergoes aerobic decomposition, leading to unpleasant odors, the release of harmful gases, and the contamination of water sources, posing potential health hazards. Hence, proper management of floral waste is essential to mitigate these environmental concerns. One effective solution is composting, a process that converts waste into nutrient rich organic material. This study examines the composting of floral waste mixed with cow dung and sawdust in varying proportions. Two different formulations were tested, Sample-1 consisted of 20 kg of floral waste (FW), 7.5 kg of cow dung (CD), and 5 kg of sawdust (SD), while Sample-2 contained 25 kg of FW, 10 kg of CD, and 5 kg of SD. The optimal combination consisting of 20 kg of floral waste (FW), 7.5 kg of cow dung (CD), and 5 kg of sawdust (SD) (Sample-1). The final compost exhibited a pH of 7.51, an electrical conductivity of 0.91 dS/m, a total organic carbon content of 30.1%, and a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 22.52. Thus, optimizing floral waste composting can contribute to effective organic waste management and environmental sustainability.