Abstract:

In Northwest China, the output of vegetable waste is large and exhibits seasonal concentration. Converting vegetable waste into organic fertilizer through composting not only achieves waste reduction but also provides nutrients for agricultural production, which is a resource utilization method with both ecological and economic benefits. Taking Jiuquan, a typical city in the arid region of Northwest China, as the research area, this study carried out research on composting of vegetable waste from highland summer vegetables. Different ratios of vegetable waste to cow manure (T₁: 1:1, T₂: 2:1) and a microbial agent-added treatment (T₃) were set up, with vegetable waste-only composting as the control (CK). During the composting process, changes in physical properties and parameters such as odor, viscosity, decay degree, compost pile height, temperature, humidity, pH, and EC value were monitored to reveal the effects of different raw material ratios on composting parameters. The results showed that the dynamic changes of vegetable waste composting were the combined effects of microbial activity, material addition, and environmental factors. Adding an appropriate proportion of cow manure could improve composting efficiency by optimizing the carbon-nitrogen ratio and providing heat sources. The combination of microbial agents with exogenous nitrogen sources such as cow manure could accelerate compost decomposition. This study provides a theoretical basis for the resource utilization of agricultural waste in the arid regions of Northwest China. In the future, the function of microbial communities could be further analyzed to improve the composting mode in Northwest China.

Key words: vegetable waste, composting, highland summer vegetables, decomposition, dynamic changes