THE POTENTIAL OF TREATED PALM OIL MILL EFFLUENT (POME) SLUDGE AS AN ORGANIC FERTILIZER
Abstract: Palm oil mill
contributed a significant benefit to agro-based industry and social-economic
for Malaysia. Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is considered as a polluted
wastewater and the treated POME sludge was produced from the open treatment
ponds. The objective of this study was to determine the physicochemical
characteristics of treated POME sludge and its potential as an organic
fertilizer. It was collected from the dumping ponds in Felda Jengka 8, palm oil
mill. Physicochemical characteristics, sampling and preparation of samples were
analyzed according to the standard method of soil and the wastewater. The
samples were collected after one and six month of age with different depths
(one, two and three meters). The statistical analysis revealed that the depth
was not significant on the physicochemical characteristics. The characteristics
of the treated POME sludge was measures using CHNS-O, C/N ratio, solid
analysis, heavy metal, macro and micronutrient, moisture content, and pH.
However, the elements of oxygen, iron and pH were shown an interaction effects
with time. In conclusion, the treated POME sludge has shown significant effect
and the potential used as an organic fertilizer. Indeed, further studies on
crops response are being conducted to prove the findings.
Author: Mohd Nizar Khairuddin,
Abdul Jamil Zakaria, Isharudin Md Isa, Hamdan Jol, Wan Mohd. Nazri Wan Abdul
Rahman, Mohd. Kamarul Syahid Salleh
Journal Code: jppertaniangg160013
