This research studies the physical and chemical quality of bagasse and pig manure compost mixed with Rayong Kaolin and without kaolin (control).
The effect of kaolin adding before and during composting was investigated by using kaolin at the
dosage of 10,20 and 50%.
The moisture was controlled at 50-60% and the physical and chemical quality of each experiment
was analyzed every 7 days.
Results indicated that adding of kaolin for both before and during composting could improve the
fertilizer.
Adding the kaolin of 20% before and composting is the suitable condition because it gave high degradation of organic matter and retained the nitrogen from the compost pile.
It was found that the total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) is 21.64 g/kg which higher than the control of 47.55%.
Analysis of the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of kaolin with sodium acetate saturation method showed that kaolin had cation exchange capacity of 30 cmol/kg.
Thus, kaolin could adsorb cationic elements and decrease the loss of ammonia nitrogen.
The adsorption capacity of ammonium by kaolin was 0.52 mg/g.
Because of this, kaolin has a potential for using as a plant nutrients retention in the compost.