Korean Journal of Agricultural Science ISSN:2466-2402(Print) 2466-2410(Online) 농업과학연구

To compare the composting characteristics of food waste supplemented with various bulking agents, aerated composting was performed by mixing sawdust, ginkgo leaves, insect feces, and mushroom waste at ratios of 6 : 4 (w/w). The initial temperatures (day after treatment [DAT] 3) of the sawdust, ginkgo leaves, insect feces and the mushroom waste mixtures were 39, 58, 65, and 51℃, respectively. The DAT 3 temperature was the highest in the food waste- insect feces mixture (65℃) and the lowest in the sawdust one (39℃). However, the insect feces treatment was terminated at DAT 21 because of a high water content (70.92%). The water content (DAT 56) of the composted food waste supplemented with sawdust, mushroom waste, and ginkgo leaves stood at 51.28, 39.81, and 44.92%, respectively. Therefore, the fully mature composts satisfied the water content requirement of less than 55% as recommended in the fertilizer standards of the RDA of Korea. The results of the CoMMe-101, Solvita and seed germination index methods indicate that the mushroom waste and ginkgo leaves treatments matured relatively quicker than that of the sawdust one. Based on the above observations, it is concluded that the mushroom waste and ginkgo leaves are more effective bulking agents compared to sawdust and as such, are recommended as suitable replacements for sawdust in food waste composting.