Malays. Appl. Biol. (2019) 48(1): 73–78
GROWTH MEDIA DERIVED FROM SOLID WASTE FOR
ORCHID Dendrobium kingianum CULTURE
NYUK LING MA1*, SHING CHING KHOO1, LIM KAR LOKE1,
SU SHIUNG LAM2 and SUAT HIAN TAN3
1School of Fundamental Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT),
21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
2Eastern Corridor Renewable Energy Group (ECRE), School of Ocean Engineering,
University Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia
3Industrial Biotechnology Programme, Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology,
University Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300, Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
*E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Accepted 24 January 2019, Published online 20 March 2019
ABSTRACT
Food waste and diaper waste contribute to top three ranking solid wastes in Malaysia. Many studies show that urine and food waste can be used as plant fertilizer but less attention has been given to the recycling of used diaper. Therefore, this study was conducted to formulate Dendrobium kingianum growing media by utilizing diaper waste and selected food waste: banana peels, coffee waste and eggshells. The chemical composition in diaper waste and food waste were determined by using ICP-OES method. Biochar derived from oil palm waste, sugarcane and sawdust were tested to reduce and neutralize the high ammonium content from diaper waste. Biochar derived from oil palm waste showed the best reduction of ammonium in diaper waste. Survival and growth performance of Dendrobium kingianum was observed and recorded. Results show that orchid in diaper formulated growth media T3 showed the best adaptation and growth performance with highest percentage of healthy leaves and number of absorption roots within 3 weeks observation period. These results revealed that diaper waste could be recycled as orchid growing media by formulating with food waste and biochar.
Key words: Orchid cultivation, waste derived compost, diaper waste, food waste
