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Agriculture and Food Sciences Research 
Vol. 6, No. 1, 15-21, 2019 

ISSN(E) 2411-6653/ ISSN(P) 2518-0193 
DOI: 10.20448/journal.512.2019.61.15.21 

© 2019 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

    

 
 
 
Proportions of Organic Waste in the Process of Composting 

 
Thayane Leonel Alves1     

Evandro Freire Lemos2     

José De Arruda Barbosa3     

Gabriela Mourão De Almeida4     

Antônio Michael Pereira Bertino5       
  

( Corresponding Author) 
 
1,3,4Master Student, Postgraduated Graduation in Agronomy (Science of the Soil), Universidade Estadual 
Paulista (UNESP), Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil. 

 
2Agronomist, Prof. Dr., Universidade do Estado De Minas Gerais (UEMG), Passos, Minas Gerais, Brazil. 

 
5PhD in Agronomy (Plant Production), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Jaboticabal, São Paulo, 
Brazil. 

 
 

 
Abstract 

The objective of this study was to evaluate the composting process made from different 
combinations of organic residues and to gain agronomic knowledge about the final product. The 
experimental design was randomized blocks, with five treatments: T1 - 50% sawdust, 35% fruit / 
vegetable husks and 15% coffee grounds and filter; T2 - 50% sawdust, 30% fruit / vegetable peels 
and 20% coffee grounds and filter; T3 - 60% sawdust, 30% fruit / vegetable peel and 10% coffee 
grounds and filter; T4 - 60% sawdust, 20% fruit / vegetable peels and 20% coffee grounds and 
filter; and T5 - 70% sawdust, 20% fruit / vegetable peels and 10% coffee grounds and filter and 
four replicates. The parameters monitored daily were temperature and humidity. After 140 days of 
initiation, the sample was collected for analysis. The material was analyzed in the soil and leaf 
fertility laboratory of the UEMG Unit Passos to determine the organic matter content, C / N 
ratio, pH and macronutrient and micronutrient content. Treatments 1 and 2 presented the best 
values in relation to the other treatments, due to the lower percentage of sawdust. The low 
ambient temperatures in the composting process, the high C / N ratio of the sawdust, the 
proportion of residues used in the formation of the compost and the volume of the material may 
have had a negative influence on the composting process. 

 
Keywords: Biological process, Decomposition, Degradation, Mineralization, Nutrients, Organic fertilizer, Organic waste. 

 
Citation | Thayane Leonel Alves; Evandro Freire Lemos; José De 
Arruda Barbosa; Gabriela Mourão De Almeida; Antônio Michael 
Pereira Bertino (2019). Proportions of Organic Waste in The 
Process of Composting. Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 
6(1): 15-21. 
History:  
Received: 25 October 2018 
Revised: 2 December 2018 
Accepted: 7 January 2019 
Published: 20 March 2019 
Licensed: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons 

Attribution 3.0 License  
Publisher:  Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 
 

Contribution/Acknowledgement: All authors contributed to the conception 
and design of the study. 
Funding: This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de 
Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance 
Code 001. 
Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of 
interests. 
Transparency: The authors confirm that the manuscript is an honest, 
accurate, and transparent account of the study was reported; that no vital 
features of the study have been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the 
study as planned have been explained. 
Ethical: This study follows all ethical practices during writing.   

 

 
Contents 
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 
2. Material and Methods ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 
3. Results and Discussion ................................................................................................................................................................... 17 
4. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 20 
References .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 20 
 

 

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1. Introduction 
Every day in Brazil, 260000 tons of solid waste are produced, 53% of which consists of organic waste, 25% 

paper and cardboard, 3% plastic, 2% glass, 2% metal and 15% others, that only 2% of this total is reused. In order to 
increase the percentage of reuse, it is important to encourage the recycling of waste because of its environmental 
impact [1]. In Brazil, almost 50% of municipalities still use "open dumps". The volume of garbage produced by the 
Brazilian population increases annually, which is largely discarded incorrectly [2]. In 2016, CALIXTO [3] affirms 
that selective collection is fundamental to reduce the environmental impact caused by the country's dumps, on 
average, each Brazilian produces 1 kg of garbage per day, being 365 kg per year, he announced that 47% of The 
rural population of the country does not have any type of garbage collection.  

The bad management of garbage, besides causing environmental problems, can cause social problems: many 
collectors guarantee the sustenance of their families by selling what is found in garbage dumps and even minors 
doing this type of work. The treatment of organic waste is an excellent alternative from the environmental point of 
view, in order to achieve a solution for this excess, being an option to produce organic fertilizers [4]. Due to the 
large amount of organic waste produced by Brazilian cities, the work theme becomes relevant because it addresses 
the use of these residues through the composting process, in the formation of organic fertilizer, being an alternative 
for the use of waste and a fertilizer option for farmers. 

Composting is the procedure performed by several organisms where the biodegradable organic fraction of the 
waste is decomposed under controlled aerobic conditions and other parameters [5]. For Pereira [6] composting is 
an aerobic biological process, obtained by the controlled biodegradation of organic waste, generating an organic 
compound. 

The composting process is carried out by the microorganisms present in the residues, provided that the 
conditions of temperature, aeration and humidity are ideal [7]. The final product of the composting is a mass of 
fine texture and homogeneous, without characteristic smell of the residues that gave rise to it (excellent 
conditioner and improver of the properties of the soil). It also results in a dark liquid of bad smell called slurry, 
which is caused if the composting is conducted improperly Nunes [8]. Nunes [9] mentions that the use of organic 
fertilizer brings with advantage an increase in the cation exchange capacity; aggregation of particles to the soil, 
reducing the erosive process; stores more water because it increases water retention capacity; decreases 
temperature oscillations during the day; and increases the availability of phosphorus. 

Organic fertilizers are specified according to Ordinance nº 1 of March 4th, 1983. In the compost it is necessary 
to have a minimum of 40% of organic matter, a minimum of 1% of nitrogen, a maximum of 40% of humidity, a 
maximum of 18 / 1 C / N ratio, pH minimum of 6.0, minimum of 1% of calcium, minimum of 0.5% of magnesium, 
minimum of 1% of sulfur, minimum of 0.02% of boron, minimum of 0.1% of iron, minimum of 0.05% of manganese, 
minimum of 0.1% of molybdenum and minimum of 0.1% of zinc [10]. 

Custodio, et al. [11] define that the organic materials that can be used to form the compound are practically all 
kitchen waste and garden waste, being: rest of vegetables and fruits; coffee powder and its filter; eggshell; tea bags; 
dry straw and grass; branches, leaves, bark and tree pruning, sawdust; among others. And what cannot be put are 
materials that may have some kind of contaminating or polluting material and non-puttable materials of difficult 
decomposition. Examples: Feces of domestic animals; toilet paper; diapers; ash and cigar stump; wood; coal; 
barbecue meat; fish; fat; cheeses; sick plants; weeds; glass; metals; plastics; leather; eraser; fabric; etc. 

Organic materials discarded in the trash are classified as greens (rest of raw vegetables, rest and fruit peels, 
coffee grounds and filter, rest of bread, eggshell, tea bag, etc.) and brown (sawdust, leaves, bark, dried straw, hay, 
grass trimming, tree pruning, etc.). The greens have in their composition a higher proportion of nitrogen, C / N 
less than 30/1, has a high moisture content and decomposes faster; and browns that have the highest proportion of 
carbon in relation to nitrogen, C / N higher than 30/1. Examples: coffee husk - C / N: 30; coffee grounds, fine - C / 
N: 32; coffee grounds, coarse - C / N: 33; shaving - C / N: 391; sawdust - C / N: 482; green coconut - C / N: 78; 
coconut fiber - C / N: 144; of coal - C / N: 186 [12]. 

The decomposition is where all the organic material will be placed. It can be done in various ways being they 
forming a pile or pyramid in a yard, digging a hole in the ground, wooden or plastic container, among others. This 
will depend on the creativity of each person and availability of material, because the ideal is that you do not buy the 
decomposer but rather you create it. This decomposer should be placed in an easily accessible, low slope, protected 
from wind, direct sunlight and animals [13]. 

The decomposer can be classified into three types, according to Ishimura, et al. [14]: Composting in piles, 
Composting in beds and Compost in cube or boxes. Composting in piles uses small volumes with measures smaller 
than three meters in diameter. On the other hand, the composting in rows uses large volumes, being the 
trapezoidal format, with two meters in the lower base, one in the upper base and indeterminate length. Cube or box 
composites use small volumes, can be constructed of wood, masonry or other material, and in varying sizes. 

The three phases of the composting process described by Fetti [15] are defined as mesophilic, thermophilic 
and the final stage of maturation. The first phase, mesophilic, lasts approximately 15 days, bacteria survive at 
temperatures around 40ºC, and they metabolize the simplest nutrients. The second phase, thermophilic, is the 
longest, extends for two months, bacteria and fungi called thermophiles, act at high temperature (65-70 ° C), 
degrading more complex molecules. The last stage, maturation phase, can persist for one to two months, in which 
the temperature, microbiological activity and acidity decrease.  

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the composting process made from different combinations 
of organic waste and to gain agronomic knowledge about the final product. 
 

2. Material and Methods 
This study was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the State University of Minas Gerais (UEMG) unit 

Passos, in Passos, MG (20ºS latitude and 46ºW longitude of Greenwich). The study area is located at an average 
elevation of 700 m, with average annual temperature: maximum 22.8 ° C and minimum of 21.7 ° C; and average 
annual rainfall of 1709.4 mm, dry winters and rainy summers, classified climate, according to Köppen, as Cwa, 
subtropical climate / tropical altitude climate, with dry winter and hot summer (tropical rainy). 



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In the composting process the following wastes were used: sawdust, fruit / vegetable waste and coffee grounds 
and filter. These residues were purchased from the restaurant and departments of UEMG Unidad Passos, from the 
various furniture factories in Passos, fruit and vegetable markets, supermarkets and private residences. The 
treatments were defined by mixing the organic compounds in combinations in the following proportions Table 1: 
 

Table-1. Description of the treatments of the project. Passos, 2017. 

TREATMENTS DESCRIPTION 

T1 50% sawdust, 35% fruit / vegetable peel and 15% coffee grounds and filter. 
T2 50% sawdust, 30% fruit / vegetable peel and 20% coffee grounds and filter. 
T3 60% sawdust, 30% fruit / vegetable peel and 10% coffee grounds and filter. 
T4 60% sawdust, 20% fruit / vegetable peel and 20% coffee grounds and filter. 
T5 70% sawdust, 20% fruit / vegetable peel and 10% coffee grounds and filter. 

 
The compost was produced in reusable plastic gallons with a volume of 20 liters, which were used to 

commercialize mineral water, making a longitudinal cut in them to remain lying down, and holes in the bottom for 
the slurry to run. The parameters temperature and humidity were monitored during the maturation period of the 
compost. The temperature was determined with the aid of a thermometer, introducing it into the compound at 
three points. For the monitoring of moisture, the hand test was performed Figure 1 [16] according to the three 
parameters of the figure the wetting of the compost was done and when wet, it was also stirred so that the process 
occurred under ideal conditions. 

 
Figure-1. Hand moisture test. 

Note: Legend: a) When you open your hand, the sample crumbles, it is too dry. b) When you shake your hand, a liquid runs 
between your fingers, it is too wet. c) When opening the hand, the sample forms an acorn, it is in the ideal humidity. 
Source: Moraes [16]. 

 
After the composting process was completed (temperature reduction and no odor, after 140 days of the start of 

the process), the sample was collected from the recycled waste to perform the analysis. Each sample was dried in 
greenhouses at 60ºC, until constant weight, to determine dry matter and humidity. They were ground in a mill and 
the material was analyzed in the soil and leaf fertility laboratory of UEMG Unit Passos for determination of 
organic matter content, C / N ratio, pH and macronutrient and micronutrient content.  

The experiment was conducted in a causal block design (DBC) with five treatments (five different waste 
compositions) and five replicates. The results were tabulated in a spreadsheet, to perform the statistical analyzes 
that were carried out with the help of the GENES computer application to identify the treatments that generated 
superior agronomic compound [17]. 
 

3. Results and Discussion 
The results of the characterization of the different residues are shown in Table 2. It is observed that the 

humidity of the residues is within the expected, since the fruit and vegetable skins have a large amount of water 
(86.8%), sawdust is a material (2.18) and the coffee powder was not too humid (51.38%), since it had been dried 
before composting. Macros and micronutrients presented fruit and vegetable peels as nutrient richer material than 
other residues. It can be observed that sawdust presents a C / N ratio (114.84), which is much higher than that 
referred to as limiting the composting process. Regarding organic matter, sawdust and coffee powder had a higher 
value than fruit and vegetable peels, this may be due to the fact that these materials are already in the most 
advanced decomposition stage. As for the pH, the fruit / vegetable peels presented better value in relation to coffee 
powder and sawdust. 

The temperature variation in the composting process Figure 2 didn’t occur as described in the literature, where 
it shows that in the first stage, the temperature is around 40ºC, then in the second phase, thermophilic, it acts 
between 65º-70ºC and final stage of maturation, the temperature gradually decreases. This may have been 
influenced by the proportions of the residues, since even in winter (May to October), when the temperature ranged 
from 8 to 33 °C Figure 3, Arrigoni, et al. [18] in Argentina, where the average annual temperature is 8.4 °C, 
performed a work with composting and the temperature of the process varied according to the literature. Several 
authors have observed different behavior of temperature in the composting process, this indicates that average 
values of temperature should not be considered as standard [19]; [20]; [21]; [22]; [23]; [24]. 
 
 
 
 
 
 



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Table-2. Characterization of the residues used in the composting process. Passos, MG. 

Characteristics 
Residues 

Fruit / vegetable peel Coffee grounds and filter Sawdust 

Humidity (%) 86.81 51.38 2.18 
M.S. (%) 13.19 48.62 97.82 
N (g/kg) 20.37 21.42 4.13 
P (g/kg) 2.54 1.37 0.07 
K (g/kg) 20.95 11.31 0.21 
Ca(g/kg) 10.15 0.91 0.36 

Mg (g/kg) 1.50 1.81 0.78 
S (g/kg) 1.88 1.31 0.30 

B (mg/kg) 22.87 9.07 5.34 
Cu (mg/kg) 8.57 19.14 0.58 
Fe (mg/kg) 431.42 533.77 155.18 
Mn (mg/kg) 45.42 36.16 46.99 
Zn (mg/kg) 17.05 8.40 8.30 

Total carbon (%) 37.26 49.09 47.43 
Carbon / Nitrogen Ratio 18.29 22.92 114.84 

M.O. (%) 64.24 84.63 81.77 
pH 5.64 4.95 4.52 

Note: Legend: M.S. (Dry matter); N (Nitrogen); P (Phosphorus); K (Potassium); Ca (Calcium); Mg (Magnesium); S 
(Sulfur); B (Boron); Cu (Copper); Fe (Iron); Mn (Manganese); Zn (Zinc); C / N (Carbon / Nitrogen Ratio); M.O. (Organic 
matter). 

 

 
Figure-2. Temperature variation during the composting process. 

 

 
Figure-3. Temperature data according to the station of Passos, MG. 

   Source: Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INMET) [25]. 

 
At the end of the process, treatment 1 showed a 67.7% humidity on average, treatment 2 with 67.4%, treatment 

3 with 64.7%, treatment 4 with 65.3% and treatment 5 with 65.2%. According to the Brazilian legislation, the 
compost must have a humidity of at most 40%, therefore, these results are not in accordance with the legislation, 
being necessary to let the compost dry. 

By means of the statistical analysis, it can be verified that in treatments 1 and 2 the average values for 
macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur were higher than the other treatments, treatments 3 
and 4 presented intermediate values for these macronutrients and treatment 5 resulted in the lowest values for 



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these same variables. However, for calcium and magnesium, there was no difference between treatments Table 3. 
Treatment 5 presents in its composition a greater amount of sawdust (70%), the material being poorer chemically 
presented in Table 2 previously, which explains the worse final performance of the compound. Treatments 3 and 4 
present intermediate sawdust content (60%) and treatments 1 and 2 have the lowest amount of sawdust in their 
composition (50%), which is in agreement with the results of macronutrients found, that is, a correlation negative 
relationship between the amount of sawdust of the compound and the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur 
contents of the final compound. Information on the chemical composition of the domestic compound is very scarce, 
there are no reference values.  
 

Table-3. Means of macronutrients. Passos, 2017. 

Treatment 
Mean (g/kg) 

Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Calcium Magnesium Sulfur 

T1 (50% S; 35% CFH; 15% BCF) 13.65 a 0.856 a 7.928 a 1.870 a 1.150 a 1.088 a 
T2 (50% S; 30% CFH; 20% BCF) 12.57 a 0.816 a 7.640 a 1.986 a 1.114 a 0.966 a 
T3 (60% S; 30% CFH; 10% BCF) 9.70 b 0.610 b 6.192 b 2.638 a 1.024 a 0.772 b 
T4 (60% S; 20% CFH; 20% BCF) 10.27 b 0.536 b 5.328 b 1.488 a 1.210 a 0.724 b 
T5 (70% S; 20% CFH; 10% BCF) 7.93 c 0.432 c 3.976 c 1.250 a 1.002 a 0.596 b 

Note: Averages followed by the same letter in the column do not differ from each other by the Scott & Knott test at 5% probability. Caption: S 
(sawdust); CFH (fruit peel / vegetables); BCF (coffee grounds and filter). 

 
These treatments received the highest percentage of coffee grounds (15%, 20% and 20%, respectively), which 

according to the table 5 shows very high values of this micronutrient. Treatment 1 was higher than the others for 
the final manganese content Table 4. The boron, iron and zinc elements showed no difference between the means of 
the evaluated treatments. 
 

Table-4. Means of micronutrient. Passos, 2017. 

Treatment 
Mean (mg/kg) 

Boron Copper Iron Manganese Zinc 

T1 (50% S; 35% CFH; 15% BCF) 12.422 a 7.962 a 311.58 a 70.052 a 11.708 a 
T2 (50% S; 30% CFH; 20% BCF) 10.634 a 8.228 a 284.16 a 62.618 b 9.858 a 
T3 (60% S; 30% CFH; 10% BCF) 11.344 a 5.634 b 373.57 a 57.986 b 12.187 a 
T4 (60% S; 20% CFH; 20% BCF) 9.514 a 7.072 a 301.27 a 55.258 b 11.654 a 
T5 (70% S; 20% CFH; 10% BCF) 9.440 a 4.630 b 262.76 a 56.868 b 10.688 a 

Note: Averages followed by the same letter in the column do not differ from each other by the Scott & Knott test at 5% probability. 
Caption: S (sawdust); CFH (fruit peel / vegetables); BCF (coffee grounds and filter). 

 
It was verified that for the pH variable, treatments 1, 2 and 3 (6.582, 6.492 and 6.610 respectively) were 

superior to treatments 4 and 5 (6.194 and 6.238 respectively), which did not differ among them Table 5. The 
treatments 1, 2 and 3 presented the highest proportion of fruit / vegetable peels (35%, 30% and 30%, respectively), 
and this residue presented the ideal pH value. According to Barroso, et al. [26]; Souza, et al. [27]; Kampf [28] 
ideal values for pH of a substrate rotates around 6.0 to 6.5, symptoms of nutritional deficiency of plants are found 
on substrates with pH below 5.0. 

For the variables: carbon and organic matter, there was no difference between the treatments. However, for the 
Carbon / Nitrogen ratio, treatment 5 was superior to the other treatments. The treatments 3 and 4 were equal to 
each other and were higher than treatments 1 and 2, which did not differ between them. The higher the C/N ratio, 
the slower the mineralization of the material, which in this case is negative Table 5. This result is in agreement 
with the proportion of sawdust used in each treatment, since this residue presented a high C/N ratio. It was 
observed that treatments with lower C/N ratio (treatments 1 and 2) presented the lowest proportion of sawdust 
(50%), treatments 3 and 4 presented intermediate C/N ratio and received ratios of sawdust also intermediate (60%), 
while treatment 5 presented the highest C / N ratio and the highest proportion of sawdust (70%). 

 
Table-5. Averages of the percentage of carbon, the C/N ratio, the percentage of organic matter (M.O.) and pH. Passos, 2017. 

Treatment 
Mean 

% Carbon C/N % M.O. pH 

T1 (50% S; 35% CFH; 15% BCF) 40.348 a 29.884 c 69.560 a 6.582 a 
T2 (50% S; 30% CFH; 20% BCF) 42.264 a 34.348 c 73.210 a 6.492 a 
T3 (60% S; 30% CFH; 10% BCF) 39.978 a 42.294 b 68.920 a 6.610 a 

T4 (60% S; 20% CFH; 20% BCF) 42.502 a 41.518 b 73.274 a 6.194 b 
T5 (70% S; 20% CFH; 10% BCF) 40.982 a 51.874 a 70.654 a 6.238 b 

Note: Averages followed by the same letter in the column do not differ from each other by the Scott & Knott test at 5% probability. 
Caption: S (sawdust); CFH (fruit peel / vegetables); BCF (coffee grounds and filter). 

 
The high value of the C/N ratio in the treatments may be due to the raw material used (sawdust, high C/N 

ratio), unfavorable to the process, making degradation difficult. This type of residue is usually bulky and difficult to 
be degraded, unless it is ground, which could not be achieved in this work. This can increase the composting 
period. The results obtained in this study show that all treatments comply with the Brazilian legislation on the 
organic matter content, which requires that the minimum amount of organic matter for the compound is 
40%.Composting can be an efficient technology for the treatment and recycling of organic solid waste. However, 
the low ambient temperatures in the composting process, the high C/N ratio of the sawdust, the proportion of 
residues used in the formation of the compost and the volume of the material may have influenced the composting 
process. 

The factors that influence composting are: microorganisms present in the compost, temperature, humidity, 
aeration, granulometry, C/N ratio and pH factor. The microorganisms are responsible for the decomposition of the 
material being composted, without them there is no way to do the composting. The temperature is related to the 



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thermal destruction of the microorganisms, temperatures above 65 °C, the process is delayed. The humidity of the 
compound is important; you cannot have too little or too much moisture in it, because it can disrupt the 
decomposition of organic matter. Without oxygen, there is no life in the compound, so decomposition is slower and 
unpleasant odors will appear. In the beginning it is necessary to stir more frequently and then from time to time. 
When preparing the material it is necessary that the particle size is the smallest possible, because the smaller the 
particle size, the faster the composting process. The ideal C/N ratio to make the compound is in the range 25/1 to 
35/1, that is 25 parts of carbon for each of the nitrogen. As composting is done by the aerobic method, this causes 
the compound to become alkaline throughout the process [11]. The diversity and concentration of the nutrients 
present in the compound are related to the intensity of the microbiological activity of the decomposing 
microorganisms and their population. For the metabolic activities of the microorganisms to occur, it is necessary to 
have several macro and micronutrients in the organic residues. Among them, the most important are nitrogen and 
carbon, their presence is a limiting factor in the composting process, carbon is a basic source of energy for vital 
activities and nitrogen is necessary for protoplasmic reproduction of microorganisms. Palious waste is a source of 
carbon and green materials are sources of nitrogen [6]. 

 

4. Conclusion 
There are no reference values for macronutrient and micronutrient results, as far as C/N results are concerned, 

the data were outside the standards established by Brazilian legislation, but organic matter and pH variables met 
the requirements.  

In general, treatments 1 and 2 (50% of sawdust + 35% of organic residue + 15% of coffee grounds and 50% of 
sawdust + 30% of organic residue + 20% of coffee grounds, respectively) presented the best nutritional values in 
relation to the other treatments, influenced by the lower percentage of sawdust. 

Therefore, it is necessary to carry out more studies with smaller ratios of sawdust, to see the viability of the 
composting process. Since the proportion of 30% of green material and 70% of brown material can not be used as a 
standard for composting. 
 

References  
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