Innovative, environment-friendly, and economically viable organic waste and crop nutrient management practices

Soils of arid and saline regions are infertile. Excessive use of synthetic fertilizers is not environment-friendly. Organic waste composts can restore agriculturally nonproductive soils. Composts made from food waste have seldom been tested for their prospects in soil fertility. The potential of Bokashi and EP-50 composts was evaluated to generate a win–win situation for efficient organic waste management and sustainable agriculture. Pilot experimentation included growing tomatoes, chili peppers, and eggplants with nutrient supplies from (i) Bokashi compost, (ii) EP-50 compost, (iii) a mixture of Bokashi and EP-50 composts, and (iv) a control treatment with no added compost in peat moss. The mixed compost treatment resulted in statistically significant increases in plant growth traits, followed by EP-50 compost and Bokashi compost treatments due to the consistent and slow release of nutrients from the mixed compost treatment. This may help promote innovative, environment-friendly, and economically viable organic waste and crop nutrient management practices in the future. This study offers an experimental framework for further research into the long-term impacts of Bokashi and EP-50 composts in promoting sustainable agriculture in infertile soils.