Recycling potential of organic wastes of arecanut and cocoa in India: A short review

Abstract

Organic wastes from arecanut and cocoa are rich in lignin, cellulose and polyphenol content, and slowly biodegradable. In India, the recyclable biomass from arecanut and cocoa is estimated at 4.5–5.4 and 0.7–0.8 million tonnes per year, respectively. The studies have shown that there is huge potential for utilizing plantation wastes for income generation through suitable technologies and to avoid environmental pollution. Their utilization for production of vermicompost, oyster mushrooms, livestock feed and other value-added products prove to be sustainable and profitable options. Vermicompost has a better nutrient profile than organic wastes and has potential to meet nitrogen and phosphorus demand of plantations crops. The findings of long-term field studies revealed that vermicompost sustains the productivity of arecanut and other component crops and improves soil fertility. But supplementation of potassium is required for improving and sustaining the yields in perennial crops in the long run.