Mitigation of CO2 Emissions in Agro-Ecosystems by Composting of Tree Leaf Litter with Effective Microorganisms and Green Sunnhemp Plants

Abstract

Managing leaf litter by using different composting methods may be an alternative approach to solid waste management in rural areas. The purposes of the study were to prepare compost from an admixture of tree leaf litter using effective microorganisms (EM) and green sunnhemp plants and assess the patterns and cumulative amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2-C) emission and CO2 mitigation potential. The N content of leaf litter from both compost methods was significantly higher. The EM-treated compost had better concentrations of microbial biomass carbon (MBC), potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The low germination and vigor index were observed in compost treated with green sunnhemp plants. The CO2 emission patterns were similar in both leaf litter compost treatments. The composting techniques used in this study can save roughly 310 kg CO2eq in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Composting leaf litter with EM and green sunnhemp plants could be a useful technique for lowering agriculture’s GHG emissions, besides helping to mitigate climate change, reducing the solid waste from rural areas, and minimizing the use of mineral fertilizer in agriculture.