Comparative Study on the Effects of Food Waste versus Chemical Fertilizer on Brassica rapa chinensis (Pak Choy)

Mohd Ashraf Ngah; Mohd Taufik Rezza Mohd Foudzi

Authors

Mohd Ashraf Ngah Department of Agrotech and Biotechnology Politeknik Nilai, Kompleks Pendidikan Bandar Enstek, 71760 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Mohd Taufik Rezza Mohd Foudzi Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Port Dickson, Km 14, Jalan Pantai, Politeknik Port Dickson, 71050 Si Rusa, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Keywords:

Food waste compost, NPK fertilizer, Brassica rapa chinensis, agronomic performance, sustainable agriculture, waste management

Abstract

This study evaluates the comparative efficacy of food waste versus commercial chemical fertilizer on the agronomic performance of Brassica rapa chinensis (Pak Choy). The experiment was conducted within a controlled greenhouse environment at Polytechnic Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, over a 30-day cultivation period. The methodology involved three distinct treatments: food waste, chemical fertilizer (NPK 15:15:15), and a control group receiving no fertilizer amendment. Growth parameters, including plant height, leaf count, and post-harvest fresh weight, were measured to assess yield. The results demonstrate that the food waste compost treatment yielded significantly higher growth metrics compared to both the chemical fertilizer and the control group. Consequently, this study posits that food waste is a viable and effective alternative to synthetic fertilizers, offering a dual solution for reducing chemical dependency in agriculture and optimizing urban food waste management strategies.