Fermentation of citronella solid waste with cow manure to produce quality organic fertilizer for sustainable plant health
Abstract
The utilization of agricultural waste as organic fertilizer is an important strategy for improving soil health and supporting sustainable plant protection systems. Citronella distillation residue (Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle) is a by-product of the essential oil extraction process that may pose environmental problems if not properly managed. This study aimed to evaluate changes in the physicochemical characteristics and nutrient content of citronella distillation residues during fermentation with different proportions of cow manure and to identify the most suitable formulation for producing high-quality organic fertilizer. The experiment was conducted from July to September 2025 in a screen house and the Soil Chemistry and Plant Nutrition Laboratory. Fermentation was performed using four ratios of citronella distillation residues to cow manure (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4), supplemented with rice bran, palm sugar, water, and EM4 as fermentation activators. The evaluated parameters included organic carbon (C-organic), C/N ratio, pH, moisture content, total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P₂O₅), and potassium (K₂O). Data were analyzed using a descriptive comparative approach by comparing the physicochemical characteristics before and after fermentation. The results demonstrated that fermentation reduced organic carbon content and the C/N ratio while increasing the concentrations of N, P₂O₅, and K₂O, as well as pH and moisture content. The 1:4 ratio of citronella distillation residues to cow manure produced the best-quality organic fertilizer, as indicated by the lowest C/N ratio and the highest N, P₂O₅, and K₂O contents among all treatments. These findings demonstrate that fermentation effectively converts citronella distillation residues into a more stable and nutrient-rich organic fertilizer, highlighting its potential as an environmentally friendly alternative for agricultural waste utilization and organic fertilizer production.
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