Effect of application of coffee sludge and dried food waste powder on the growth Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of organic fertilizer on the growth of Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg and the change of soil chemical characteristics. The organic matter contents of coffee sludge and dried food waste powder were 44.26 and 51.18%, respectively. These values exceed the organic matter content of organic fertilizers recommended by the Rural Development Administration (RDA) of South Korea by more than 30%. Accordingly, they indicate the possibility of their use as organic fertilizers. The results from the analysis of soil properties after cultivation showed that the organic matter content of coffee sludge amended soils was two-fold higher than that of dried food waste powder amended soils. However, the content of available phosphorus was two times lower in the coffee sludge amendments. It is expected that the dried food waste powder was actively used to decompose organic substances, and that phosphoric acid was added by the soil microorganisms used to decompose organic substances. In terms of Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg growth, leaf discoloration was observed for all treatments except with the standard rate of dried food waste powder. The standard rate of dried food waste powder also produced relatively better results than other treatments with regard to other growth characteristics such as root length (34.08 cm), root diameter (0.78 cm), and fresh root weight (4.77 g plant^-1). Therefore, the standard rate of dried food waste powder produced better results than other treatments and can be used as an organic fertilizer in the growth of Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg.