Effect of organic fertilizer mixed with dehydrated food waste powder on growth of leaf lettuce

The amount of food waste generated in Republic of Korea has been increasing alongside an increasing population and booming economy as such, research on effective treatment and recycling is required. Food waste recycling is complicated by its inferior characteristics such as high levels of water and concern that its continuous application to farmland can lead to salt accumulation and concomitant damage crops. In the present study, therefore, dehydrated food waste powder (FWP), which contains a large amount of organic matter and nutrients, but which may require additional improvements was mixed in various ratios with organic fertilizers and the mixtures were tested for their effects on the growth of the leaf lettuce. A control was set up with inorganic fertilizers alone while a treatment with only FWP was also included. The mixture of FWP and organic fertilizers produced better leaf lettuce growth in all the treatments than the control and FWP. The fresh weight of the leaf lettuce produced with a mixture containing 60% FWP was 50% higher than that of the control. The results from this study indicate, therefore, that FWP mixed with other organic supplements in appropriate amounts positively impacts crop growth and development.