Resumen
The yearly massive generation of Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) (19 million tonnes) and Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) (53 million m3) promotes the composting of these wastes, but only of inferior nutrient content, specifically Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). This motivates the proposed work to enhance the nutrient of EFB based vermicompost organically using high N, P, K wastes at specific initial Carbon to Nitrogen (C:N) ratio. Seven batches of composts were prepared, namely Compost A (EFB and POME in 1:1 weight ratio); Compost B (fishmeal ? Nitrogen source); Compost C (bonemeal ? Phosphorus source); Compost D (bunch ash ? Potassium source) and EFB mixed composts containing EFB+POME, fishmeal, bonemeal, bunch ash and sawdust (C:N regulator) in different composition to obtain initial C:N ratio of 35 (Compost E), 42 (Compost F) and 47 (Compost G). The results showed fast compost maturation within 40 days based on stable pH profile. The changes in C:N ratio were noted as A: 59.8 to 29; B: 3.69 to 7.4; C: 8.13 to 10.8; D: 42.3 to 23; E: 35 to 16; F: 42 to 15 and G: 47 to 22. Compost B and C poses pest problem with pungent rotten smell, while compost A and D has inferior nutrient quality. The EFB mixed composts possess porous structure which supports aeration with high mass yield of 88 - 90% and maturation moisture content of 55 ? 70%. The final C:N ratio of Compost E and Compost F is below 20 which is an indication of maturation, while C:N ratio of Compost G is slightly above 20. All three batches of EFB co-composts experienced an increase in Nitrogen (+18 to 62%), Phosphorus (+125 to 906%) and Potassium (+262 to 294%). This validates the blending of EFB with various organic wastes could result in superior compost quality.