Asiwome Akumah - Department of Agro Enterprise Development, Ho Technical University, P.O. Box HP ۲۱۷, Ho, Ghana
Eric Nartey - Department of Soil Science, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG ۲۴۵, Legon Accra, Ghana
Godfred Ofosu-Budu - Department of Crop Science, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG ۴۴, Legon Accra, Ghana
Ebenezer Ewusie - Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box LG ۸۰, Legon, Accra, Ghana
Esther Abusah - Department of Civil Engineering, Ho Technical University, P.O. Box HP ۲۱۷, Ho, Ghana
Noah Adamtey - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Switzerland

Purpose Market crop waste (MCW) contributes significantly to the quantity of municipal solid waste generated in sub-Saharan Africa. These wastes, however, contain high levels of plant nutrients which can be harnessed through composting to improve soil organic matter and nutrient status of impoverished tropical soils.Method In this work, annual MCWs from two urban markets in Accra, Ghana were characterized by quantifying their seasonal availabilities, primary nutrients, heavy metals concentrations and level of microbial contamination to ascertain their suitability or otherwise for composting.Results Waste generated in the rainy seasons was higher than in the dry seasons. Primary nutrients sequestered in the MCW collected were ۲۱۱.۱ kg N, ۱.۸۴ kg P and ۸۹.۶۶ kg K for both markets. Feedstock quality analysis showed heavy metal levels in the MCW were far below the contaminant levels. Moisture content of vegetable and fruit waste was ۷۴.۳۴ - ۹۰.۴۶% and far above the desired level of aerobic composting. Pathogen levels of ۵.۹۲ CFU/g E. coli and ۵.۴۱ CFU/g Salmonella in cocoyam leaves; ۶.۲۷ CFU/g total coliform and ۴.۷۴ CFU/g Enterococcus in cabbage were detected and found to be above the maximum contaminant level as per USEPA standard.Conclusion Use of cassava, plantain peduncle and corn husk as bulking agents with vegetable and fruit waste as N, P and K sources should serve as feedstock for good quality compost production.

Market crop waste, Feedstock, composting, Nutrient flow, Seasonal variation