Use of pineapple waste for production of decomposable pots

Purpose The aim of this research was to evaluate thesuitability of pineapple waste for production of decomposablenursery pots.Methods The experiment was completely randomized,with three replicates and eighteen formula treatments.Treatments consisted of varying ratios of pineapple wasteto binder, including 2:1, 1:0 (fresh pineapple waste), 1:1,1:1.5, and 1:2; the textures tested were coarse, medium,and fine, and the pot thicknesses were 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 cm.Results The results revealed that the physical and chemicalproperties of pineapple waste were suitable for use innursery pots on an experimental scale. The optimal physicaland chemical properties for a decomposable potincluded a 1:0 ratio of pineapple waste to binder, a coarsestructure, and a pot thickness of 1 cm. With these properties,the pot degraded in more than 45 days, N and Prelease rates were 0.49% and 7.97 mg-P/kg, respectively,and the average absorption rate was 258.43%. Saturationoccurred in 45 min, and the water evaporated in 444 h.Conclusion In terms of cost production per pot, freshpineapple waste cost 0.0075 USD for a three-and-a-halfinch diameter decomposable pot (excluding logisticalcosts). Therefore, this study provides a possible method forwaste management.