The management of organic waste and its transformation into fertilizer has garnered
considerable global interest owing to rising concerns over sustainability and soil health.
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) waste, a prevalent type of organic refuse, is frequently evaluated
for composting and fertilizer generation owing to its substantial nutritional composition,
particularly nitrogen, which is vital for plant development (Bhunia et al., 2023).
Studies by many agricultural institutes indicate that organic fertilizers sourced from
vegetable waste, including spinach, augment soil fertility and stimulate plant development by
elevating organic matter levels and fostering microbial activity in the soil. Raza et al. (2022)
conducted a study revealing that composting spinach waste decreases waste volume and
generates a high-quality organic fertilizer abundant in critical elements such as potassium,
phosphorus, and nitrogen, crucial for crop productivity and health.
This corresponds with the increasing need for environmentally sustainable farming
methods, decreasing reliance on chemical fertilizers, and fostering sustainable agriculture.
Transforming spinach waste into organic fertilizer enables the agricultural industry to
mitigate waste and improve crop yields, therefore addressing environmental and food
security issues. Raza et al. (2022)
The discussion of agriculture and sustainable waste management comes from the
standpoint of turning food waste into plant nutrients. This paper discusses the global
relevance of food waste and its impacts on the environment, society, and economy. Food
wastes can be converted into plant nutrients using a variety of techniques, and the advantages
and disadvantages of each are discussed. The alarming yearly amounts of food wasted
underscore the urgent need for an all-encompassing solution to this issue. Utilizing food
waste as plant fertilizer is a sustainable solution that adheres to the circular economy's ideals
by recycling otherwise wasted materials. Fertilizers made from food waste have been shown
to enhance soil quality, boost plant development, and increase total agricultural yield. These
fertilizers improve soil structure, water retention, and plant nutrition without the use of
artificial chemicals. The effectiveness of the methods used for collection and sorting has a
significant impact on the quality of fertilizers that can be produced from food waste. Setting
up legal requirements and quality assurance measures is crucial to ensuring the products'
efficacy and safety. Improving public awareness and comprehension is essential if we are to
witness a change in the way people generally handle recycling food leftovers. Kansoriya
(2023)
A global crisis in waste (and management) is being brought on by an increase in food
waste. An estimated 1.6 billion tons of food, valued at $1.2 trillion, are wasted annually
worldwide. Numerous economic benefits, such as increased food security, cheaper
manufacturing costs, biodegradable products, environmental sustainability, and cleaner solutions
to the expanding global waste and garbage management problem, can be gained by reducing this
waste or converting it into valuable products. The hazards to human health can be greatly
decreased by treating these harmful materials properly. Food waste can be obtained in
biodegradable forms and has great potential to enhance the production of bio-based fertilizers by
efficiently accelerating microbial metabolism. Mandal et al. (2024)
Nitrogen is abundant in organic fertilizers and manures such as waste milk tea, banana
peels, and coconut peat, phosphorus, potassium, etc. One is the sandy soil of the harshest
circumstances that have a detrimental impact on plant growth. The effects of foliar spraying milk
tea waste extract, banana peel extract, and coconut peat extract on coriander and spinach plant
growth. Furthermore, the effects of several organic fertilizers on plant development and the
enhancement of sandy soil's biochemical properties were examined using different pots. Growth
characteristics such as plant height, leaf count, shoot moisture content, and the amount of
selected NPK in the plants can be compared using different fertilizers. Shukla et al. (2021)
.
Bhunia, S., Bhowmik, A., Pramanik, A., Mallick, R., & Mukherjee, J. (2023). Successive
cultivation of cabbage and spinach by land application of recycled slaughterhouse waste: Benefit
to farmers and agro-ecosystem health. EnvironmentalTechnology&Innovation,29,102967.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235218642200390
Raza, S. T., Wu, J., Rene, E. R., Ali, Z., & Chen, Z. (2022). Reuse of agricultural wastes,
manure, and biochar as an organic amendment: A review on its implications for
vermicomposting technology. Journal of Cleaner Production, 360, 132200.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652622018066
Kansoriya, N., Singh, M. M. (2023). Review on Recycling of Food Waste to Produce
Plant Fertilizers. Bundelkhand University, Jhansi. https://www.ijraset.com/best-journal/review-
on-recycling-of-food-waste-to-produce-plant-fertilizers
Mandal, M., Roy, A., Das, S., Rakwal, R., Agrawal, G., Singh, P., Awasthi, A., & Sarkar.
A. (2024). Food waste-based bio-fertilizers production by bio-based fermenters and their
potential impact on the environment. University ofTsukuba,Kathmandu.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653524004326?via%3Dihub
Shukla, P., Jayswal, S., & Maitreya, B. (2021).The foliar spray application of selected
organic fertilizers and their effects on selected plants – a review. EPRA International Journal of
Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR). https://eprajournals.com/jpanel/upload/1002pm_34.EPRA
%20JOURNAL-6555.pdf
