Developing and evaluating a vermiliquer food-waste based hydroponic fertiliser derived from household waste

Abstract

Increases in climate variability, urban sprawl, and populations around the world have resulted in a global call-to-action in the development of sustainable, robust methods to challenge food insecurity. This thesis investigates the potential of re-utilising urban food-waste in urban horticulture systems by developing a food-waste based hydroponic fertiliser (FWBHF) from house-hold waste using vermicompost techniques. This approach aims to promote nutrient cycling by simultaneously addressing growing amounts of urban food-waste and providing sustainable nutrient sources in the emergent urban horticulture industry. An experimental FWBHF was developed after trialling a range of novel methods. A comprehensive nutritional profile was taken at each stage of the FWBHF development, aiming to enhance our understanding of plant macro-nutrient dynamics in response to potential processing methods. Finally, a combination of vermicompost and fermentation produced a solution which was trialled on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in a nutrient film technique (NFT) system. In addition to the nutritional and yield effects, the FWBHF’s effects on rhizosphere microbiome composition were also studied to determine the potential of plant growth promoting microbes (PGPM) and their role in hydroponic systems.