Effectiveness of microbial bioprocesses in the treatment of organic solid waste from the Chota market, Peru

Abstract

The implementation of microbial bioprocesses constitutes a key biotechnological alternative for the optimizing of residual biomass management in urban environments, accelerating organic matter stabilization and improving final product quality. Building on this premise, the present study evaluated the effect of bacterial inoculants on the degradation kinetics of organic waste from the wholesale market of Chota, Cajamarca. Using a completely randomized design (CRD), three conditions were compared: a control group (0% inoculum); and two treatments with differentiated concentrations of microbial consortia (5% and 10%), conducted in triplicate. The results demonstrate that the addition of microorganisms significantly optimized the biotransformation process. The treatment with the highest inoculum density (10%) exhibited the maximum production efficiency, reaching a compost yield of 506.79 kg, which was superior to the 410.87 kg and 306.93 kg obtained in the intermediate and control doses, respectively. A positive correlation was determined between the applied microbial load and the final product generation rate. The analytical profile evidenced abundant micronutrient mineral richness (Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn and B). Furthermore, although trace elements (Pb, Cr, and Cd) were found to be slightly above the limits of the NTP 201.207:2020 standard, the 10% dose promoted the greatest attenuation of lead and chromium. In conclusion, the application of bioprocesses based on microbial consortia constitutes an effective strategy for solid waste recovery, guaranteeing a technically and nutritionally viable organic fertilizer for soil remediation or agroforestry systems.