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The rapid growth in oil palm production has raised environmental concerns due to the massive discharge of liquid and solid waste. To address this issue, waste generated need to be optimized by composting and converting the waste into organic fertilizer. The practice of pure inorganic fertilization must also be discontinued due to the rising cost of imported fertilizers and their detrimental effect on the soil. Furthermore, several studies have established that recycling self-produced organic waste as fertilizer is an excellent method to achieve sustainability. Therefore, this study investigates a significant response to organic fertilization treatment. The bioorganic empty fruit bunch (EFB) compost was tested on Podzols soil (Typic Placorthods) in the nursery and in the young mature stage of the palm that was treated from the beginning of planting. The results showed that organic fertilization using low and high concentrations of fresh and composted EFB had a more significant effect on seedling growth. A high dose of composted EFB positively affected the N and K content of the leaf. Composted EFB had added value, especially in improving soil chemical properties and assimilation of N nutrients by oil palm seedlings, especially Podzols (Typic Placorthods). Pure inorganic fertilization on Podzols (Typic Placorthods) could not have been more practical due to inadequate nutrient uptake. Composted EFB had a positive effect superior that of the fresh EFB on the chemical composition of the soil, such as improving the saturation rate of the cation exchange capacity and the exchangeable K and Mg. Fresh EFB was good, but composted EFB was better for maintaining yield and less attractivity to Oryctes, which is essential in replanting.

Palm oil production has increased significantly, specifically in Indonesia and Malaysia. However, this growth has raised environmental concerns due to the high discharge of empty fruit bunches, palm oil mill effluents, and other solid wastes. Therefore, this study aims to examine the treatment of palm oil waste by composting and systematically review insights into its application through a systematic literature review approach. Among the 1155 articles, a total of 135 were selected for a systematic review of palm oil waste management developments and their applications, while 14 were used for determining compost quality according to the criteria and requirements established in the systematic literature review. Moreover, using Egger’s test, JAMOVI 1.6.23 software was used to analyze random effects models with 95% confidence intervals and publication bias. The results showed that palm oil waste was optimally treated by composting, which is considered as a sustainable technology for protecting the environment, human safety, and economic value. The in-vessel method with a controlled composting chamber is the best system with a minimum time of 14 days. However, it requires tight control and provides a final product with a high microbial colony form outdoors and indoors compared to the windrow system. This study is useful to see the bias of research results and helps to find new studies that need to be developed, especially in this case related to the management of palm oil waste into organic compost fertilizer and its application methods in the field. It is suggested that applying palm oil waste or compost is mainly performed by mulching. In contrast, new challenges for better processing to produce organic fertilizers and applicable technologies for sustainable waste management are recommended. The method must be affordable, efficient, and practical, combining compost quality with maximum nutrient recovery.

Palm oil is the most consumed edible oil in the world. Roughly half of the production originates from Indonesia, where the expansion of the crop has been criticized from an environmental perspective. Reducing the environmental impact of plantations through better waste management practices is critical to achieve cleaner production. In this context, our study was focused on composting, a practice increasingly adopted among agro-industries. Our trial was designed to test co-composting of the main palm oil mill by-products, empty fruit bunches (EFB) and palm oil mill effluent (POME), under different POME/EFB ratios and turning frequencies. After 60 days the compost was still in a mesophilic phase and could not be considered as mature compost due to high C/N ratio and temperature. High weight and volume reduction were achieved (40% and 60% respectively), as well as significant water evaporation from the POME and EFB (60%). We found that a POME to EFB ratio of 1 to 1.5 m3/ton was optimal for moisture (65-70%), free air space (>50%), and nutrient recovery, showing that in our experimental conditions the composting process could not use all the POME produced by the mill (3m3/ton of EFB). The nutrient recovery rate was close to 100% for phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. For nitrogen we observed 30-35% of losses. Composting on a concrete platform with a roof, not over-spraying the piles and recycling all the leachates are critical points to achieve high nutrient recovery efficiency and to control final compost quality.