Composting green Eucalyptus globulus leaves. An experiment in Ambasel Woreda, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Composting enhances soil fertility by improving its biological, chemical, and physical properties. One of the key challenges is accessing green compost ingredients throughout the year. Leaves from non-deciduous Eucalyptus are widely available in some regions. Yet farmers and agricultural experts tend to be reluctant to use Eucalyptus due to concerns about non-decomposability and acidity. Our experiment pursued two aims: (1) investigate the decomposability of Eucalyptus leaves for composting and (2) exchanging on the composting process with local farmers and agricultural experts in Ambasel Woreda (Ethiopia). Our results show that green eucalyptus leaves can be decomposed completely when combined with other ingredients and following proper procedures. After participating in the experiment and observing the successful decomposition of Eucalyptus leaves, farmers and agricultural experts were convinced of their viability for composting. The experiment highlights the potential of Eucalyptus leaves as a sustainable, all year round and locally available resource for composting.