Advanced Optimization of Compost Utilization from Organic Waste Streams for Enhanced Nutrient Cycling and Soil Fertility Improvement in Smallholder Organic Farms

The optimization of compost utilization from organic waste streams plays a critical role in enhancing nutrient cycling and soil fertility, particularly in smallholder organic farms. This study explores the integration of advanced technologies and methodologies to improve compost production and application. Automated Compost Turners are employed to enhance compost quality by ensuring optimal decomposition, while Variable Rate Technology (VRT) is used to apply compost with precision across varying soil zones. The implementation of Multi-Sensor Data Fusion and LoRaWAN enables real-time monitoring of soil conditions, providing data-driven insights for informed decision-making. Additionally, NB-IoT ensures reliable connectivity for IoT devices across the farm, facilitating seamless integration of monitoring and control systems. Finally, the strategies of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) are applied to optimize compost application in terms of soil fertility and crop productivity. The data analysis confirmed that Footprinting gave a considerable positive effect on soil fertility, and the Soil Fertility Improvement Ratio (SFIR) increased by an average of 5.6% among different zones. The Nutrient Balance Index showed a fair improvement of 6.8%>, and Compost Utilization Efficiency reached an impressive 87%>. Furthermore, equivalent values of the Soil Nutrient Response Coefficient (SNRC) of 0.88 were calculated, which verifies adequate nutrient absorption. The results reported the possibility of implementing the synergistic combination of advanced technologies for effective utilization of compost, thereby maximizing the sustainability and productivity of smallholder organic farming.