4. BIO-COMPOSTING
Composting is the process of converting all biodegradable wastes into organic manure. In composting process certain input should be made into waste to convert the process in a short time. The major input in the compost process is microbial inoculant for composting. The microbial inoculant contains microbial consortia with different microorganism targeting different substrates. The promising microbes, which are identified capable of producing compost from different biodegradable waste materials are Pleurotus, Trichoderma, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Streptomyces. The microbial consortia containing these microbes, are blended in a lignite based material and being sold as biomineralizer. Application of biomineralizer to the waste material quickly accelerates the composting process. Being a source of nitrogen and microorganisms as well, Cowdung is the other important input for composting.
In the biocompost process, temperature is raised upto 70ºC in the initial days to kill all pathogenic organisms and weed seeds. Maintenance of moisture by 60 % and reduce the particle size upto 2 cm are the important process in biocomposting. Turning the compost material once in 10 days will enhance the composting process. All biodegradable waste will be put into biocompost process to get good organic manure.
Why should we go for Biofertilisers
The use of biocompost in agriculture, sometimes termed as organic farming has a number of advantages over the traditional use of chemical fertilizers. Besides being a solution for solid waste management, especially the biodegradable wastes the practice renders better crop quality too.
It reduces the health risk arises out of the chemicals present in chemical fertilizers. Also, composts preserve the food value and nutrients better in the crops and soil respectively, as this involves natural procedure of nutrient enrichment. Therefore, biocomposting supports the sustainable agriculture. Moreover, it maintains a congruence between agriculture and animal husbandry. It has been found that, use of biocomposts do not disturb the nutrient cycle or ecological balance of the soil, rather it may be useful in replenishment of nutrients in eroded or degraded soils also. Being motivated on the advantages, biocomposting is gaining importance day by day, and quite a good number of company have now started commercialized production of the Biocomposts.
Description of A few commercially used Biocompost technology
VERMICOMPOST TECHNOLOGY
Vermicompost technology is converting all biodegradable waste into nutrient rich organic manure with the help of composting earthworm. Earthworms are efficient in digesting the waste and get as vermicompost, which contains high amount of nutrients, beneficial microorganism viz., Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria, growth promoting substances viz., indole acetic acid and gibberelic acid. Vermicompost contains 1.5 % nitrogen, 0.5 % phosphorus and 0.8 % potassium in addition it contains other micronutrients. Vermicompost is the single source of all the nutrients required for the crop. Vermicompost also contains 10 % organic carbon and when continuous application of vermicompost increased the organic matter content of soil significantly.
Apart from nutrient addition and improvement of organic matter, vermicompost addition to soil improve the physical properties of soil such as soil porosity, soil aggregation, water and nutrient conservation in the soil. A farmer can produce his own vermicompost from the biodegradable waste generated in his own farm and need not spend extra money to purchase vermicompost. In addition, farmers will get additional revenue through sale of earthworm, which increases the population by 30 % in one vermicompost production cycle.
Alike any other biocompost, Vermicompost is also an ecofriendly natural fertilizer prepared from biodegradable organic wastes and is free from chemical inputs. But the added advantage of the type over others is its efficiency and simplicity of production. Any farmer, can by himself produce the compost, if wishes to do so.
These values are subject to variation depending upon the type of organic waste.
Source: Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh
TREATED PULP AND PAPER MILL EFFLUENT AS GREEN MANURE
Pulp and paper industry is one of the largest consumers of water. Nearly 80 % of fresh water used in the paper and pulp mill is discharged as effluent containing organic and inorganic pollutants requiring treatment and disposal. The treated paper mill effluent application to lands is considered to be an innovative approach for its disposal. By this, the effluent is not only kept out of the surface waters, but also implies in recycling where pollutants become nutrients for plant growth, thus reducing the pollution problems.
A field experiment at Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Paper Ltd. has revealed that, proper treatment can make the effluent useful as green manure for agricultural lands, which will act both as a source of nutrients and water as well. Though there were perceptible changes in soil pH, EC, available NPK, exchangeable cations, exchangeable sodium per cent (ESP) and sodium absorption ration (SAR), there was no detrimental effect due to sodium either on soil or plants (yield & quality) in sandy loam soils with good drainage facilities. Many varieties of Rice, Maize, Sunflower, Ground nut, Sugarcane, Soya bin and fodder grasses were found suitable for cultivation when irrigated with treated paper and pulp industry effluents.