Biodegradation of Sugarcane Trash with Agro-Industrial and Farm Wastes for Value Added Organic Byproduct

Abstract

Arable land degradation, agro-waste management coupled with irrational use of chemicals has led to concern about soil and environmental health. The sugarcane crop generates lot of vegetative biomass after harvesting, which is burnt in field creating environmental implications. A research trail was conducted at green house premises department of soil and environment SAU Tandojam. The waste byproducts of the sugarcane trash was blended with pressmud, poultry and goat manure to have decomposed nutrient rich product subjected to 130 days decomposition/composting. Results revealed that the pH had significant relationship with organic substrate decomposition used for the compost preparation blended with sugarcane trash. The organic carbon loss or mineralization showed great variability and had relationship with the substrate used and decomposition time for a finished product. The more organic carbon (31.80%) was recorded for Cspm and (31.80%) C was found for Cpm. Compost product was rich in carbon potassium values corresponding (4.6%) for Cspm and (2.7%) K for Cgm. It was concluded that sugarcane trash can best be blended with sugarcane press mud of agro-industrial waste. Further it could be recycled with agro-industrial waste for waste management, reduce pollution, chemical fertilizers and used as organic soil amendment.

Keywords

• sugarcane trash
• composting
• soil amendment
• organic carbon