Comparative Study on Effectiveness of Various Compost Cultures on Composting of Farm Wastes

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate effectiveness of various microbial compost cultures for aerobic-composting of farm wastes. Place of Study: Three trials were conducted on farmer’s field and one at Krishi Vigyana Kendra (KVK) Ramanagara district. Methodology: During the composting process, days to compost, maturity in terms of changes in temperature, pH and composting dynamics were studied. Compost quality parameters such as macro and micro-nutrients and C:N ratio and stability of the compost were recorded at different intervals. Results: The results showed that the compost culture from IIHR and UASB had taken 90 and 105 days respectively, for complete stabilization; further had relatively higher temperature and pH during the initial phase and reached ambient condition at maturity stage, C:N ratio has showed gradual reduction from 39.65 to 15.98 and 39.75 to 13.66% respectively in IIHR and UASB cultures, they also had high macro, secondary and micro nutrients(IIHR-1.55% N, 0.93% P, 0.95% K, 4.39% Ca, 0.69% Mg, 0.19%S, 930 ppm Fe, 10ppm Cu, 305ppm Mn, 82ppm Zn, 26 ppm B UASB-1.59% N, 0.91% P, 0.97% K, 4.25%Ca, 0.88% Mg, 0.21%S, 948 ppm Fe, 9ppm Cu, 325ppm Mn, 93ppm Zn, 28ppm B) content and resulted in more compost production ( 3.3 and 2.8 t/year, respectively) with B:C ratio of 6.67 and 7.25 respectively when compared to NCOF (T3) and farmers practice (T4). Conclusion: Aerobic-composting of farm waste using microbial culture of UASB and IIHR proved to be an effective technology that aids to convert organic farm waste into valuable organic manure with an advantage of minimizing the environmental contamination associated with burning of residues.

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Sprouting of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench): Effect of Drying Treatment on Protein and Starch Features

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10020407 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 407 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mia Marchini ◽

Alessandra Marti ◽

Claudia Folli ◽

Barbara Prandi ◽

Tommaso Ganino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Production ◽

Cost Effective ◽

High Exposure ◽

Effective Technology ◽

Drying Treatment ◽

Higher Temperature ◽

Lower Temperature ◽

The One ◽

Drying Conditions ◽

Sorghum Bicolor L

The nutritional and physicochemical properties of sorghum proteins and starch make the use of this cereal for food production challenging. Sprouting is a cost-effective technology to improve the nutritional and functional profile of grains. Two drying treatments were used after sorghum sprouting to investigate whether the drying phase could improve the protein and starch functionalities. Results showed that the drying treatment at lower temperature/longer time (40 °C for 12 h) extended the enzymatic activity that started during sprouting compared to the one performed at higher temperature/shorter time (50 °C for 6 h). An increased protein hydrolysis and water- and oil-holding capacity were found in the flour obtained by the former treatment. Higher protein matrix hydrolysis caused high exposure of starch to enzymes, thus increasing its digestibility, while worsening the technological functionality. Overall, modulating drying conditions could represent a further way, in addition to sprouting, to improve sorghum flour’s nutritional profile.

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Data set of smallholder farm households in banana-coffee-based farming systems containing data on farm households, agricultural production and use of organic farm waste

Data in Brief ◽

10.1016/j.dib.2021.106833 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

pp. 106833

Author(s):

Anika Reetsch ◽

Kai Schwärzel ◽

Gerald Kapp ◽

Christina Dornack ◽

Juma Masisi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Production ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Farm Households ◽

Data Set ◽

Organic Farm ◽

Smallholder Farm ◽

On Farm ◽

Farm Waste

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Organic Farm Waste and Municipal Sludge

Handbook of Bioenergy Crop Plants ◽

10.1201/b11711-36 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 747-792

Author(s):

Milenko Roš ◽

Gregor Zupančič

Keyword(s):

Municipal Sludge ◽

Organic Farm ◽

Farm Waste

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Quality of dried banana produced from three cultivars 'Prata-Anã', 'FHIA-18'and 'BRS Platina' under different irrigation levels

Australian Journal of Crop Science ◽

10.21475/ajcs.19.13.03.p986 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 ((03) 2019) ◽

pp. 340-347

Author(s):

Maristella Martineli ◽

Kennia Karolline Gonçalves Pereira ◽

João Rafael Prudêncio dos Santos ◽

Ariane Castricini ◽

Polyanna Mara de Oliveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Purchase Intention ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Maturity Stage ◽

Hot Air ◽

Forced Air ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Physical And Chemical ◽

Irrigation Levels

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different levels of irrigation on the quality parameters involved in the dried-bananas production from 3 different cultivars. The experimental design was a completely randomized factorial 3 x 3, with three genotypes of bananas (Prata-Anã, FHIA-18 and BRS Platina) produced in the semi-arid region of Minas Gerais.) and three irrigation levels (50, 75 and 100% of crop evapotranspiration - ETC), with three replications. For the processing purpose, the fruits were selected at the maturity stage 6. Then they sanitized in hypochlorite of sodium solution at 100 mg L-1, peeled and dehydrated through the drying convective method with hot air, in dryer with forced air, in dryer with forced air circulation at 65ºC for 24 hours. The dried bananas were evaluated according to the following physical and chemical aspects: moisture, length, diameter, firmness, color (brightness, chroma and ºHue), soluble solids and titratable acidity, and sensory characteristics: purchase intention and acceptance. The humidity, length, diameter, firmness, color and acidity of dried bananas were influenced by the different studied irrigation levels. In the sensory evaluation, the best result regarding appearance, color, texture and flavor requirements was observed in banana processed from 'Prata-Anã' irrigated with the total level of water (100%). The dried banana processed from 'BRS Platina' was the least accepted in the sensory tests.

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Thermal and Nonthermal Factors Affecting Survival of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in Animal Manure–Based Compost Mixtures

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-14-111 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 77 (9) ◽

pp. 1512-1518 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

M. C. ERICKSON ◽

J. LIAO ◽

L. MA ◽

X. JIANG ◽

M. P. DOYLE

Keyword(s):

Listeria Monocytogenes ◽

Fluorescent Protein ◽

C:N Ratio ◽

Initial Moisture Content ◽

Swine Manure ◽

Field Application ◽

Potential Contribution ◽

Pathogen Inactivation ◽

Aerobic Composting ◽

Pathogen Populations

Reduction of enteric pathogens in animal manures before field application is essential for mitigating the risk of foodborne illness associated with produce. Aerobic composting of manures has been advocated as an effective treatment for reducing pathogen populations, and heat is a major factor contributing to pathogen inactivation. This study was initiated to determine the potential contribution of both thermal and nonthermal (pH, volatile acids, and ammonia) factors to pathogen inactivation during aerobic composting in bioreactors for mixtures containing manure from various sources (dairy, chicken, and swine). The test mixtures were formulated with an initial moisture content of 60% and a C:N ratio of 20:1, using straw and cottonseed meal as amendments. Mixtures were then inoculated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes labeled with green fluorescent protein at initial populations of ca. 107 CFU/g. Three replicate trials of each treatment were conducted. Temperatures within the bioreactors were recorded at 30-min intervals, and duplicate samples were withdrawn daily from two sampling locations within the bioreactor. Significant regression models were derived relating decreases in pathogen populations to the degree of heat generated in the mixture (cumulative heat) and the pH of the mixture on the day before the pathogen losses were calculated (P < 0.0002). Although pathogens in swine manure compost mixtures were inactivated by the third day of composting, very little heat was generated in these mixtures, which were characterized by significantly higher levels of volatile acids compared with the other two compost mixtures. Therefore, volatile acids could help achieve pathogen inactivation when temperatures are too low such as when heat is lost too quickly at the surface of static compost piles or during winter composting.

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Variation in Morphological and Quality Parameters in Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Bulb Influenced by Different Photoperiod, Temperature, Sowing and Harvesting Time

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants9020155 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 155 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Muhammad Jawaad Atif ◽

Bakht Amin ◽

Muhammad Imran Ghani ◽

Muhammad Ali ◽

Zhihui Cheng

Keyword(s):

Abiotic Factors ◽

Soluble Sugar ◽

Growth Period ◽

Sowing Date ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Plant Age ◽

Bulb Formation ◽

Garlic Bulb ◽

Soluble Solid ◽

Higher Temperature

Photoperiod (light) and temperature as abiotic factors having significant impact on the garlic bulb morphology and quality. In various bulb plants including garlic, bulbing is affected by photoperiod, temperature, sowing date and the plant age. In this backdrop experiments were performed to understand the effect of different photoperiods (10 h/14 h, 12 h/12 h and 14 h/10 h (light/dark)), temperatures (25 °C/18 °C and 30 °C/20 °C (light/dark)), sowing dates (D0801: 1st August, D0901: 1st September and D1001: 1st October) and plant ages (A80, A60 and A40: 80, 60 and 40 days after planting) on garlic cultivars viz; G103, G024 and G2011-5. Parameters including morphological (plant height, fresh weight and pseudostem diameter), bulb attributes (diameter, weight, height and bulbing index), growth period and bulb quality related traits (total soluble solid (TSS), contents of soluble protein, soluble sugar, total sugar, glucose, sucrose, fructose, starch, total phenol and total flavonoid) were assayed. Longer photoperiod (14 h), higher temperature (30 °C), early sowing (D0801) and maximum plant age (A80) had maximum morphological and bulb quality related traits for cv. G103. These results showed that early sowing, maximum plant age, longer photoperiod and higher temperature are important for garlic bulb formation and quality. Moreover, the regulation of garlic bulb morphology and quality is achievable over the switch of sowing date, plant age, light and growth temperature.

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Ripening Stage Affects the Quality of Fresh and Dehydrated Pineapples (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) cv. Mauritius in Sri Lanka

Sustainable Food Production ◽

10.18052/www.scipress.com/sfp.8.29 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 29-37

Author(s):

B.A.M.S. Kumara ◽

Kasun D.T. Hettige

Keyword(s):

Sensory Evaluation ◽

Sugar Content ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Ananas Comosus ◽

Maturity Stage ◽

Ripening Stage ◽

Dark Green ◽

Green Stage

Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) being a non climacteric fruit, its flavor and sugar content does not increase after harvesting. Thus, the maturity stage at harvesting affects the quality of pineapples after harvesting. This study was conducted to compare the quality parameters at four different ripening stages of pineapple (cultivar Mauritius-Queen type) and their effect on sensory properties after dehydration. Pineapples were harvested at dark green, 50% yellow, 75% yellow and 100% yellow color stages. Total Soluble Solid (TSS) content, Titratable Acidity (TA), TSS/TA ratio, pH, Fruit firmness, L*,a*,b* and hue angle were quantified in fresh samples and the appearance, texture, taste, odor, color and overall acceptability were evaluated in dehydrated samples at each ripening stage. The ripening stage had a significant (P<0.05) effect on selected quality parameters of fresh pineapples. Highest TSS content of 17.75±0.67 was observed in 100% yellow stage whereas the lowest was observed in dark green stage (15.75±0.48). In contrast, the highest firmness was observed in dark green stage (27.47±6.4 N) while the lowest was in 100% yellow stage (12.01±1.17 N). Lowest pH and highest TA were observed in dark green stage while the highest pH and lowest TA were observed in 100% yellow stage with values of 3.49±0.06, 0.82±0.02, 3.74±0.01 and 0.78±0.02, respectively. Sensory evaluation revealed that 75% yellow stage is the optimum ripening stage for dehydration of pineapple (cultivar Mauritius-Queen type) with significantly greater sensory evaluation ranks compared to other stages.

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Comparison of Performance between Organic Farming and Traditional Farming of Freshwater Prawn in Respect of Production and Economics

Journal of Environmental Science and Natural Resources ◽

10.3329/jesnr.v9i1.30301 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 109-116

Author(s):

MR Haque ◽

N Nahar ◽

R Pervin ◽

MA Samad

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

C:N Ratio ◽

Total Yield ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Freshwater Prawn ◽

Cost Ratio ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Traditional Farming ◽

Significant Difference

An experiment was conducted to compare the performance between traditional farming and organic farming of freshwater prawn in respect of production and economics. The experiment had two treatments, namely: Traditional (TT) and Organic (TO) with same stocking density (20000 juveniles ha-1) in triplicate. In treatment TO, formulated feed with locally available ingredients were used, and maize flour and bamboo branches were provided for maintaining C:N ratio to 20 and for developing periphyton, respectively. In treatment TT, only commercially available prawn feed was applied. No fertilizers or other types of chemicals or antibiotics were used in both treatments. There were no significant differences (P?0.05) of different water quality parameters between both treatments. Weight gain and specific growth rate (% body weight day-1) of prawn was significantly higher (P<0.05) in TO than TT treatment. Survival rate and feed conversion ratio of prawn did not vary significantly between both treatments. Highest total yield was obtained from TO treatment (511.41 kg ha-1 90 d-1) compared to TT treatment (426.57 kg ha-1 90 d-1). Net yield was also significantly higher in treatment TO (428.32 kg ha-1 90 d-1) than TT (347.77 kg ha-1 90-1). Although there was no significant difference in benefit-cost ratio between both treatments, totalreturn was significantly higher in TO than TT treatment.J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 9(1): 109-116 2016

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Manure Source and Age Affect Survival of Zoonotic Pathogens during Aerobic Composting at Sublethal Temperatures

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-14-288 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 78 (2) ◽

pp. 302-310 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

MARILYN C. ERICKSON ◽

CHRIS SMITH ◽

XIUPING JIANG ◽

IAN D. FLITCROFT ◽

MICHAEL P. DOYLE

Keyword(s):

C:N Ratio ◽

Animal Manure ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Pathogen Inactivation ◽

Aerobic Composting ◽

E Coli ◽

Initial Carbon ◽

Nitrogen Amendment ◽

Chicken Litter ◽

Different Sources

Heat is the primary mechanism by which aerobic composting inactivates zoonotic bacterial pathogens residing within animal manures, but at sublethal temperatures, the time necessary to hold the compost materials to ensure pathogen inactivation is uncertain. To determine the influence of the type of nitrogen amendment on inactivation of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in compost mixtures stored at sublethal temperatures, specific variables investigated in these studies included the animal source of the manure, the initial carbon/nitrogen (C:N) ratio of the compost mixture, and the age of the manure. Salmonella and L. monocytogenes were both inactivated more rapidly in chicken and swine compost mixtures stored at 20°C when formulated to an initial C:N ratio of 20:1 compared with 40:1, whereas a C:N ratio did not have an effect on inactivation of these pathogens in cow compost mixtures. Pathogen inactivation was related to the elevated pH of the samples that likely arises from ammonia produced by the indigenous microflora in the compost mixtures. Indigenous microbial activity was reduced when compost mixtures were stored at 30°C and drier conditions (<10% moisture level) were prevalent. Furthermore, under these drier conditions, Salmonella persisted to a greater extent than L. monocytogenes, and the desiccation resistance of Salmonella appeared to convey cross-protection to ammonia. Salmonella persisted longer in compost mixtures prepared with aged chicken litter compared with fresh chicken litter, whereas E. coli O157:H7 survived to similar extents in compost mixtures prepared with either fresh or aged cow manure. The different responses observed when different sources of manure were used in compost mixtures reveal that guidelines with times required for pathogen inactivation in compost mixtures stored at sublethal temperatures should be dependent on the source of nitrogen, i.e., type of animal manure, present.

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