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.

Integrated Use of Co-Compost with Lignite Fly Ash on Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Certain Crops

A field experiment was conducted to know the response of crops to combined application of co compost and lignite fly ash. Field experiments were conducted in experimental farm (rice and maize) and farmers holding (groundnut and brinjal) to study the response of certain crops to the application of co composts and lignite fly ash grown in clay loam and sandy clay loam soil, respectively. The treatment consisted of Dairy Farm Waste + Crop Residues, Pressmud+ Crop Residues, Dairy Farm Waste + Crop Residues + LFA @5 t ha-1, Dairy Farm Waste + Crop Residues + LFA @10 t ha-1, Dairy Farm Waste + Crop Residues + LFA @15 t ha-1, Pressmud + crop residues + LFA @5 t ha-1, Pressmud + crop residues + LFA @10 t ha-1and Pressmud + crop residues + LFA @15 t ha-1 .The grain and straw yield in rice and maize, pod and haulm yield in groundnut and fruit yield of brinjal were recorded during harvest. Differences in yield of crops between the treatments indicate significantly different effects on soil fertility and crop yield after long-term fertilization. The uptake of nutrients increased linearly with levels of LFA tried and it was higher when it was applied with co compost of pressmud and crop residue. The addition of co composts alone or with graded dose of lignite fly ash significantly improved the physical properties of the soil.

​Vermiwash Prepared from Different Combination of Organic Sources to Improve Growth and Yield of Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] for Organic Agriculture

Background: Black gram (Vigna mungo) is one of the most important pulse crops grown throughout the country. It is hardy crop and fixes nitrogen in soil. Organic black gram fetch higher price in market i.e., Rs. 175 whereas other receive Rs. 120. Vermiwash, is one among the organic manures which has high potential to increase the crop growth and yield. Thus, present study aims to evaluate the influence of vermiwash prepared from different combination of organic sources on growth and yield of black gram. Methods: The field experiment was conducted during kharif, 2018 at Organic Farming Unit, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur, with nine treatments [T1= vermiwash from 100% cow dung, T2= vermiwash from 100% buffalo dung, T3= vermiwash from 50% cow dung + 25% dry farm waste + 25% green farm waste, T4= vermiwash from 50% buffalo dung + 25% dry farm waste + 25% green farm waste, T5= vermiwash from 90% green waste incubated with 10% cow dung, T6= vermiwash from 90% green waste incubated with 10% buffalo dung, T7= vermiwash from 90% dry waste incubated with 10% cow dung, T8= vermiwash from 90% dry waste incubated with 10% buffalo dung and T9= water spray (control)] and were replicated thrice in Randomize Block Design. Result: The result of experiment revealed that the application of vermiwash from 100% cow dung significant influence towards growth parameters and yield attributes thus achieved maximum seed yield, haulm yield and B:C ratio (2.3). On the basis of field performance, it may be concluded that the treatment T1(top dressing in two equal split application at the rate of 10% at initiation of flowering and 15 days after 1st spray) may be recommended as a better organic package of blackgram.