Vol. 9, Special Issue 9, Part Z (2025)

Effect of liquid bioinoculants, organic and chemical additives on rate of decomposition and quality of sugarcane trash compost

Author(s):

Pradhan JA, Nalawade SV, Phalke DH, Jadhav AC, Deshmukh SU, Sharma ND and Kale MS

Abstract:

Sugarcane trash is a major agricultural residue generated in large quantities after harvest. Due to its high lignocellulosic content, low nitrogen availability and wide C: N ratio, its natural decomposition is extremely slow. The present investigation was undertaken during 2024-25 at the Department of Plant Pathology and Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture, Pune. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with seven treatments and three replications. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of liquid bioinoculants (Trichoderma spp. including T. asperellum, T. harzianum, and T. hamatum), organic additives such as cow dung slurry and chemical fertilizers (Urea, DAP, MAP, SSP) on the rate of decomposition, microbial population dynamics, and overall compost quality of sugarcane trash. The study recorded observations on key decomposition parameters such as temperature fluctuations, moisture content and Trichoderma population. Physical characteristics of compost, such as colour, particle size, texture, and weight loss during composting, were also assessed periodically at 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, and 120 days. Among the treatments, spray of 10 kg Urea + 5 kg Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) (18:46:0) + Spray of filtered cow dung slurry @ 5 lit. + liquid bioinoculant Trichoderma spp. (T. asperellum, T. harzianum and T. hamatum) @ 1 lit. per ton of sugarcane trash, emerged as the most effective strategy for efficient and rapid composting of sugarcane trash, achieving the highest microbial activity, as indicated by highest Trichoderma population (38.33 × 10⁵ cfu/g compost), maximum temperature (50.24 °C) and superior compost quality with very dark gray colour, superior particle size through 4mm sieve (89.55 g) and maximum reduction in weight at maturity (7.11 kg). This approach not only addresses the issue of trash management but also recycles nutrients back into the soil, improving soil health, reducing dependency on synthetic fertilizers, and supporting sustainable agriculture.

Pages: 2054-2062  |  41 Views  15 Downloads

How to cite this article:
Pradhan JA, Nalawade SV, Phalke DH, Jadhav AC, Deshmukh SU, Sharma ND and Kale MS. Effect of liquid bioinoculants, organic and chemical additives on rate of decomposition and quality of sugarcane trash compost. Int. J. Adv. Biochem. Res. 2025;9(9S):2054-2062. DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2025.v9.i9Sz.5804