title: Effect of amendments on windrow composting of sugar industry pressmud.
abstract: Bioconversion of sugar and distillery industrial wastes with other biodegradables into enriched compost is an important possibility in need of research. In this paper, changes in temperature and physico-chemical (pH, NH4+-N, C/N ratio, CEC) parameters during windrow composting, related to biological stabilization of the compost, were studied. The rise in temperature, which occurred as composting progressed, was accompanied by an increase in NH4+-N and the passage of the thermophilic phase to mesophilic took place between 90 and 105 days. This overall pattern was observed in all composting mixes, whereby the concentrations of NH4+-N increased rapidly and then declined gradually over the course of monitoring pari passu with increase in NO3- -N. The C/N ratios of the composting mixes decreased substantially by the 90th day in full thermophilic phase and became comparatively stable later on. Addition of additives showed potential in improving the C/N ratios. Increases in cation exchange capacity (CEC) and the germination index value of a sensitive crop (Raphanus sativus) had value in establishing the optimum degree of maturity. The rise and fall of temperature and changes in NH4+-N concentrations, C/N ratios and CEC over time proved to be reliable indicators of the progress of the composting process for establishing biological stability and compost maturity.
authors.affiliation: Agronomy and Soils Division, Rubber Research Institute of India, Kottayam, Kerala 686 009, India. sathisha@rubberboard.org.in
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Satisha
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Devarajan
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002482:Cellulose; D031806:Eichhornia; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D018525:Germination; D007220:Industrial Waste; D007474:Ion Exchange; D008031:Lignin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010710:Phosphates; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D031224:Raphanus / Q000254:growth & development; D031786:Saccharum; D012987:Soil; D013696:Temperature; D019287:Zinc Sulfate
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D007220:Industrial Waste; D009566:Nitrates; D010710:Phosphates; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D012987:Soil; C507903:coir; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D002244:Carbon; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin; C027433:bagasse; D009584:Nitrogen