Physico‑chemical, microbial and phytotoxicity evaluation of composts from sorghum, finger millet and soybean straws
| dc.creator | Jagadabhi, P.S. | |
| dc.creator | Wani, S.P. | |
| dc.creator | Kaushal, M. | |
| dc.creator | Patil, M. | |
| dc.creator | Vemula, A.K. | |
| dc.creator | Rathore, A. | |
| dc.date | 2019-09 | |
| dc.date | 2019-09-04T15:21:12Z | |
| dc.date | 2019-09-04T15:21:12Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-06-27T14:52:32Z | |
| dc.description | Purpose Composting is an environmentally sustainable alternative for bioconversion of agricultural residues into a nutrient-rich product that can enhance soil fertility/microbial diversity and thereby improve agricultural productivity. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the decomposition pattern of the agro-residues and assess the maturity and phytotoxicity of the composts obtained using physico-chemical, microbial and statistical analyses. The study also attempted to determine a threshold germination index (GI) to serve as a maturity index for the composts by conducting seed germination assays with tomato, chickpea and soybean seeds. Methods Three agricultural residues/straws of Eleusine coracana (finger millet), Sorghum bicolor (sorghum) and Glycine max (soybean) were subjected to aerobic composting for a period of 60 days to study the impact of saw dust on the decomposition pattern and the ultimate compost quality/characteristics. Results The results showed efficient decomposition pattern of the agricultural residues characterized by high temperature profiles (up to 70 °C), high microbial activity, a sharp decrease in C/N ratio of the composting materials, i.e., from an initial 41–61 to final 10–17. Conclusions Statistical evaluation of seed germination assays showed that only the compost obtained from sorghum straw + saw dust was mature and free from any phytotoxicity as all the tested seeds showed higher and statistically significant GIs. It was difficult to attribute a single threshold GI value to indicate maturity of compost and could not further be applied to different types of composts as different seeds responded differently to the same compost. | |
| dc.format | application/pdf | |
| dc.identifier | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/103493 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/89190 | |
| dc.language | en | |
| dc.publisher | Springer | |
| dc.rights | Open Access | |
| dc.source | Jagadabhi, P.S., Wani, S.P., Kaushal, M., Patil, M., Vemula, A.K. & Rathore, A. (2018). Physico-chemical, microbial and phytotoxicity evaluation of composts from sorghum, finger millet and soybean straws. International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture, 1-15. | |
| dc.subject | straw | |
| dc.subject | composts | |
| dc.subject | phytotoxicity | |
| dc.subject | maturity | |
| dc.subject | seed germination | |
| dc.title | Physico‑chemical, microbial and phytotoxicity evaluation of composts from sorghum, finger millet and soybean straws | |
| dc.type | Journal Article |
