Physico‑chemical, microbial and phytotoxicity evaluation of composts from sorghum, finger millet and soybean straws

dc.creatorJagadabhi, P.S.
dc.creatorWani, S.P.
dc.creatorKaushal, M.
dc.creatorPatil, M.
dc.creatorVemula, A.K.
dc.creatorRathore, A.
dc.date2019-09
dc.date2019-09-04T15:21:12Z
dc.date2019-09-04T15:21:12Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T14:52:32Z
dc.descriptionPurpose 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.formatapplication/pdf
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/103493
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/89190
dc.languageen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceJagadabhi, 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.subjectstraw
dc.subjectcomposts
dc.subjectphytotoxicity
dc.subjectmaturity
dc.subjectseed germination
dc.titlePhysico‑chemical, microbial and phytotoxicity evaluation of composts from sorghum, finger millet and soybean straws
dc.typeJournal Article

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