Abstract

Haider Khan, Z. Ali, F. Azam, and Mukhtiar Ali

Agro-waste material like crop residues of maize, chickpea, sorghum/barley, mustards, mungbean, sesbania, autumn leaves lawn clippings, and pruned products of trees and field weeds have been chopped and mixed in layers in a pit, pile and above the ground single /multi-bin composters. Garden soil or liquid culture of some selective compost activating fungi (Trichoderma harzianum) has been sprayed upon the composting feed as inoculums for rapid composting. The composting material was maintained regularly by periodic forking (fortnightly) and water application to maintain the moisture level of the composting feed at 40%.Temperature of the composting material was regularly monitored with the help of compost thermometer. Compost samples were collected for different analysis including moisture, total carbon, organic carbon, total N, inorganic N, organic N, phosphorus, potash, trace elements and humates content. The prepared compost is being evaluated for its effect on the yield and quality parameters of vegetables (Tomato, Potato, Gobi, Vegetable pea, Onion and Shamla merch), ornamental plants (Araucaria & Palm) and Peach nursery. These studies revealed that 1 % compost application significantly enhanced the yield and quality of all the tested vegetables. Compost applied up to 5% significantly increased the growth parameters of the ornamental plants. During composting of agricultural wastes, a sizeable heat was generated which reached as high as 90oC within 4-5 days. This heat was utilized for heating of water and such type of energy free facility by the microbial degradation of agricultural waste was termed as a Bio-geyser. This kind of bio-geyser is environment friendly, and provides hot water in winter and also produce quality compost, a slow release organic fertilizer for nurseries and horticultural crops. On experimental basis, a pilot scale modest bio-geyser facility adjacent to NIFA mosque that uses lignocelluloses and an assortment of effective microorganisms has been established. The facility is providing 1000 liters warm water (40-50oC) to100-150 persons per day for ablution. Since it will be the first ever bio-geyser constructed in the country, therefore, NIFA plans to patent this technology.