Agricultural Waste

Waste produced by different agricultural operations. It includes manure as well as other wastes generated by farms, poultryhouses and slaughterhouses.

The improper management of cow dung, with its high moisture and readily biodegradable properties, is causing serious environmental problems. Composting and Biogas production are the best alternatives for treating this organic waste. In Pakistan, press mud is an agricultural waste. Sugarcane waste is a huge problem in Pakistan. These byproducts could be used in soils to improve soil quality and agronomic sustainability.

This study will investigate the composting of press mud with cow dung using bacterial and fugal strains that degrade cow dung. Aeration, temperature, moisture content, C/N ratio and other parameters will be monitored to control the other factors that influence composting. In order to get good compost in a relatively short period of time, you need a C/N ratio that is suitable. A perfect blend of raw materials will be prepared for the composting process. In order to keep moisture levels and maintain a good C/N, a composting heap would use a combination of press mud and cow dung in the correct ratio.

Microbial enzymes, as superior enzymes, will be isolated in this study. These bacteria are also known to produce enzymes that are crucial in degrading the plant biomass. The enzyme assay is performed after screening to test the degradation ability of selected enzyme. In order to further optimize parameters like temperature, pH level, Carbon source, nitrogen and agricultural waste, we will select the most efficient strain that produces large hydrolysis zones during screening.

To accelerate the composting process, an optimized strain is selected for introduction in the compost pile. The compost pile containing alternate layers of press mud or cow dung will be composted with selected isolates, individually and in a consortium. The compost would then be used in the field in different combinations with other fertilizers. This was done to measure the efficiency of compost.