African Journal of
Microbiology Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0808
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 5224

Article in Press

Performance of microbial inoculants and mineral amendments for producing high quality compost from recycling plant residues

Mohamed Ahmed El-Howeity and Shaban Shehata El-Bohy

  •  Received: 11 July 2015
  •  Accepted: 30 March 2016
The present work aimed at studying the use of some bioaccelerator, namely Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma harzianum, Serratia species, Pseudomonas fluorescence and Bacillus polymyxa, together with mineral materials, that is, dolomite, feldspar, rock phosphate, bentonite, and elemental sulfur, for production of a high quality compost at a reduced time of processing. Plant residues composting 40% rice straw + 40% maize stalks + 15% fruit residues + 5% medicinal plant residues were subjected to the composting process. Four compost Piles were arranged as follows: Pile 1: plant residues + 10% farmyard manure. Pile 2: plant residues + 5% farmyard manure + mineral additions, Pile 3: plant residues + 5% farmyard manure + biofertilizers and Pile 4: plant residues + 5% farmyard manure + microbial inoculants + mineral additions. The experiment continued under aerobic conditions up to 90 days. The Piles temperature reached its maximum after 15 days and then dropped gradually to resemble the ambient one at maturity. Microbial inoculants accelerated the composting process and raised the Pile temperature within three days, as compared with the other treatments. Also, the highest temperature degree, that is, 63°C was recorded for Pile 3. Furthermore, bulk density, contents of total macro and micronutrients, and humification process (rate and index) were increased with progressing of the composting process, while contents of organic matter, organic carbon and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio decreased. Pile 4 achieved higher bulk density values and lowest contents of organic carbon, organic matter and C/N ratio. Incorporation of mineral materials increased the contents of total phosphate, potassium and trace elements, especially in Piles 2 and 4.

Keywords: Recycling, enrichment bioaccelators, agriculture wastes, manures, decomposition.