Comparative evaluation of leaf litter composting methods in homesteads
Keywords:
compost, C, N ratio, leaf litters, lignin, microbes, qualityAbstract
A major portion of the nutrients absorbed by trees are returned to soil through litterfall and decomposition. Leaf litters in soil take a considerably long time for decay and release of the entrapped nutrients. An experiment on the effectiveness of different composting methods in hastening the decomposition of litters was attempted in mango and cashew leaf litters during March to November 2018 at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram. The composting methods included co-composting with poultry manure, composting inoculum + vermicomposting, glyricidia + vermicomposting and natural decomposition. The results of the study revealed that pre treatment of the leaf litters with composting inoculum followed by vermicomposting was the most suitable technology for hastening the decomposition of cashew and mango leaf litters (144 and 110 days respectively), on par with glyricidia + vermicomposting. The percentage recovery was higher in the treatment including glyricidia in both litters. Among the two species composting was more rapid in mango compared to cashew, bringing to focus the influence of litter quality on the rate of decay.References
Binkley, D. and Giardina, C. 1997. Nitrogen fixation in tropical forest plantations. In: Nambiar, E. K. S. and Brown, A. G. (eds), Management of Soil, Nutrients and Water in Tropical Plantation Forests. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, pp. 297-337.
Gajalakshmi, S., Ramasamy, E. V., and Abbasi, S. A. 2005. Composting- vermicomposting of leaf litter ensuing from the trees of mango (Mangifera indica). Bioresour. Technol. 96: 1057-1061.
Guerra-Rodriguez, E., Varzquez, M., and Ravina, M. D. 2001. Dynamics of physicochemical and biological parameters during the co- composting of chest nut burr/ leaf litter with solid poultry manure. J. Sci. Food Agric. 81: 648-652.
Jackson, M. L. 1973. Soil Chemical Analysis (2nd Edition). Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi, 498p.
Johnson, L. F. and Curl, E. A. 1972. Methods for Research in the Ecology of Soil Borne Plant Pathogen. Burgers publication Co., Minneapolis, 247p.
Maheswari, U. N. and Anusuya, N. 2012. Conversion of leaf litter into compost by effective microorganisms (EM), Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger and their effect on growth parameters of Vigna radiate Linn. Int. J. Chem. Pharma. Sci. 3 (3): 1-3.
Nagar, R., Tiwari, D., Shouche, S., Jain, S. K., Bhati P. 2018. Depletion in the biomass of floral waste-cattle dung mixtures during vermicomposting. Int. J. Recent Sci. Res. 9(11): 29735-29738.
Qu, H., Pan, C., Zhao, X., Lian, J., Wang, S., Wang, X., and Liu, L. 2019. Initial lignin content is an indicator of predicting leaf litter decomposition and the mixed effects of two perennial gramineous plants in a desert steppe, a five year long term study. Land Degrad. Dev. 30(14): 1645-1654.
Rahman, M. M., Tsukamoto, J., Rahman, M., Yoneyama, A., and Mostafa, K. M. 2013. Lignin and its effects on litter decomposition in forest ecosystems. Chem. Ecol. 45: 345-347.
Sadasivan, S. and Manickam, A. 1992. Biochemical methods for Agricultural Sciences. Wiley Eastern Limited, New Delhi, 270p.
Singh, A. and Sharma, S. 2002. Composting of a crop residue through treatment with microorganisms and subsequent vermicomposting. Bioresour. Technol. 85: 107-111.
Thomas, G. V., Prabhu, S. R., Reeny, M. Z., and Bopaiah, B. M. 1998 Evaluation of lignocellulosic biomass from coconut palm as substrate for cultivation of Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Singer. World J. Microbiol. Biotech. 14: 879-882.
Thomas, G. V., Palaniswami, C., Prabhu, S. R., Gopal, M., and Gupta, A. 2013. Co- composting of coconut coirpith with solid poultry manure. Curr. Sci. 104: 246-250.
Tuomela, M., Vikman, M., Hatakka, A. and Itavaara, M., 2000. Biodegradation of lignin in a compost environment: a review. Bioresour. Technol. 72(2): 169-183.
Vasanthi, K., Chairman, K., and Singh, R. 2013. Vermicomposting of leaf litter ensuing from the trees of mango (Mangifera indica) and guava (Psidium guajava) leaves. Int. J. Adv. Res. 1(3): 33-38.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright © 2001-11 Kerala Agricultural University. Some rights reserved. This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by the Kerala Agricultural University and the following terms and conditions apply to their use; Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Permission may be sought directly from the Editor, Journal of Tropical Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture,, Kerala Agricultural University, KAU PO, Thrissur 680 656, Kerala, India. (Phone: +91-487-2438325; Fax +91-487-2371040; E-mail: editor.jta@kau.in. Derivative works Subscribers may reproduce tables of contents or prepare lists of articles including abstracts for internal circulation within their institution. Permission of the Publisher is required for resale or distribution outside the institution. Permission of the Publisher is required for all other derivative works, including compilations and translations. Notice No responsibility is assumed by the Publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products, liability, negligence, or otherwise, or from any use of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein.