Evaluation of quality of municipal and agricultural waste under aerobic and anaerobic composting

Studies were conducted at Regional Research Station, College of Agriculture, Wadura, SKUAST-K, to evaluate the quality of municipal and agricultural waste under aerobic and anaerobic composting. Composting methods with enrichment techniques were adopted with 2 methods (Aerobic & Anaerobic) and 7 treatments in each method. The samples of the aerobic were drawn after 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after composting and in anaerobic compost samples were drawn after 150 days of compost. Effect of bio-inoculum (pleurotus sajorcaju), chemical amendments (2% P2O5 & 1% N) and method of composting on OC, COD, CEC, C/N ratio, PH, EC and total nutrient status during composting was determined in Aerobic and Anaerobic composts. The OC, COD, C/N ratio decreased significantly during maturation of the compost irrespective of treatments and method of composting. High OC was recorded in 100 % USW compost in both the methods. It ranged from 20.15 % to 24.0 % in aerobic matured compost and from 21.5 to 23.25 in anaerobic matured compost. 100 % AW compost had lower C:N ratio(18.65 and 17.47 in aerobic and anaerobic composts, respectively) than 100 % USW compost (19.20 to 18.02 in aerobic and anaerobic compost, respectively). Whereas the Nitrogen content was increased from 0.78 % to 1.29 % in 100 % urban waste compost and 0.75 % to 1.23 % in 100 % agricultural compost. Rock phosphate treated composts in both methods enhanced the total P content with maximum of 0.89 % in both aerobic and anaerobic composts. There was gradual increase of total K content from initial status of 0.44 to 0.64 %.