Sajid, U.; Aslam, S.; Hussain, A.; Mumtaz, T.; Kousar, S. Biofortified Pressmud Compost for Improved Nitrogen and Phosphorus Content Employing Bacillus strains. Preprints2024, 2024090062. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.0062.v1
APA Style
Sajid, U., Aslam, S., Hussain, A., Mumtaz, T., & Kousar, S. (2024). Biofortified Pressmud Compost for Improved Nitrogen and Phosphorus Content Employing Bacillus strains. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.0062.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Sajid, U., Tamseela Mumtaz and Safina Kousar. 2024 "Biofortified Pressmud Compost for Improved Nitrogen and Phosphorus Content Employing Bacillus strains" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.0062.v1
Abstract
Pressmud, a by-product of sugarcane processing, is typically disposed of through incineration or landfilling, though it has considerable potential in organic agriculture. This study explored the com-posting of pressmud through bioaugmentation using specific bacterial strains. Two experimental setups were created: E2 with a cellulolytic and phosphorus-solubilizing strain, Bacillus amyloliquefa-ciens-ASK11, and E3 with a nitrogen-fixing strain, Bacillus megaterium-ASNF3. A control setup (E5) was also maintained without bacterial augmentation. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents were measured using the Kjeldahl and Olsen methods, respectively, while Fourier-Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed compost maturity. Results indicated that the Bacillus-enhanced composts in E2 and E3 significantly increased the nitrogen(49.27% and 91.23%) and phosphorus contents(129% and 83.85%), respectively, compared to the control with only 13.62% N and 65% P contents after 60 days of the pressmud compost maturity.. Additionally, organic matter decomposi-tion improved by 49-50% in the bioaugmented setups after 60 days. FTIR analysis revealed organic phosphate peaks and P-O-C stretching bands at 1025 cm-1 in the E2 compost, while a nitrogen vi-bration band at 3849 cm-1 in E3 indicated significantly higher nitrogen content compared to the control. The Bacillus-enriched pressmud compost not only accelerated the composting process but also enhanced nutrient levels, positioning it as a promising biofertilizer for rehabilitating barren lands.
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Sustainable Science and Technology
Copyright:
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