Title: Vermicomposting influences phosphorus microbiology leading to phosphorus enrichment in end product

Authors: N. Saha, Pranab Chattrejee, A. Sharma, G. Metiya, M. Halder, D. Mukherjee

Addresses: AICRP on Soil Test Crop Response Correlation, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani 741235, Nadia, West Bengal, India. ' Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur 741252, Nadia, West Bengal, India. ' Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur 741252, Nadia, West Bengal, India. ' Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur 741252, Nadia, West Bengal, India. ' Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur 741252, Nadia, West Bengal, India. ' Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur 741252, Nadia, West Bengal, India

Abstract: The investigation reveals the relative efficacy of composting techniques regarding phosphorus transformation of rice straw (RS) and water-hyacinth (WH). The recipe for each substrate: cow-dung:soil:FYM was in the ratio of 6:3:0.5:0.5. Vermicomposting of WH resulted in the highest proliferation of phosphate solubilising microorganisms (PSM) and their solubilising capacity (PSC) besides causing the maximum phosphatases activities, total and water soluble phosphorus (WSP) in addition to the lowest C:P ratio. Heap method was less effective than vermicomposting. Vermicomposting enhanced 10.6, 9.4 and 28.6% for total, WSP and PSC, respectively, over heap method as well as 26.2, 28.6 and 79.3%, respectively, over pit method. WH effectuated an increase of 17.2, 17.7, 16.2% for total, WSP and PSC, respectively over RS composting. The results, thus, indicate the superiority of WH vermicomposting for phosphorus enrichment in compost.

Keywords: vermicomposting; p-transformation; p-solubilising microorganisms; p-solubilising capacity; phosphatases; phosphorus microbiology; phosphorus enrichment; water hyacinth; rice straw; earthworms; composting.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2010.037273

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2010 Vol.10 No.3/4, pp.310 - 326

Published online: 01 Dec 2010 *

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