Comparative Analysis of Biochar with Co-composting of Organic Manure

Abstract:

The composting is one of the pre-eminent recycling technologies of biodegradable waste that produces

an augmented nutrient source of manure. Further, a carbon-rich product, the biochar, amended in

composting with agricultural wastes aids in nutrient enhancement of soil health and microbial taxa in soil.

This process is potentially a cost effective, eco-friendly technique that degrades the organic wastes and

transform to valuable manure which is used in soil application and thereby a soil nutrient enhancer. In

this study, initially the potential Biochar Amended Compost (BAC) was evaluated from various compost

treatments. The fungal species, Pleurotus ostreatus stimulated the lignin degradation of the organic wastes

which is used in all the treatments throughout compost progression. Among them, the wood biochar

compost (Compost bed A) treatment was characterised to be potentially best with nutrients during the

initial and final stages of composting followed by Coconut shell biochar compost (Compost bed B) and

rice husk biochar compost (Compost bed C). Moreover, the metagenomic study revealed the microbial

taxa of the treatment with wood biochar compost with a higher diversity of species in the final compost

which extracted the most promising strains of microbial communities that is responsible for the plant

growth, plant growth promoting hormones, anti pathogenitic, heavy metal resistance, lignin degradation,

degradation of aromatic compounds, biochemical functions (Photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, symbiosis,

denitrification etc.,) soil rhizosphere colonisers and other enzymes responsible for soil health and plant

growth. Thus, BAC is an appropriately valuable and cost effective approach for soil reclamation and

health. Besides, metagenomic study is a unique approach for the study of microbial strains which is the

most effective system of studying microbial community.