Abstract

Begasse pith (BP) is solid waste discharged from bagasse based paper and and pulp industry. It contains high quality of cellulose and lignin. An attempt has been made to convert the bagasse pith into biomanure for land application using activated sludge (AS) and ETP sludge (ETPS) which are solid wastes obtained from the same factory rich in essential plant-nutrient. The AS and ETPS were mixed with BP in different properties to maintain the optimum C: N ratio and nutritional requirement of microorganisms during composting. In order to enhance the composing process. an external source of inocula viz.. Pleurotus sajur-caju (250kg). Trichoderma viride (0.4%) and a new bacterial culture. EM 4 (500ml) were added per 100 kg of substrate. The NPK were increased invariably in all treatments and the C/N ratio was reduced to a level suitable for land application within a period of 10 weeks. Mixing BP with AS and ETPS in 2:1:1 ratio produced a better quality compost than mixing BP with AS at 1:1 ratio.

Keywords: Bioconversion. Paper mill solid wastes.