Insights into rapid composting of paddy straw augmented with efficient microorganism consortium

Background The objective of this study was to develop aconsortium of effective microorganisms to hasten the compostingprocess and to reduce the composting period.Results An efficient microorganism (EM) consortium wasdeveloped using Candida tropicalis (Y6), Phanerochaetechrysosporium (VV18), Streptomyces globisporous (C3),Lactobacillus sp. and enriched photosynthetic bacterial inoculumfor rapid composting of paddy straw. Paddy straw wasamended with poultry droppings to narrow down its C:N ratiofor faster degradation. Compostingwas carried out in open pitswith EM consortium and compared with compost inoculant(CI) consisting of Aspergillus nidulans (ITCC 2011), Trichodermaviride (ITCC 2211), Phanerochaete chrysosporium(NCIM1073) and A. awamori (F-18). Changes in biochemicaland physiochemical parameters like C:N ratio, pH, EC andhumus were studied over a period of 60 days to test compostmaturity and stability along with microbial and extracellularhydrolytic enzyme activities. Paddy straw amended with EMand CI hasten the composting process by bringing C:N ratiodown to 15:1 and achieving a total humus content of 4.82 %within 60 days. High activity of hydrolytic enzyme carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) (0.43 IU/g) andmicrobial activityin terms of dehydrogenase (158.64 lg TPF/g/day) wasobserved in this treatment. The activity of xylanase was positivelycorrelated (r = 0.987) with alkali-soluble carbon.Conclusion This study illustrates the importance ofmicrobial bioaugmentation to hasten the composting processof paddy straw to produce quality compost.