India is the second largest producer of the sugar in the world and 8-10 million tons of pressmud is generated annually. Pressmud is a soft, spongy, amorphous and dark brown material containing sugar, fiber and coagulated colloids including cane wax, inorganic salts and soil particles. It consists of 80 % water and 0.9 -1.5 % sugar, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sulphur, coagulated colloids and other materials in varying amounts.
The time when cost of chemical fertilizer is skyrocketing and not affordable by farmers, pressmud has promise as a source of plant nutrient and as medium for raising sugarcane seedlings and leguminous inoculants. The advantages of using sugarcane pressmud for soil application is its low cost, slower release of nutrients, presence of trace element, high water holding capacity and mulching properties. Phosphorus is an expensive fertilizer, so farmers are not able to use it in appropriate amounts. Lack of phosphorus and other elements is continuously increasing in the soil due to unbalanced use of fertilizers. As an alternative to expensive and imported phosphorus fertilizers, it is beneficial to prepare cheap phosphorus strips fertilizer using its own resources.
Disadvantages of Pressmud:
Composition of Pressmud:
Composition | |
pH | 6.0-7.0 |
EC ds/m | 3.0-3.3 |
Organic Carbon % | 15.0-36.0 |
Nitrogen % | 1.0-1.5 |
Phosphorus % | 1.4-4.0 |
C:N | 16-36 |
Potassium % | 0.5-2.0 |
Soil And Water Conservation Engineering PDF Book
Method of Making Phospho-Rich Compost:
WindrowAer tilling machine
Physico-chemical characteristics of PROM produced from activated composting of pressmud:
S.No. | Parameters | PROM |
1 | Moisture, per cent by weight | 18.25 |
2 | Particle Size | 98% material passed through 4.0mm IS sieve |
3 | Bulk density (g/cm3) | 1.3 |
4 | pH (1:5 Solution) | 7.5 |
5 | Conductivity (as dsm-1) | 3.5 |
6 | Total Organic carbon, per cent by weight | 13.8 |
7 | Total Nitrogen , per cent by weight
| 1.1 |
8 | C:N Ratio | 12.54 |
9 | Total Potash(asK2O),% by weight | 1.2 |
9 | Total Phosphates(asP2O5),% by weight | 10.15 |
10 | Phytotoxicity | Nil |
11 | Coliforms | Nil |
Also Read: Organic Farming: A New Revolution In Agriculture
Importance and benefits of using phospho-compost: It is complete natural and organic manure. With its use, phosphorus is supplied along with almost all essential nutrients. It has the following benefits:
Conclusion
A consortium of phosphorous solubilizing thermotolerant and lignocelluloytic fungi is found efficient for decomposing pressmud. Mechanical mixing of pressmud after inoculation helps in faster degradation PROM is rich in org. C, N, P and K without any phytotoxic effects on plants. Eco-friendly technology for production of value added product.
Mr. Shubham Sharma
Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, PUSA, New Delhi
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