Purpose Field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of enriched pressmud compost prepared from sugarcane industries byproducts on soil nutrient availability, growth, yield parameters and yield of rice.Method The effect of five levels of pressmud compost, viz., 0.00, 1.25, 2.50, 3.75 and 5.00 t ha-1 in two varieties, viz., ADT36 andADT43 and a hybridADTRH1 during the Kharif season of 2009 was studied. The experiment was conducted in a factorial randomized block design with three replications.Results The results of the field experiment revealed that the hybrid ADTRH 1 manifested higher grain and straw yield, whereas the variety ADT 43 and ADT 36 registered lower grain and straw yields, respectively. With regard to the enriched pressmud compost, the application of 1.25 t ha-1 of enriched pressmud compost recorded higher straw and grain yields and it was comparable with 2.50 t ha-1 of enriched pressmud compost. Nutrient availability, growth, yield and efficiency parameters of rice were comparable with application of 1.25 and 2.50 t ha-1 of enriched pressmud compost.Conclusion Considering the input cost, incorporation of 1.25 t ha-1 enriched pressmud compost as basal along with required remaining nitrogen through inorganic fertilizer as top dressing in three splits may be recommended for rice crop to realize maximum yield in kuruvai (kharif) season.

Leachate contents from the landfill that infiltrate the liner may contaminate nearby groundwater and river. Hence, the liner material must be chosen properly so that pollutants can be retained as much as possible at the liner thus reducing the contamination risk. This study studied the characteristics of earthenware clay and pressmud, and their suitability in reducing heavy metals content in leachate. Their suitability to fit as candidate for a landfill liner was tested using batch equilibrium study at 24 and 48 hours reaction times. The mixture of clay and pressmud were labelled PM0, PM10, PM30, PM50, PM80 and PM100 based on their pressmud content. Both reaction time, in any mixtures, manganese easily removed from leachate. 97% zinc was reduced in PM80 after 48 hours reaction time. No significant removal detected for lead in PM0, PM50 and PM80 although the experiment was prolonged from 24 to 48 hours. In a nutshell, for overall contaminants, the longer the reaction time, the higher removal percentage. The clay-pressmud mixtures have the potential to be applied as a landfill liner, however, the removal percentage of metal ions depends on mixture’ s physicochemical characteristic.

Purpose The field experiments were conducted to utilize the sugarcane pressmud in the farming of Solanum melongena as an organic fertilizer.Methods For growing of S. melongena, six agricultural fields were selected for the six amendments of sugarcane pressmud, viz., 0 % (garden soil as control), 20 % (20 % sugarcane pressmud+ 80 % garden soil), 40 % (40 % sugarcane pressmud+ 60 % garden soil), 60 % (60 % sugarcane pressmud+ 40 % garden soil), 80 % (80 % sugarcane pressmud+ 20 % garden soil) and 100 % (100 % sugarcane pressmud). S. melongena was grown in sugarcane pressmud-amended soil till harvest and impact of sugarcane pressmud on the soil and agronomical characteristics of S. melongena were determined.Results The results showed that the sugarcane pressmud was rich in various nutrients and produced significant (P<0.05/P<0.01) changes in the soil characteristics in both seasons. Among various treatments, the maximum agronomic performance of S. melongena was observed due to 40 % treatment in both the growing seasons. The contamination factor (Cf) of various metals were recorded in order of Zn >Mn >Cd >Cu >Fe >Cr for the soil and Fe >Mn >Cu >Zn >Cd >Cr for S. melongena in both growing seasons after treatment with sugarcane pressmud. Conclusions This study concluded that application of sugarcane pressmud treatments increased the soil fertility and as a result agronomical performance of S. melongena. Therefore, it can be used for the soil amendments in the lower proportion (up to 40 %) to improve the yield of S. melongena.

Moisture play a crucial role in vermicomposting of pressmud (filter cake) (P). Five levels of moisture contents of pressmud (55-57%, 60-62%, 65-67%, 70-72% and 75-77%) at 31±2°C on earthworm activities (growth, reproduction and recovery rate of vermicompost) of Perionyx excavatus (Perrier)-an indigenous species and total microbial population, activity and nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium contents in the P vermicompost, over 60 days at an interval of 15, 30, 45 and 60 days have been studied. More and better worm biomass, cocoon production, hatchling number and rate of compost recovery were found in the 65- 67% moisture. Besides this level, 70-72% and 60-62% moisture were adequate. On the other hand, 55- 57% and 75-77% moisture did not have the desired effects on the growth and reproduction of earthworms and on vermicompost production. Enhanced microbial population and activity and nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium contents were found in fresh vermicomposts from 65-67% moisture than other moisture levels due to the ideal moisture of P for better multiplication of microbial population while passing through the worm gut with more activity, thereby enhancing the mineralization process resulting enhancement of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium contents, whereas these decreased with decline in moisture content, immobilization and inactivation of microorganisms and/or increase in time (aging).

Background & Aims of the Study: This study was conducted to investigate effects of biofertilizers application and its interaction with organic manures on Scindapsus aureus performance.Materials & Methods: The experiment was performed in a randomized block design with factorial arrangement of two above mentioned factors at greenhouse of Municipality fertilizer production factory. Three different fertilizers (vermicompost, granular compost fortified with sulphur and trash compost) were applied at four levels of 5, 10, 15, and 20 percent of soil. The comparisons among means were made using the least significant difference test calculated at p-values<0.05.Results: Around leaves area index (LAI), performance of vermicompost (8.31) was better than other fertilizers. This increase can be related to more absorb nutrients, better nutrition and thus improve plant performance in the presence of vermicompost.Conclusions: Thus use of fertilizers and especially vermicompost in the Scindapsus aureus growth with 10% of soil, will achieve increase in all indicators of plant growth. Thus, the processes of biological conversion such as composting in addition to economic value also have benefits for environmental protection.