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).

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.

The performance of two laboratory-scale biofilters packed with pressmud (BF1) and sugarcane bagasse (BF2) was evaluated for gas-phase xylene removal under various operating conditions. Biofilter was inoculated with a mixed culture obtained from pharmaceutical sludge. Experiments were carried out at different flow rates (0.03, 0.06, 0.09 and 0.12 m3 h-1) and inlet xylene concentrations (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 1.2 g m-3). A maximum removal efficiency of 99 and 95 % were achieved at an inlet concentration of 0.2 g m-3 and gas flow rate of 0.03 m3 h-1 for BF1 and BF2, respectively. The dynamic behaviour of the biofilter was tested at different process conditions through vigorous short, medium and long-term shock loads. The biofilter was found to respond apace to rapid changes in loading conditions. The stability of the biomass within the reactor was apparent from the fast response of the biofilter to recuperate and handle intermittent shutdown and restart operations.

Purpose: Owing to aridity in our agro-ecosystem, mineralization of organic substrate is quite rapid and thereafter volatilized due to lower matrix affinity. In these consequences, the study has been chalked out with the hypothesis to alter the best approaches for mineralization of available organic resources as soil supplement to reduce the economic burden on the farming community. Our laboratory study showed the sequential temporal variations in physic-chemical properties of available organic substrates such as farm manure and sugar industry waste during composting/vermicomposting.Methods: The organic material obtained from the farm manure of live-stock farm and another sources of industrial organic waste {sugarcane baggase (SCB), pressmud (SPM), mixture of SCB, SPM and sugarcane effluent} were used for this mineralization perspectives. However, all organic substrates properties remained static except moisture up to a period of 21 days. Thereafter, these produced and processed matrix was subsequently composted and vermicomposted during 45 days under normal shade. No earthworms were spiked in composting while Lumbricus rubellascollected near vicinity of research area were inoculated at the rate of 50 g/kg of waste in vermicomposting.Contrarily, their applications was mandated as and when required policy subsequently. Moisture and temperature status of substrates were monitored regularly.However, compost/vermicompost substrates were assessed @15 days interval to evaluate temporal changes in physico-chemical characteristics.Results: Vermicomposting of farm manure and sugar industry wastes produced best quality manure with enriched nutritional status comprising more OC (4 %), N (3 %), P (2 %), K (7 %), Ca (3.5 %), Na (2.5 %), SO4 -2 (3.1 %) and B (twofold) as compared to composting.Conclusion: Inoculation of local specie for vermicomposting is a viable option to be recommended to the farming community.