Study on Management of Sugar Cane Industry Solid Waste Using the Technique of Composting

Sugar industries play a pivotal role to improve the economy of our country. For the management of sugar industry solid waste (press mud and bagasse) an effort was taken. The press mud and bagasse mixed with garden waste and cow dung were subjected to the process of a composting (anaerobic decomposition) in 1:1:2 ratio. One set of component was moistened with water (A) and another one was moistened with spent wash (B). As spent wash is characterized with high BOD and COD along with high nitrate, phosphate, potassium and other minerals, it was selected for moistening the organic waste. After the experimental period (95 days) the reduction of organic matter and C:N ratio was considerable. The amount of N,P,K in compost A was found to be 2.4%, 0.71% and 2.14% respectively. The N.P.K value of compost B was found to be 2.8%, 0.85% and 3.59% respectively. All these nutrients have considerably increased in compost B than compost A. The C:N ratio of both the composts was around 11:1, which has been reduced from the initial of 25:1 ratio. The identified organisms Pseudomonas sp., Streptococcus sp., Bacillus sp. and Klebsiella sp. were involved in the composting process of A. Besides these organisms, compost B also has Seratia sp. Hence, from these observations, it is clear that the press mud and bagasse in combination with garden waste and cow dung may be utilized for the production of compost successfully. This technique further minimizes the environmental hazards that could have been caused by press mud and spent wash if they were disposed off as such in the environment.