Compost from sugar mill pressmud and distillery spent wash for sustainable agriculture

This paper describes the process for rapid composting of sugar mill pressmud and distillery spentwash by using microbial culture. These waste materials are processed to organic manure, a value added produce, which can be used to replenish soil nutrients. Replenishment of soil nutrients is essential since plants utilize them to generate a large amount of crop produce, year after year. Physico-chemical characteristics and the nutritive value of compost generated out of pressmud and distillery effluent have been found to support good plant growth. The product has gained wide utility as an ameliorating agent and as a soil conditioner to replenish soil nutrients for sustainable agriculture. Besides, composting is a suitable method for stabilization of organic wastes which avoids discharge of industrial wastes to land and water ecosystems that may cause pollution. Activated composting through microbial culture and appropriate conditions converts the organic matter of pressmud and spentwash into value added compost. The cumbersome bio-nondegradable portion of these wastes such as lignins, melanoidins and humic acid get converted to humus which is an essential component of soil and further enriches the soil for sustainable crop productivity