Evaluation of Organic Manure Preparation Strategies from Paddy Waste Using Bioaugmentation Approach

Organic manure is prepared using various methods, but comparative efficiency is not reported yet. The present study aims to evaluate three methods viz. method developed by Narayan Deotao Pandharipande (NADEP), structured pit, and heap method for organic manure preparation from paddy waste. The bioaugmentation strategy was also used to enhance natural attenuation and shorten the period for manure preparation. Parameters like nitrogen, C:N ratio, degradation rates, cellulose and lignin content, and total bacterial and fungal count were monitored at 20 days intervals up to 120 days. The highest degradation 53.7% was observed in NADEP compared to other methods. Lower C:N ratio of 18.06 was reported in NADEP on 120 days. The lowest cellulose content 17.14% and lignin content 8.37% were found in NADEP on 120 days. In various methods, the half-life of cellulose was lower in the structured pit at 110 days and in bioaugmented methods at 113 days. The half-life of lignin was lower in the structure pit at 91 days and in bioaugmented methods at 96 days. Factorial completely randomized design (CRD) design revealed that NADEP was better than the structured pit and heap methods. Bioaugmented methods showed a significant difference in time reduction compared to control. Thus, among the three methods tested for organic manure preparation, NADEP showed promising results surpassing manure quality of the structured pit and heap method. Hence, farmers are advised to use the NADEP method to prepare good-quality organic manure in a short period using a bioaugmentation strategy.