PRODUCTION OFCOMPOST FROM AGRICULTURAL CHITINIC WASTES FOR ORGANIC FARMING AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to produce a valuable compost through recycling of agricultural (rice straw, banana peels, pomegranate peels) and chitinic waste (shrimp shell peel) All waste materials were mixed with cattle dung as a natural source of nitrogen and composed aerobically in a pile. Rock phosphate and feldspar were used as natural sources of P and K respectively. They were used in equal amounts (1:1) at a rate of 5% from the pile size. Fungal inoculant of Trichoderma harzianum and Phanerochaetec hrysosporium at ratio 1:1. were added to the pile at the rate of 5L per ton of the pile size , during the composting process, as a biodegradable agent.. The composting process was continued up to 12 weeks till maturation.. The physical and chemical analyses included temperature bulk density, moisture content, pH, EC, dry matter, organic matter, organic carbon, C/N ratio ,ash contents, ammoniacal-nitrogen (NH4+-N), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3- N) and total N, P, K % were determined at zero time and after, 2and 4 and 6, and 10 and 12, weeks of composting. Counts of mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes and cellulose decomposers were also determined at the same intervals. Counts of total and fecal coliforms as well as Salmonella and Shigella were determined at the end of composting period.