Browsing by Author "Jayakumaran Nair, A."

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    Azolla & Soya Hulls -Substitutes for Urea in Coir Pith Composting Using Pleurotus Sajor Caju
    (2011) Radhakrishnan, S.; Anita Das Ravindranath; Sarma, U.S.; Jayakumaran Nair, A.
    Bio composting process is the available means of converting various organic wastes generated from the industry and the agricultural sectors into beneficial products such as biofertilizers and as a soil conditioners. The unique feature of these agricultural wastes are their organic content,pH, and high C: N ratio. Coir pith is a biomass residue obtained during the extraction of coir fibre from coconut husk. Accumulation of coir pith leads to an environmental concern and its management is a major problem with all coir industrialists. The high quantum of its production and the difficulties experienced in its disposal have tended to create a major problem of pollution of large areas of land and water in coir fiber extraction units.Therefore, biodegradation of coir pith is an essential requirement to control pollution. Coir pith,even though a problematic waste; it is a potential wealth when it is converted into valuable organic manure by microbial degradation.A method of composting of coir pith with urea has been developed by Coir Board,India using a fungus viz.,Pleurotus sajor caju commercially known as Pithplus.Application of urea releases higher concentration of ammonia in the soil making it more acidic and retards soil natural fertility. Hence an alternative cost effective nitrogen supplement needs to be developed as a substitute to urea for composting of coir pith.The present study aims at the formulation of bio organic manure from coir pith avoiding inorganic urea in the composting. Overall assessment on the physico chemical properties of the biodegraded coir pith leads to the conclusion that a combination of Azolla and Soya hulls (2: 1 ratio) was found to be efficient in lignin degradation and contribute to novel changes in coir pith
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    Quantitative Evaluation of the Production of Ligninolytic Enzymes-Lignin Peroxidase and Manganese Peroxidase by P.Sajor Caju during Coir Pith Composting
    (2012) Radhakrishnan, S.; Anita Das Ravindranath; Hanosh, M.S.; Sarma, U.S.; Jayakumaran Nair, A.
    Coir is the natural hard fruit fibre extracted from the exocarp of the coconut. The fibre has over 40 percent lignin and is spun into yam and rope.Coir is used globally for manufacturing floor coverings as home furnishing. The Coir Industry enjoys the status as the largest cottage industry in Kerala giving employment to over a million people,of which 80 percent constitute women. Coir pith is a biomass residue generated during the extraction of coir fibre from coconut husk. Coir pith produced during coir fibre extraction is of environmental concern as its dumping on shore line and leaching of its constituents alter water quality and aquatic life .Management of coir pith is a major problem with all coir industrialists. Hillocks of coir pith accumulate in the vicinities of coir fibre extraction units in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Orissa.These agricultural wastes have traditionally been disposed by burning which resulted in various environmental problems. Therefore, composting is an alternate way to dispose coir pith and is of critical importance. Ligninolytic enzyme production during coir pith composting by Pleuratus sajar caju has been studied in detail. Pleuratus sajar caju produces oxidative enzymes which degrade lignin in the presence of urea as nitrogen source.Substitution of urea with vegetative sources has resulted in the vigorous growth of the mushroom which leads to decreased lignin content and C: N ratio in the biodegraded coir pith . Combination of Azolla and Soya hulls as biological supplements was observed to be the best substitute for lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase production. Activity of manganese peroxidase and lignin peroxidase was maximum on the twentieth day of fermentation of coir pith. The level of enzyme activity during biological composting using vegetative sources was compared with the conventional process using urea. The enzyme profile exhibited variation with change in substrate and duration of decomposition. The colonization of Pleuratus sajar caju by its utilization leads to biochemical changes in coir pith converting it into an ideal plant nutrient.