Browsing by Author "Patnaik, H.P."
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Item Role of admixtures in decomposing coir waste - their impact on chemical changes and vermicast production(2009-08) Patnaik, H.P.; Samal, M.K.; Panda, S.; Mishra, A.Coir pith is a major farm waste in the coastal region of Orissa and due to slow biodegradation this agro waste poses difficulty in recycling. Therefore, the present studies were made to evaluate various admixtures with coir waste for quick degradation as well as to make them acceptable by the earthworms as feed. The studies revealed that neem leaves (30% w/ w), cow dung + urea 0.5% sol. and buttermilk 10%sol., as admixtures have enhanced the partial degradation process of the coir waste. Addition of only cow dung 30 % or neem leaves 30% with coir waste also showed reasonably high nitrogen content (0.71 to 0.89 %) in 60 days of partial degradation of coir pith. Moreover, the acidic reaction (pH 5.83) of raw coir pith could be neutralized (pH: 7.27-7.37) with such admixtures. However, appreciable reduction in C:N ratio of the substrate was noticed when urea 0.5 % and urea 0.5 + cow dung 30 % were utilized as admixtures with limed coir pith. Based upon the average of two years data the additives like neem leaves (30 %), cow dung (30 %) + urea (0.5 %) and butter milk (10 %) proved effective not only for hastening the degradation of coir pith, but also enhanced the cast production by the worms.