A Comparative Role of Competent Microbes for Value-added Composting of Agricultural Waste

The current study aimed to explore non-pathogenic, non-aflatoxigenic and competent microbial isolates accountable for producing hydrolytic enzymes and plant growth-stimulating hormones for proficient and augmented conversion of agricultural waste press mud (PM) into biofertilizer through composting. Four bacterial ( B. altitudinis CD2E, P. aeruginosa CD6C, B. velezensis BS2, B. wiedmannii BTA) and one fungal isolate ( A. niger PM-4) were selected for microbial inoculum formulation for composting of PM heaps in different treatments. The compatibility studies found that the bacterial isolates were compatible with each other, however, A. niger PM-4 was found non-compatible with P. aeruginosa CD6C and B. velezensis BS2. The heap containing bacterial consortium T3 (PM + consortium) found its maturity on the 21st day by reducing more C/N, total organic carbon (TOC), higher total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) 2.15 + 0.02%, total phosphorous (TP) (1.42 + 0.01%), and total potassium (TK) (1.0 + 0.03%) than any other treatments.