SUCCESSFUL BIODEGRADATION OF COIR PITH WASTE USING NOVCOM COMPOSTING METHOD: A CASE STUDY FROM VANIAMPARA RUBBER ESTATE, INDIA

Abstract

Dumping of c oir pith, the by product of coir - industry is po sing serious environmental problem s in the s outhern states of India, especially Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka , India . A study was conducted at Vaniampara Rubber Estate ( Kerala , India ) to demonstrate the potential of Novcom composting method towards production of quality compost using coir - pith as raw material . Novco m coir pith compost was pr oduced within a period of 21 days with one turning of the compost heap o n 10 th day. Physicochemical and fertility status of compost resemble d the standard set by different international composting council s , while its total nitroge n (1.48 percent) content was much higher than coir pith compost produced using other composting processes. The high value of nitrogen might be due to i ntense biodegradation process , which lower ed the potential for N loss and favorably influenced atmospheri c - N fixation through naturally generated autotrophic micro flora within compost heap. The finding was corroborated by the high population of microb es (10 14 to 10 16 c. f. u. per g moist compost) within compost, which were generated naturally during the com posting process. Maturity and phytotoxicity bioassay test s confirm ed that Novcom coir pith compost was mature and free from phytotoxic effect. The study conclude d that Novcom composting method c ould be an effective and economical process fo r speedy convers ion of coir pith in to a valuable input for organic soil management .