High quality vermicompost from press mud

By Our Agriculture Correspondent ``PRESS MUD, which is a by product in sugar mills, is an ideal medium for vermicomposting, and the earthworms grow luxuriously in this nutrient-rich organic base. By introducing earthworms in to heaps of well prepared press mud, which is considered a waste by the mills, we can create a wealth of enriched organic manure in the form of vermicompost,'' says Dr. L. S. Ranganathan, Department of Zoology, Annamalai University at Annamalainagar in Tamil Nadu. ``The earthworms were found to relish press mud, when compared to other feed substrates such as cattle dung and litter. The large population of microbes and rich organic residues in press mud makes it more attractive to the worms, '' he explains. He has done extensive work on the various types of vermicomposting including the pit method and the over ground heap method. The composting techniques were done in several farmers' holdings. ``Our studies have demonstrated that press mud was a hotbed of microbial population. About thirteen species of fungi, fourteen species of bacteria, five types of yeast, five species of actinomycetes and a few protozoans were identified in press mud. Few recent studies have also clearly established the microbivorous nature of the earthworms. The microbes meet the protein needs of the worms. The fine particle size of press mud has been been found be ideally suited for feeding by the worms,'' points out Dr. Ranganathan. The micro-organisms in the press mud, apart from becoming food for the worms, also help in digestion by contributing many digestive enzymes such as cellulase, amylase, invertase, phosphatase, protease and dehydrogenase. Most of the soil enzymes are of microbial origin, and the microbial activity leading to enzyme activity are found in freshly laid vermi casts. The interaction of the microbes and the earthworms contributes to breaking the complex organic compounds in press mud into simpler forms that are easily absorbed by the plants, according to Dr. Ranganathan. ``Press mud when vermicomposted into vermi casts had shown high percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc and iron. The carbon-nitrogen ration is also narrowed down from 25:1 to 11:1, thereby facilitating easy availability of nitrogen to the plants,'' says Dr. Ranganathan. He also observed a dual mode of action in some microbes present in press mud vermi casts. They fixed atmospheric nitrogen, and also helped in mineralising the press mud to make nitrogen easily available to the plants. Press mud is the residue obtained from sedimentation of the suspended materials such as fibre, wax, ash, soil and other particles from the cane juice. Though, it is a rich source of nutrients, it has some inherent problems, and that is one of the reasons why it is not extensively used by

farmers. ``Our experiments with three different types of earthworms commonly found in the region showed that the worms grew better in press mud than in other medium. Their reproduction and hatching rates were also better in this medium. The high nitrogen and phosphrous content of press mud brought about early maturation of worms as indicated several factors such as earlier maturity and release of cocoons,'' says Dr. Ranganathan. Press mud is availabe in plenty in different sugar mills in the country. Annually about 12 million tonnes of press mud is generated in the mills. For every tonne of sugarcane crushed 30 to 40 kg press mud is produced. In addition to press mud, the cane trash, the leafy and top portion of sugarcane, can also be used for composting using earthwoms in combination with press mud, according to experts.