Salah El-Hagar, Y. I. Mahmoud, Nakhla Dalia, A. H.( 2015). Chemical and Microbiological Evaluation of Compost From Sugarcane Wastes.Middle East Journal of Applied Sciences ISSN 2077-4613 Volume : 05 | Issue : 04 | Oct.-Dec.| 2015
Abstract: Evaluation of the possibility and feasibility of producing fertilizers from the wastes generated from agroindustrial of sugarcane was established. Composting process was carried out using five wooden boxes (4.5 m3 capacity) with five mixtures of residues beside two windrow with two types of mixtures. Composting process was lasted for 16 weeks. Changes in temperature degree at different depth were recorded. The physical and chemical analyses of the pre-compost and mature compost including bulk density, moisture, pH, EC, organic matter, organic carbon, C/N ratio, total nitrogen and ash contents were monitored. Total counts of fecal coliform, Salmonella and Shigella were recorded along composting process time. The temperature monitoring of the composting mixtures revealed that all treatments passed through mesophilic and thermophilic stages. Data also revealed that changes in bulk density of composting mixtures were depended on the physical characteristic of the fermented mixture. The percentage of organic matter of mature compost in all tested treatments were decreased result from CO2 losses and subsequently ash content of mature compost, thus increased. The nitrogen content increased for the treatments containing dry leaves or bagasse, but it decreased in the treatments containing manly filter mud. Results revealed at the end of composting time, the C/N of all treatments were dropped. The ones high in fibers dropped to range of 34: 1 to 30: 1, which would be suitable to be used as soil conditioner. However, treatments containing filter mud recorded C/N ranging from 23: 1 to 11: 1, which make them a suitable to be used organic fertilizers.
Keywords: (Sugarcane, compost, . chemical. microbiological.)
