MSc

The study on enrichment of coirpith compost through
organic amendments was conducted at College of Horticulture,
Vellanikkara during the period 1995-97, to investigate into
the methodologies and standardisation of enrichment of
coirpith compost through organic amendments and to determine
the effect on plant and soil of the best enriched coirpith
compost.
The standardisation of enrichment of coirpith compost was
in accordance with the principle of aerobic composting. Three
adjuctants were utilised name y KCPL slurry, cowdung and
municipal solid waste in various proportions with the
coirpith. These treatments were compared with the control
where fungal inoculum (Pleurotus sajor-caju) was used as the
ameliorant. The study involved aerobic composting in pits of
size 2x1x1m3.
Temperature, pH and bacterial population at weekly interval
were monitored throughout the composting period. The end
phase of the bioprocessing was arrived at through indications
on stabilisation of temperature, pH and the quality of
material. Nutrient quality of composted coirpith was arrived
at by analysing major nutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg), organic

carbon, lignin and moisture content. C:N ratio was also
calculated to find out the acceptability of the manure.
The best selected ECC was used to study the effect on
plant and soil. At first it was used in pot culture studies
to know whether the newly selected ECC was safer at higher
levels. The selected ECC was also field tested in bhindi crop
in rabi season. The ECC at 6 and 12 t ha-1 with and without
4 levels of recommended NPK were tried besides at higher
levels of 24 and 36 t ha-1. Growth parameters, yield and soil
characters were observed. Economics of the best selected
treatment in comparison with the recommended fertiliser dose
was worked out.

The study revealed that ECC was superior in nutrient
contents compared to ordinary coirpith compost. The best ECC
contained 1.56, 3.07, 0.90, 3.43, 0.19, 24.59, 3.55 and 46.23
per cent N, P, K, Ca, Mg, organic carbon, lignin and moisture
content. C:N was 15.76. External source of inoculum was not
found necessary for composting coirpith especially with the
enriching materials. Both the inoculated and non-inoculated
treatments matured within around 90 days. Further the
microbial population build up between treatments was higher in
thermophilic stage increasing the rate of decompostion.
. From the pot culture study it was inferred that ECC, even
at higher levels of 36 t ha' was not harmful to the crop.

Field results were also almost in confirmation with that of
the pot culture experiment. With higher doses of ECC, there
corresponding increase in growth and yield was observed.
However, ECC 12 t ha-1 with half NPK emerged as the best



treatment for economic yield return.


This treatment could



bring down the cost of nutrient input and thus expenditure for
raising the crop to about 45 per cent without affecting the
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yield.


The ECC application also resulted in increased



nutrient availability and water holding capacity of the soil.