Feasibility and Product Maturity of Compost Developed from Poultry Waste in Temperate Agroclimate of Kashmir Region

Present work was carried out in the Department of LPM, FVSc and AH (SKUAST- Kashmir) to assess the feasibility and compost maturity in terms of temperature and bio-mineral (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) changes due to composting of poultry waste under the temperate agro-climatic conditions of Kashmir Valley. Poultry waste in the form of poultry carcass (including feathers) and litter manure was used for this study. Four treatment groups with four replicates each were formulated as: G1: Poultry carcass; litter manure, G2: Poultry carcass; litter manure; Paddy straw, G3: Poultry carcass; litter manure; effective microbes (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Rhodopseudomonas palustris) and G4: Poultry carcass; litter manure; Paddy straw; effective microbes. During the primary stage of composting the group G4 had attained a significantly (P<0.05) highest peak temperature (0C) of 59.0±5.04 and 59.50±5.04 respectively during winter and summer seasons. Significantly (P<0.05) highest nitrogen content of 24.7 g/Kg was observed in group G4 at the end of secondary stage during summer season. The phosphorus content in end product of composting was significantly (P<0.05) highest (1.0 g/Kg) in group G4 during summer season. Similarly significantly (P<0.05) highest K content of 10.23 g/Kg was observed in group G4 during summer season. It was concluded that the addition of paddy straw and effective microbes assistant the composting process and yield better bio-mineral values and higher temperature gain.