<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Compost maturity is a major factor in its use for nutrient supply without adverse effect on crop germination. Composting may be accelerated with inclusion of some microorganisms as activators. This study was conducted to determine the effect of <italic>Trichoderma asperellum</italic> and length of composting of different plant materials and cattle manure on compost maturity in Ibadan, Nigeria. Composting of two plant materials with cow dung at ratio 3:1 was done in triplicate with or without <italic>Trichoderma</italic> activation to obtain twelve heaps of four different types of composts; Panicum-based compost with <italic>Trichoderma</italic>, Tridax-based compost with <italic>Trichoderma</italic>, Panicum-based compost without <italic>Trichoderma</italic> and Tridax-based compost without <italic>Trichoderma</italic>. The process was a 2×2 factorial experiment, laid out a completely randomized design. The <italic>Trichoderma</italic> activated compost (TAC) at four weeks of composting (4WC) had 56% total N, 21% organic matter, 38% total K, 51% total P and 66.6% microbial biomass N increase over non-activated compost (NAC). Carbon to nitrogen ratio was within the ideal range (10–20) in TAC while it was greater than it in NAC. Microbial biomass and lignin contents had a 56% and 41% increase, respectively, in NAC over TAC. <italic>Trichorderma-</italic>activated compost has a potential to hasten maturation and makes the compost ready for field on or before four weeks without posing a threat to crop germination.</p></abstract>

Compost maturity is a major factor in its use for nutrient supply without adverse effect on crop germination. Composting may be accelerated with inclusion of some microorganisms as activators. This study was conducted to determine the effect of Trichoderma asperellum and length of composting of different plant materials and cattle manure on compost maturity in Ibadan, Nigeria. Composting of two plant materials with cow dung at ratio 3:1 was done in triplicate with or without Trichoderma activation to obtain twelve heaps of four different types of composts; Panicum-based compost with Trichoderma, Tridax-based compost with Trichoderma, Panicum-based compost without Trichoderma and Tridax-based compost without Trichoderma. The process was a 2×2 factorial experiment, laid out a completely randomized design. The Trichoderma activated compost (TAC) at four weeks of composting (4WC) had 56% total N, 21% organic matter, 38% total K, 51% total P and 66.6% microbial biomass N increase over non-activated compost (NAC). Carbon to nitrogen ratio was within the ideal range (10–20) in TAC while it was greater than it in NAC. Microbial biomass and lignin contents had a 56% and 41% increase, respectively, in NAC over TAC. Trichorderma-activated compost has a potential to hasten maturation and makes the compost ready for field on or before four weeks without posing a threat to crop germination.

Maturity indices of composting plant materials with <italic>Trichoderma asperellum</italic> as activator

Department of Soil Science and Land Management

Agricultura Tropica et Subtropica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Maturity indices of composting plant materials with  as activator

Compost maturity is a major factor in its use for nutrient supply without adverse effect on crop germination. Composting may be accelerated with inclusion of...

Maturity indices of composting plant materials with Trichoderma asperellum as activator

Published Online: Jun 12, 2020

Page range: 19 - 27

Received: Aug 04, 2019

Accepted: May 04, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ats-2020-0003

Keywords
Compost activator, maturity, organic materials, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic matter

© 2020 Adenike Fisayo Komolafe et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Maturity indices of composting plant materials with Trichoderma asperellum as activator

Published Online: Jun 12, 2020

Page range: 19 - 27

Received: Aug 04, 2019

Accepted: May 04, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ats-2020-0003

KeywordsCompost activator, maturity, organic materials, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic matter

© 2020 Adenike Fisayo Komolafe et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Compost activator, maturity, organic materials, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic matter