CSV
worked on various methods of organic composting. The work includes research as
well as extension activities:
Bio fertilizers
An
inventory of nutrient content of 20 different local varieties of biomass
available on wasteland were identified to help villagers select the appropriate
variety to be converted into the compost, rich with nutrients and microbes, to
be introduced in the sterile land.
Bio-Degradation
To
enhance the process of biodegradation of the biomass in the process of
composting, a deliberate introduction of selected icro-organisms like
Rhizobium, Azatobactor, Bactin, Phosphin and Trichoderma species have been
tried. This not onlyh enhance the biodegradation but also rejuvenates the soil
at a fast rate.
Bio-Dung
Based
on the principle of thermophilic biodegradation, in this aerobic method of
composting a 5 ft x 5 ft x 5 ft heap of leafy biomass soaked in cow-dung slurry
is packed under a cover of black polythene for 15 days to biodegrade it. Thenn
the biomass is stirred thoroughly and once again packed under the poythene. In
30 days total degradation of biomass takes place and a good quality compost,
rich in microbes, suitable for soil revitalization is produced
NADEP Compost
Method
of composting is done in an over ground tank of size 12ft x 5ft x 3 ft and with
air vents for aerobic fermentation. This tank is filled with 14 alternate
layers of biomass sprinkled with cow-dung slurry and soil and sealed for three
months to decompose. One tank can produce three tons of rich organic manure,
using only 60 Kg. cow-dung i.e. 2% in weight of the total mass. Efforts are
being made to convert this technique into trade.
Vermipit Compost
Vermipit
composting is a simplified and continuous process of vermin-composting.
Vermipit is an underground four four-pit tank of 4 ft x 4 ft x 2.5 ft size,
with honeycomb shaped openings in the partition walls to allow the earthworms
to migrate from one pit to another.
All
the four pits are filled with bio-waste one after another at an interval of 15
days, using the biodung method to decompose the bio-waste. After 15 days of
decomposition the first pit is introduced with earthworms whereby the bio-dung
is further converted into vermin-compost in another fortnight after which the
earthworms by themselves migrate to the next decomposed pit and so on in search
of food. Thus, a continuous cycle of vermin-compost formation goes on and 40-50
Kg. of vermin- compost can be harvested from each pit every fortnight, i.e. one
tone of compost production per month per tank.
Indigenous Earth
Worms
The
indigenous species of earthworms has been found by the CSV team to be more
efficacious, viable and economic in comparison with the non-indigenous species.
A special mention must be made of the local species Octoketano Serrata.
Biodynamic
Gardening
Biodynamic
gardening experiments at CSV have shown that productivity of leafy and green
vegetables grown by this technique, using biomanure, is almost the same as that
in the conventional system using chemical fertilizers. This method was found to
be effective in household kitchen and terrace vegetable garden.
Bio-gas Slurry
The
bio-gas slurry has been put to various applications like organic pesticides,
nutrient foliage spray, seed pelleting etc.