Bio Digester to compost coirpith

B i o – D i g e s t e r - t o -c o m p o s t - C o i r p i t h, F.Y.M, Poultry manure, Agriculture wastes, Dry / garden Leaf mulch Etc.

Contents: Bacteria and Actinomycetes.

Function: The above microbial consortium is for hastening the decomposition of organic matter. The high heat generation during composting process kills insects, insect eggs, pathogens, nematodes and weed seeds present in the material. B.D in liquid form is more effective but has shorter shelf life of almost a week. So it is better to use it in powder form.

Preparation:

• Mix 2 Kg of B.D + 2 Kg Jaggery + 35 to 40 Kgs of fresh cow dung + 75 litres of water in a drum to get a slurry.

• Spread coir pith about 1 ton in an area measuring 15’ W x 30’ L x 1’ H.

• Sprinkle all the above slurry on this layer. Spread another coir pith layer and repeat the process until a maximum of 5 – 6 layers with a height of max. 5 ½’ to 6’ is achieved. # The heaping should be done in shade. # No need to add Plurotus fungus and Urea. # Sprinkle water daily to maintain moisture.

• Take care that the B.D culture and water do not drain away from the heap. During raining seasons, put a cover above the heap to prevent over moisturing. During summer put coconut leaves on the heap to give shade & to retain moisture.

• In 25 – 35 days time, too much heat will build up. By about 45th day there will be low heat and the heap will be of dark brown in colour. Sometimes 60 days may be needed to get that dark brown colour. # Cut open the heap to reduce the heat and use it as such for the plants.
  

Water holding capacity 400 – 500 times.

Maintains good air / water balance.

The above same procedure can be adopted for composting Dry leaf mulch / garden wastes, Poultry manure, F.Y.M, and other Agri. Wastes.

Dosage: Coconut – 50 Kgs, Banana – 15 kgs, Paddy – 4 tons / Acre, Mango – 50 Kgs, Sugarcane 8 Tons/Acre, Lemon 25 Kgs, Ornamental plants – ½ Kg - 2 Kgs.

• Comparison between digested (using B.D) and undigested coir pith:

Chemical composition	Digested Coir pith using B.D	Undigested coir pith
E.C	0.5	4
Organic carbon	24.9%	24%
Lignin content	4.8%	30%
Cellulose	10.1%	26.5%
C : N ratio	24 : 1	112 : 1
N	1.06%	0.26%
P	1.20%	0.01%
K	1.20%	0.78%
Ca & Mg	0.98%	0.76%
Volume	0.5%	1.0%
Fe	0.06%	0.07%
Mn	20.0 ppm	12.5 ppm
Zn	15.8 ppm	7.5 ppm
Cu	6.2 ppm	8.1 ppm