This document provides an overview of biocomposting. It describes the three phases of composting (mesophilic, thermophilic, and curing), the key organisms involved (bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, earthworms), materials used, and common composting methods like the Indore and Bangalore approaches. The benefits of composting are highlighted as improving soil quality by adding nutrients, improving soil structure, and enabling plant growth. In conclusion, composting is presented as an economically and environmentally sound waste management process.

1. A SELF STUDY REPORT ON TOPIC
BIOCOMPOSTING
• Presented by:- Parveen kumar
• Msc. BOTANY (3rd SEM)
• ROLL no. 170000302010
Composting

2. CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Benefits of composting
• Mechanism of composting
• Phases of composting
• Organisms involved in composting
1. Bacteria
2. Actinomycetes
3. Fungi
4. Earthworms -:Vermicomposting
• Material required for composting
• Methods for composting
• Result and discussion
• Conclusion
• References

3. INTRODUCTION
• Composting is a waste managing biological process
• Microoganisms such as bacteria , fungi , and actinomycetes decomposes
organic matter into co2 ,water , heat and humus
• Compost -:compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and
recycled as fertilizer & soil amendent
• Composting can be either aerobic or anaerobic
• Aerobic composting requires oxygen while anerobic not
• Composting organisms requires 4 ingredients to work effectively -:1)carbon
2)nitrogen 3)oxygen 4)water

4. BENEFITS OF COMPOSTING
• Improves soil quality by adding nutrients such as nitrogen , phosphorus and
magnesium etc. –Soil conditioner
• Improve water holding capacity of soil
• Enhances structure and texture of soil
• Enables the soil to retain nutrients , moisture , & air – for plant growth
• Micronutrients such as Mn , Cu , Fe , & Zn also found in compost
Parameters in Composting
Carbon: nitrogen ratio 30:1
Ideal moisture 50 – 60%
Ph 6 – 8
Temperature 55 – 75°C (thermophile range)
Oxygen availability 5 -15

5. MECHANISMS OF COMPOSTING
• Composting is biochemical process
• Aerobic and anerobic microorganisms decomposes organic matter into valuable
manure –compost
 Mesophilic state [25 – 30°c] promotes mesophilic microbes
Organic matter organic matter compost
temp 55 - 60°c [ C:N ratio 25:1]
[Thermophilic state - destroy pathogens]
 Finally compost is made and utilize as fertilizer
 Rich in nutrients –N , P , & C – for plants growth

7. PHASES OF COMPOSTING
There are 3 phases for composting
1.Mesophilic phase
 Mesophilic microorganisms rapidly breakdown the soluble & readily
degradable compounds
 Temp range 10 – 40°c is considereed
2.Thermophilic phase
 Temp raise & enters to thermophilic range
 Temp range 40 – 70°c
 High temp accelerate the breakdown of [proteins , fats ,starch ,cellulase &
hemicellulase ]
3.Curing or maturation phase
 Temp cool down & mesophilic microbes once again
 Almost all organic substrates are degraded
 Final stage of aerobic composting

8. Composting has 3 phase
Compost Temperature in Celsius

9. ORGANISMS INVOLVED IN COMPOSATING
 BACTERIA
 Smallest and most numerous
biological component
 Responsible –decomposition & heat
generation in compost
 Process start with mesophile
[predominant]
 Bacteria –bacillus genus are
dominates mesophilic phase
 E.g. of bactera – Bacillus brevis & B.
subtilis

10. Continue…..
Actinomycetes
 Higher form filamentous bacteria &
resemble with fungi
 Complex organic compounds – cellulose ,
lignin , chitin & proteins
 Enzymes –chemically breakdown tough
debris [ woody stems , bark or news
paper]
 Release –carbon , nitrogen & ammonia
[earthy smell of compost]
 Some species appear in thermophilic
phase and others in curing phase
 Decompose more resistant compounds
 E.g. Actinobifida chromogena,
Microbispora bispora

11. Continue…..
Fungi
 Responsible for decomposition of complex
plant polymers
 complex polymers –polyromantic compounds
& plastics
 Breaks tough debris & enables bacteria to
continue the process
 Extremely dry , acidic , or low in nitrogen
dealt by fungi
 Live on outer surface of compost as gray
colonies
 Numerous in both phases –mesophilic &
thermophilic
 E.g. Aspergillus fumigatus , Humicola grisea

12. BACTERIA ACTINOMYCETES

13. Earthworms
 Most important and large physical decomposers
 Ingest organic matter & digest it with the help of tiny
stones [gizzards]
 Leave dark & fertile casting
 Each day casting =worms weight
 Castings are rich in plant nutrients – N , Ca , Mg , & P

14. Suitable species of worms
Eisenia fetida Eisenia hortensis
Lumbricus
rubellus Eudrilus eugeniae Perionyx excavatus

15. Vermicomposting
 Using worms to recycle food scraps & other organic material into
valuable soil amendment –vermicompost
Mesophilic process -earthworms & microbes active @ 10 -
32°C
Consume various organic waste & reduce the volume by
40-60%
Containing water-soluble nutrients
 Vermicompost is an excellent, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and
soil conditioner

16. MATERIAL REQUIRED FOR COMPOSTING
1.Weeds 1. Cow dung 1. Night soil
2.Stubbles bhusa 2. Buffalo dung 2. Street refuge
3.Crop residues 3. Poultry dung 3. Municipal refuse
4.Remments of fodder
Farm
refuses
Animal
dung
Town
refuse

17. Methods for composting
Indore method
 Size of the pit :- Breadth 6 - 8 feet
Depth 2 - 3 feet
Length 10 feet or more as per requirement
 Raw material :- mix plant residues , weeds , sugarcane leaves , grass
,wood ashes , bran etc. animal dung , water , urine soaked mud
 Filling the composting pits :-spread dry waste with cattle
dung & soil in ratio of 4:2:1 upto 2 inch
 Sprinkle water over material
 Filled the pit with raw matter upto 1 feet above the ground
level

18. continue
• Turning –material is turned 3-4 times for proper aeration &
moisture
• First tuning :- 10-15 days after filling the pits
• Second turning :- 15 days after first turning
• Third turning :- after 2 months of second turning
Turning

19. Continue……
Bangalore method :
• Worked out by L.N. Acharya at Indian institute of science , Bangalore
• This method saves Labour cost
• No need of turning & regular sprinkling of water
 Method of filling the composting pits :-
 Spread moist farm refuse @bottom of the pit upto 1 inch
 Then , spread cattle dung & urinated mud followed by 1 or 2 inch soil layer
 Finally heap is made up up to 1.5 – 2 feet above ground level
 Heap is covered with thick mud

20. After 8-9 months all material decomposes and
compost becomes ready for the application.
Bangalore
method

21. • Microorganisms degrades organic waste into nutrients
• Produce organic fertilizer – manure
• Reduces reliance on chemical pesticides & fertilizers
• Improve plant growth & water holding capacity of soil -conserve water
• Bacteria excreting N , P , Mg in soil & utilize by plants
• Compost used as soil amendment for agriculture
• Soil building & erosion control
• Good source of minerals & microorganisms
• Finally decomposed organic matter – HUMUS
• Reduces soil temp fluctuations
• Inc. water & nutrients holding capacity of soil
• Serve as nitrogen reservoir for plant
• Maintain C:N ration in soil – 30:1

22. conclusion
 Converts raw organic matter into humus
 Maintain high & healthy soil life level
 Complex organic compounds breaks into simpler forms
 Composting –best fitted waste managing option
 Economically & environmentally sound method that avoids all
pollution concerns

23. References
 Trautmann , Nancy , “CORNELL Composting –
Compost Microorganisms” CORNELL
Composting – Compost Microorganisms.
Cornell Waste Management Institute , Web. 13
Dec 2015
 “Microbes in the compost pile.” Microbes in the
compost pile. Mansfield C. T. Web. 13 Dec 2015
 David. R. Hershey , Sir Albert Howard an The
Indoor Process , 1992

24. Thank You!