Assessment of compost as a bio-fertilizer for the growth of paddy

The vegetable wastes were converted into compost by a stepwise degradation and its characteristics were studied and analysed at each stage. The temperature increased from 290C to 60 degrees C on 60th day and reached 33 degrees C on 90th day. Shift of pH from 7.6 to 7.3 on 60th day caused a shift of microflora from 12.01 x 10(7) to 11.13 x 10(8) CFU ml(-1) on 30th day and 63.2 x 10(6) on 60th day and 36.75 x 10(6) on 90th day. Shift of microflora caused high decomposition of the waste into compost which were used for enriching the soil as manures. The other characteristics such as moisture, ash content and C:N ratio established the short period required for preparing a complete compost of good quality. The study showed the efficiency of these organisms as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. Combinations of microorganisms with compost act as a good biofertilizer which improves the fertility of soil and increases plant growth. Better results were produced by organisms in combinations like Azospirillum, Rhizobium and Azotobacter. The least growth in shoot length (64 cm) total fresh weight (151g) and total dry weight (3.994 g) were observed in paddy grown in soil and Bacillus combination, but microbial mixture of compost and soil gave high paddy growth efficiency. The present study concludes that the rhizospheric organisms play well as plant growth promoting agents and gave a better yield and growth of plants in combination with the compost.