Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Isolation and Analysis of Microbial Communities in Soil, Rhizosphere, and Roots in Perennial Grass Experiments
Published on: July 24, 2018
Physicochemical and microbial analysis of sugarcane press mud reveals ligninolytic and plant growth-promoting
Sana Bano1, Kshitij Singh1, Anjali Chaudhary1
1Department of Environmental Microbiology, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar (A Central University), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226025, India.
Abstract:
Press mud is an acidic by-product of sugarcane processing that is commonly discarded, despite containing components with potential agricultural value. This study assessed sugarcane mill press mud through physicochemical, microbiological and enzymatic analyses to evaluate its environmental implications and suitability as a soil amendment. The material was slightly acidic (pH 6.4) and rich in essential nutrients, including potassium (1061.06 ppm), magnesium (624.96 ppm), calcium (461.06 ppm) and phosphorus (513.11 ppm). However, elevated metals such as aluminium (2083.22 ppm), iron (2342.57 ppm), manganese (85.90 ppm), zinc (60.84 ppm), copper (17.70 ppm), lead (3.10 ppm) and chromium (4.18 ppm), together with the detection of the pollutant 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP), suggest the need for proper regulated application to mitigate environmental risks. Microbial profiling across acidic (6.4), neutral (7.0) and alkaline (9.5) conditions revealed diverse bacterial taxa. Acidic conditions yielded Escherichia coli (PQ001953), Bacillus licheniformis (PQ001957) and Moraxella catarrhalis (PQ047632); neutral conditions favored Herbaspirillum seropedicae (PQ008927), Enterococcus faecium (PQ012564) and Micrococcus luteus (PQ012569); while alkaline conditions supported Bacillus subtilis (PQ012572), Listeria ivanovii (PQ060442) and Paracoccus pantotrophus (PQ012574). Notably, E. coli, H. seropedicae and M. luteus exhibited pronounced ligninolytic enzyme activity, indicating a capacity to degrade complex organic substrates. Plant growth trials using mustard (Brassica campestris) demonstrated that a 5:1 soil-to-press-mud ratio significantly enhanced plant growth relative to untreated soil. Collectively, these findings indicate that when applied in controlled quantities, press mud, represents a promising bioresource with valuable ligninolytic and plant growth-promoting microbial communities, while warranting careful oversight due to its contaminant load.
Related Concept Videos
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
The Soil Ecosystem
Meristems and Plant Growth
Microbial Growth Media
Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth
Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: pH

