Variation in temperature and shrinkage of Trichoderma harzianum - inoculated compost heaps and quality of compost prepared from crop and poultry wastes

A study was conducted during 1994 on decomposition in winter by heap method of composting with respect to variation in diurnal temperature, monthly sh rinkage and plant nutrients level of the compost prepared by using rice (Or yza sativa L.) straw, soybean [Glycine max,(L.) Merr.] trash and their mixt ures as substrates. Three levels of cage system poultry waste(0, 10 and 20% of the substrate) with and without the compost activator, Trichoderma harz ianum were used for composting. The temperature was higher at periphery tha n that at the centre of all the heaps up to 3 weeks of heaping, irrespectiv e of treatments. The temperature difference was as high as 10-15 degrees C in heaps prepared from soybean trash and 5-10 degrees C in heaps prepared f rom rice straw. Within 48 hr of heaping maximum temperature of 52.5 and 61 degrees C was recorded in rice straw + soybean trash and soybean trash heap s respectively. After 3 weeks, the temperature at periphery declined sharpl y and stabilized and remained almost equal to the temperature at the centre of the heaps up to 8 weeks. With time, shrinkage along the periphery was f ound more in rice straw heaps forming a hump structure. Activator did not c ause shrinkage significantly. Nutritonally, soybean trash yielded the best quality compost. The increased level of poultry waste increased the nutrien ts status marginally. Soybean trash offered better support for Azotobacter than rice straw. Lower C : N ratio in compost from soybean trash attributed to higher population of Azotobacter.