Field assessment of composts produced by highly effective cellulolytic microorganisms

In a newly cultivated sandy soil, sugar beet haulms composted by highly eff ective cellulose-decomposing microorganisms (Trichoderma viride NRC6 or Str eptomyces aureofaciens NRC22) were evaluated as organic manure for tomato p lants (Lycopersicon esculentum L, cv. Supermarmment). The treatments were a s follows: (1) control with NPK, (2) farmyard manure (FYM), (3) uninoculate d compost, (4) compost inoculated with Glomus sp. NRC212, (5) compost produ ced by T. viride NRC6, (6) compost produced by S. aureofaciens NRC22. The o rganic amendments differed in their effects on total microbial counts in th e rhizosphere of tomato plants. However, the amendment of soil with compost produced by highly effective cellulose-decomposing microorganisms or compo st inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi decreased the prolifer ation of the total bacteria in the rhizosphere of tomato plants compared wi th FYM or compost. The application of compost produced by T. viride NRC6 or S. aureofaciens NRC22 enriched the rhizosphere with fungi or Streptomyces more than the other manure treatments. FYM and compost enhanced both spore production and the percentage of mycorrhizal root infection of tomato plant s as compared with the NPK treatment, while compost produced by T. vir ide NRC6 or S. aureofaciens NRC22 reduced both the mycorrhizal spore numbers an d the percentage of mycorrhizal root infection as compared with the NPK tre atment. However, the application of FYM or compost reduced the incidence of root rot by 8% and 32%, respectively, as compared with the NPK treatment. The use of T. viride NRC6 or S. aureofaciens NRC22 as cellulolytic microorg anisms and AM fungi as inocula in the applied compost increased plant prote ction by 80%, 75%, and 73%, as compared with the NPK treatment, respectivel y. No significant differences in plant dry weight, N, P content and tomato yield were obtained between FYM and the mineral fertilizer treatment. Howev er, different types of compost induced a significant increase in plant dry matter, N and P uptake and fruit yield relative to the FYM and mineral fert ilizer treatments.