Department of Civil Engineering (CE)

C. S. Institute of Technology, Deori,

Dist Gondia

2025 - 2026
MICRO -PROJECT REPORT

ON
“ Physical And Chemical Charecteristics”
A Micro - Project Report
Submitted in the Partial fulfillment of the

Diploma in Civil Engineering (CE)

Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education, Mumbai

Guided By: Mr. M. K. Gautam Submitted By: Mr. Harsh Rajkumar kapgate

Year/Sem.: Third Year/Sixth Sem.

Subject Name: SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ( SWM )

Subject Code: (316312 )
 Department of Civil Engineering (CE)

C. S. Institute of Technology, Deori

District: Gondia

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that this Micro-Project contains the bonafied work of following students of Fifth
Semester Diploma in Civil Engineering of C. S. Institute of Technology, Deori, Dist. Gondia for the
Session 2025 - 26. They have completed their Micro-project untilled, “Physical And Chemical
Charecteristic ’ under the guidance of Mr. M. K. Gautam This Micro- Project report is being submitted to
MSBTE, Mumbai in the partial fulfillment for the Diploma in Civil Engineering(CE).

Sr. No. Name of Students Enrollment No. Exam Seat No.

01 Mr. Harsh Rajkumar kapgate 23313300001

Place: Deori

Date:

Subject In-charge Head of Department Principal

Mr. M. K. Gautam Miss. J. K. Bhelave Mr. M. M. Tarone
(Dept. of Civil Engg.) (Dept. of Civil Engg.) (C. S. I. T. Deori)
 Department of Civil Engineering (CE)

C. S. Institute of Technology, Deori

District: Gondia

SUBMISSION
We are the following student of Third Year/Fifth Semester (Civil Engineering) humbly submit
that we have completed the Micro - Project work time to time as describe in the Micro -Project report by
our own skill of study in Academic Year 2025 - 26 under the Guidance of Mr. M. K. Gautam A quantum
of our contribution has been approved and that we have not copy the Micro –Project report from any other
literature in contravention of the academic ethics.

Sr. No. Name of Students Enrollment No. Exam Seat No.

01 Mr. Harsh Rajkumar kapgate 23313300001

Place: Deori

Date:

Subject In-charge Head of Department

Mr. M. K. Gautam Miss. J. K. Bhelave
(Department of Civil Engg.) (Department of Civil Engg.)
 INDEX PAGE

SR. NO. CONTENT PAGE NO.

1
1 Introduction

Brief Information 6
2
7
3 method of composting
10
4 Coimbatore method of composting

Materials in a compost pile

5 12

6 NADEP method of composting

15

7 APPLICATION OF MICRO PROJECT 17

8 Skill Developed 18

9 Conclusion 19

10 Reference 20
Brief Information about Micro-project / Brief Description

Compost is a mixture of ingredients used as plant fertilizer and to improve soil's physical,
chemical, and biological properties. It is commonly prepared by decomposing plant and food waste,
recycling organic materials, and manure. The resulting mixture is rich in plant nutrients
and beneficial organisms, such as bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, and fungi. Compost improves soil
fertility in gardens, landscaping, horticulture, urban agriculture, and organic farming, reducing
dependency on commercial chemical fertilizers. The benefits of compost include providing nutrients
to crops as fertilizer, acting as a soil conditioner, increasing the humus or humic acid contents of the
soil, and introducing beneficial microbes that help to suppress pathogens in the soil and reduce soil-
borne diseases.

At the simplest level, composting requires gathering a mix of "greens" (green waste)
and "browns" (brown waste). Greens are materials rich in nitrogen, such as leaves, grass, and food
scraps. Browns are woody materials rich in carbon, such as stalks, paper, and wood chips. The
materials break down into humus in a process taking months. Composting can be a multistep, closely
monitored process with measured inputs of water, air, and carbon- and nitrogen-rich materials.
The decomposition process is aided by shredding the plant matter, adding water, and ensuring proper
aeration by regularly turning the mixture in a process using open piles or
"windrows". Fungi, earthworms, and other detritivores further break up the organic material. Aerobic
bacteria and fungi manage the chemical process by converting the inputs into heat, carbon dioxide,
and ammonium ions.

Composting is an important part of waste management, since food and other compostable
materials make up about 20% of waste in landfills, and due to anaerobic conditions, these materials
take longer to biodegrade in the landfill. Composting offers an environmentally superior alternative
to using organic material for landfill because composting reduces methane emissions due to
anaerobic conditions, and provides economic and environmental co-benefits. For example, compost
can also be used for land and stream reclamation, wetland construction, and landfill cover.
 Composting organisms require four equally important ingredients to work effectively:

 Carbon is needed for energy; the microbial oxidation of carbon produces the heat required for other
parts of the composting process. High carbon materials tend to be brown and dry.
 Nitrogen is needed to grow and reproduce more organisms to oxidize the carbon. High nitrogen
materials tend to be green and wet. They can also include colourful fruits and vegetables.
 Oxygen is required for oxidizing the carbon, the decomposition process. Aerobic bacteria need oxygen
levels above 5% to perform the processes needed for composting.
 Water is necessary in the right amounts to maintain activity without causing
locally anaerobic conditions.
1. Bangalore method of composting:
This Bangalore method of composting is developed by scientist Dr. L.N. Acharya in 1939 (at
IISC Bangalore) to make use of town residues and night soil. It is an anaerobic method that is
conventionally carried out by digging trenches or pits. This method is mainly suitable for scanty
rainfall areas.

Pit preparation:
Pits/trenches should be dug 1 m deep while length and breadth can be varied according to the
land availability and volume of wastes to be composted.

Filling the pit:

The pit should be filled with alternate layers of organic residues and night soil and could be
covered/plastered with a layer of soil/earth to protect the compost from external elements like rain
and flies. It is necessary to have sloping walls and sloping bottom to prevent the waterlogging
conditions in the pits/trenches

 Atfirst,15cm of organic refuse is added at the bottom of the trench/pit.

 A 5 cm layer of night soil is spread over the refuse layer
 This alternate layering is carried out until the pit is full.
  Now, these layers of wastes/pit are covered with 15 - 20 cm of refuse above the ground level.
 Now the pit is left undisturbed (without turning) for 3 months. Meanwhile, a reduction in the volume
of of the wastes takes place.
 Alternate layers of refuse and night soil are added again on top of reduced the contents.
 Now the pit/trench is ultimately covered with a layer of soil/earth in a dome shape. This layer
prevents unwanted organisms to enter the compost and also helps in moisture losses from the
compost.
 For initial 8 -10 days, aerobic composting takes place while, anaerobic composting takes place at a
slower rate thereafter.
 Compost will be ready in six to eight months.

Nutrient composition of the Bangalore compost:

 Nitrogen = 1.5%
 Phosphorus = 1%
 Potassium = 1.5%

Advantages:

 Compost is protected from altering weather conditions.

 Problems such as breeding of flies, moisture loss
 No need of turning
 Protected from rains
Disadvantages:

 Requires a long time for the stabilization of the materials

 Need more load space.
 Expensive to follow.

2. Indore method of composting:

Indore method of composting was developed by A. Howard and Y.D. Wad (at Institute of
Plant Industry, Indore). It is an aerobic composting that is associated with turnings when needed.

Raw materials used for Indore method of composting:

1. Plant residues (all the weeds, prunings, stalks, stems, fallen leaves, chaff, and fodder leftovers)
2. Animal dung and urine
3. Urine soaked earth/mud
4. Inoculum
5. Wood ashes
6. water
Each type of plant residue is laid out in layers of about 15 cm until the heap attains a height
of 1.5 meters. Now the heap is cut into vertical slices so that each slice contains all types of wastes.
These slices (about 20-25 Kgs) of organic wastes are spread in the cattle shed to serve as bedding for
a complete night. This bedding along with dung, urine, and urine-soaked mud is collected on the next
day. These materials are used in filling the pits of Indore composting. This bedding and collections
continues until the organic wastes get over(or until pit gets full).

Location of the Indore composting pit:

The location of the pit should be close to the cattle shed and water source. If the pit is located
in slope areas, rainwater gets collected into the pits so the level of site of the pit should be a little
high to prevent the entry of rainwater into the pit. Constructing a temporary shed over the pit is
highly recommended to protect the pits from heavy rains.

Measurements of the pit:

Length: 3 - 3.5 m (depends on the quantity of waste)

Breadth: 1.5-2 m

Depth: 1 m

Filling the pits:

 At first, organic materials (dry wastes) that are brought from the cattle sheds are spread at the bottom
for 15-20 cm
 Now a slurry made from 4.5 kgs dung, 3.5 kgs urine-soaked mud, and 4.5 kgs of inoculum from a
15-day old compost pit is added evenly over the dry waste layer.
 Water is sprinkled to make the materials wet enough (50% moisture should be maintained)
 In this way, the pit should be filled (within 1 week) until it reaches 1 foot above the ground level.
 Now the pit should be covered with a thin layer of bedding material with wood ashes and urine-
soaked mud.

Turning:
Turning of the materials should be done to aerate the pits for proper decomposition of the wastes.

 1st turning: Between the 10th-15th day after filling the pits
 2nd turning: After 15 days of the first turning
 3rd turning: After 2 months of the second turning
 Nutrient composition:

 Nitrogen: 0.8%
 Phosphorus: 0.3%
 Potassium: 1.5%
Advantages:

 Requires short period for stabilization of the materials

 Need less land space
 This method is not associated with odour problems
 It is a complete environment friendly process.
Disadvantages:

 No protective layer
 Requires regular turning to ensure proper aeration in the pits
 Composting pit needs to be at an elevated site, near to cattle shed and water source
 Need manpower for turning
 Associated with problems like moisture loss and breeding of flies.
3. Coimbatore method of composting:
The Coimbatore method of composting was introduced by Manickam in
1967. Composting occurs mainly in trenches/pits under shade. In the initial stage of composting,
anaerobic decomposition takes place and it is followed by aerobic decomposition.

Raw materials for the Coimbatore method of composting:

1. Farm wastes (weeds, straw, leaves)

2. Vegetable refuse
3. Animal dung
4. water

Size of the pit:

 Length: 3.6 m (according to the volume of the wastes)

 Breadth: 1.8 m
 Depth: around 1 m
 Filling the pit:

 A layer of farm wastes and vegetable refuse is spread at the bottom of the pit up to 15 - 20 cm
 A thin layer of wet cow dung (about 5 cm) is spread over the dry wastes.
 Water is sprinkled to make sure the materials are well moistened. The pit should have 50-60%
moisture to carry out the Coimbatore method of composting.
 This process of filling is continued until the mass reaches the height of 0.6 m above the ground level.
 Now the mass is covered with a layer of mud to favor the anaerobic decomposition.
 Now the pit is left undisturbed for 1 month. Meanwhile, the mass gets flatten due to the decrease in
the volume of the mass (due to decomposition).
 Now a turning is given after removing the mud plastering over the heap.
 Hereafter aerobic decomposition takes place. Within 4 months of time process of composting will be
completed and the compost will be ready to use.
 Meanwhile, water can be sprinkled to maintain the moisture in the pit.

4. NADEP method of composting:

The NADEP method of composting was introduced by N.D. Pandharipande from
Maharashtra. This composting takes place in constructed brick tanks and around 2.5 tons
of compost can be prepared in short period (4 months) using this method.
Raw materials:

1. Agriculture waste (Weeds, crop residues, forest litter) - 1350 - 1400 kgs
2. Cattle dung/biogas slurry - 98-100 kgs
3. Fine sieved soil - 1675 kgs
4. Water - 1350 - 1400 ltrs

Size of the tank:

 Length: 10 feet
 Breadth: 5 feet
 Height: 3 feet

Tank construction:

 A rectangular tank using bricks and mud (to seal) should be constructed near to cattle shed or farm. Tanks can be
constructed either using mud or cement mortar.
 To ensure aeration, 6-inch vents are provided by removing alternate bricks after the height of 1 ft
from the bottom of the tank.
 All four walls of the tank need to be plastered with cow dung slurry before filling it. This helps to
facilitate microbial activity from all four sides of the tank.
 Filling the tank:

 First layer: 4 - 6 inches of stems and sticks are spread at the bottom to facilitate aeration. It is
followed by a 4 - 6 inches layer of agricultural wastes (about 10-100 kg).
 Second layer: A slurry, that is made using 4 - 5 kgs of cow dung and 100 - 125 liters of water is
sprinkled over the dry wastes to facilitate microbial activity.
 Third layer: 60 kg of sieved dry soil is spread evenly over the second layer for moisture retention.
This layer also acts as a buffer during the biodegradation of the materials.
 The entire tank needs to be filled by the same process within 24 hours (not more than 48 hours) of
time.
 Now a layer of 3-inch sieved sand should be spread and sealed ultimately with a layer of cow dung
and mud plaster.
 After 15-30 days the volume of the materials gets reduced to 2 feet and is refilled with the layers of
the dry wastes, slurry, and sand.
 Now the entire mass is covered with a thatched roof to prevent the loss of moisture from the tank.

Now the tank is left undisturbed for 3 months. Meanwhile, water is added for every 1 - 2
weeks to maintain the moisture percentage in the tank. If the tank develops any cracks, those can be
filled with the slurry to maintain the quality of the compost.

Advantages:

 A large quantity of Quality compost can be prepared with minimum human effort.
 Compost can be prepared in less time.
 Decrease the dependence on outside inputs (mineral/chemical fertilizers, soil amendments)

6.0. Actual Resources Use.

Sr. no. Name of resource material Specifications Quantity

4 GB RAM, Windows 10
1 Computer System 1
OS

2 Internet Youtube / [Link]

SWM Solid Waste 1

3 textbook/manual
Management 22605
7.0 APPLICATION OF MICRO PROJECT

Composting is a managed process which utilizes microorganisms naturally present in organic

matter and soil to decompose organic material. These microorganisms require basic nutrients, oxygen
and water in order for decomposition to occur at an accelerated pace

Compost is especially important in organic farming, where the use of synthetic fertilizers is not
permitted. Compost improves soil structure, provides a wide range of nutrients for plants, and adds
beneficial microbes to the soil.

8.0 Skill Developed

1. Teamwork
2. Communication skills
[Link] learn about the three environmental Rs (reduce, recycle, and reuse), what items are
biodegradable, the importance of worms & insects, and much more.
[Link] learn various methods of compost to composting.
 Conclusion :
The composting process is a well-known technique for eliminating soil erosion, especially in
agricultural soils. Globally, composting technology is well known to be an effective aerobic method
for organic waste.
Composting reduces the need for pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Because compost
enriches soil and promotes healthy plant growth, plants grown in compost-rich soil tend to be more
resilient to diseases, pests, and fungi.

The study of physical and chemical characteristics plays a very important role in understanding the
properties and behavior of materials used in civil engineering and environmental studies. These
characteristics help engineers and researchers to determine the suitability, durability, and performance of
materials in different conditions.

Physical characteristics include properties such as color, odor, taste, temperature, turbidity, density,
and hardness. These properties can be observed or measured without changing the chemical composition of
the material. They are useful for quick identification and initial analysis. For example, turbidity indicates the
presence of suspended particles, while temperature affects chemical reactions and biological activitiesOn the
other hand, chemical characteristics involve the composition and chemical behavior of substances. These
include pH value, alkalinity, acidity, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen
demand (BOD), and presence of minerals or harmful substances. These characteristics help in understanding
the quality and safety of materials, especially in water [Link] the study, it is clear that both physical
and chemical characteristics are interrelated and equally important. Physical properties provide basic
information, while chemical properties give detailed insights into the composition and reactivity. Together,
they help in making accurate decisions in engineering [Link] environmental engineering, these
characteristics are very useful for assessing water quality. For example, pH indicates whether the water is
acidic or alkaline, while dissolved oxygen shows the ability of water to support aquatic life. Similarly, BOD
and COD values help in determining the level of pollution in water bodies.

In construction and material engineering, understanding these characteristics helps in selecting suitable
materials for different purposes. For example, the chemical composition of cement affects its strength and
setting time, while physical properties like density and porosity influence durability and [Link]
analysis of these characteristics also helps in maintaining safety and standards. Government agencies and
organizations set permissible limits for various physical and chemical parameters to ensure safe usage.
Regular testing and monitoring are necessary to maintain these standards and prevent environmental and
structural problems.

Moreover, modern technology has made it easier to measure and analyze these properties accurately.
Advanced instruments and laboratory techniques provide reliable results, which help in better planning and
execution of projects.

In conclusion, the study of physical and chemical characteristics is essential for ensuring quality, safety,
and efficiency in various fields such as civil engineering, environmental engineering, and water resource
management. It helps in understanding material behavior, preventing failures, and protecting the
environment. Proper knowledge and application of these characteristics lead to better decision-making and
successful project outcomes.
 References

1. World Health Organization – Water Quality Guidelines

[Link]

(Used for standards of physical and chemical parameters of water)

2. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

[Link]

(Used for Indian standards of water quality and pollution control)

3. United States Environmental Protection Agency

[Link]

(Used for information on BOD, COD, pH, and water analysis)

4. Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB)

[Link]

(Used for local environmental and water quality data)

5. National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)

[Link]

(Used for research on environmental engineering and water testing)