Vigyan Varta an International E-Magazine for Science Enthusiasts E-ISSN: 2582-9467
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[Link] Vol. 5, Issue 7 Sarma and Dutta (2024)
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From Trash to Treasure: The Art of
Sugarcane Trash Composting
Hridesh Harsha Sarma1* and Saurav Kumar Dutta2
1,2
MSc. (Agriculture), Department of Agronomy, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam
Corresponding Author
Hridesh Harsha Sarma
Email: [Link]@[Link]
OPEN ACCESS
Keywords
Compost, fertility, Molasses, Pressmud, Sugarcane trash
How to cite this article:
Sarma, H. H. and Dutta, S. K. 2024. From Trash to Treasure: The Art of Sugarcane Trash
Composting. Vigyan Varta 5(7): 122-126.
ABSTRACT
Composting sugarcane trash offers a sustainable solution to manage agricultural waste
effectively. This process involves transforming leftover plant material from sugarcane fields
into nutrient-rich compost through controlled decomposition. Sugarcane trash, comprising
leaves and tops, is rich in carbon and nutrients, enhancing soil fertility and structure when
composted. Pressmud and sugarcane molasses can also be used as a potential source of
compost after proper decomposition and nutrient enrichment. Successful composting
mitigates environmental impacts by reducing waste disposal, improving soil health, and
promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
INTRODUCTION
S
ince 2021-22, India has taken a pivotal main sugarcane-growing states, particularly
role in the global sugar market, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, collectively
becoming the leading producer ahead of account for about 65% of India's total
Brazil. Furthermore, it holds the position as sugarcane cultivation area. These states, along
the second-largest sugar exporter worldwide with Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar, are
([Link]). The growth of the pivotal in India's sugarcane production,
ethanol biofuel segment in recent years has not contributing significantly to the country's
only bolstered the sugar industry but also overall output. Detrashing is typically
enhanced the financial viability of sugar mills. conducted in the 5th and 7th months of its
Sugarcane typically yields between 10 to 12 growth cycle. This trash contains
tonnes of dry leaves per hectare per crop. The approximately 28.6% organic carbon, 0.35%
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[Link] Vol. 5, Issue 7 Sarma and Dutta (2024)
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to 0.42% nitrogen, 0.04% to 0.15% pollution. Additionally, some nutrients are lost
phosphorus, and 0.50% to 0.42% potassium. in gaseous form, and the organic matter is
Incorporating sugarcane trash into the soil burnt and lost. Moreover, burning trash
affects its physical, chemical, and biological generates intense heat ranging from 600 to
properties. It reduces soil electrical 800oC, which destroys beneficial soil
conductivity (EC) and enhances water holding microorganisms and earthworms, thereby
capacity, soil aggregation, and porosity. disrupting favourable soil biological activity.
Incorporating sugarcane trash also lowers soil The heat also kills sugarcane buds in the
bulk density, increases infiltration rate, and stubbles, leading to gaps in the field and
reduces soil penetration resistance. Directly ultimately reducing stalk population and crop
integrating chopped trash into the soil yield. These detrimental effects on soil health,
enhances nutrient availability, thereby environmental pollution, nutrient loss, and
promoting soil fertility. Sugarcane trash is reduced crop yield can be mitigated by
easily composted with fungi such as recycling trash through composting.
Trichurus, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and
Trichoderma. Adding rock phosphate and Composting steps
gypsum accelerates decomposition processes. 1. Trash collection: After detrashing, the
There is a growing scarcity of farm yard collected material should be gathered and
manure (FYM) on agricultural lands due to transported to the composting site. If there
two primary reasons. Firstly, the number of is no designated compost yard available,
cattle is declining as more farmers opt for
farmers can utilize any corner of the
mechanization in farming operations.
sugarcane field itself for composting. It is
Secondly, cattle dung is increasingly used for not necessary to dig a pit for composting;
making fuel cakes due to the diminishing composting can be done directly on the
availability of firewood. Consequently, soil surface.
farmers either apply minimal amounts of FYM
or entirely forego its application. Sustainable Sugarcane trash is typically long and
improvements in soil physical and chemical handling and piling it can be quite
properties can only be achieved through cumbersome. It is advisable to shred the
adequate application of organic manures. trash into smaller pieces. Shredding
reduces the volume of the material and
Sugarcane produces a substantial amount of increases its surface area. With a greater
foliage, accounting for about 40% of its total surface area, microorganisms can more
biomass. For every tonne of sugarcane trash,
effectively work on the material, speeding
nutrients available are approximately 3.5 kg of up its decomposition. A shredder is the
nitrogen, 1.3 kg of P2O5, and 10 kg of K2O. preferred equipment for shredding
From one hectare of sugarcane, trash alone can sugarcane trash, although a chop cutter
provide around 50 kg of nitrogen, 20 kg of machine can also serve this purpose. In
P2O5, and 100 kg of [Link], the absence of machinery, manual
sugarcane farmers dispose of trash by burning shredding is recommended. Without
it in the fields. This practice is driven by the shredding, the composting process will be
high labour requirements for trash removal and prolonged ([Link].).
a lack of awareness about its value as a source
of organic carbon and nutrients. Burning trash 2. Inputs used for composting
releases smoke, carbon dioxide, and carbon a. Microbial consortium: The TNAU
monoxide into the environment, causing biomineralizer comprises a consortium of
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microorganisms specifically designed for 4. Effectively turning the compost
composting various agricultural wastes. It material: The compost material should
is recommended to use two kilograms of be turned regularly, ideally once every 15
this inoculum per ton of waste for optimal days, to enhance aeration within the
results. Without this microbial material. During the turning process, the
consortium, the composting process will bottom layer is brought to the top and the
proceed at a natural pace. An alternative top layer to the bottom, ensuring uniform
source of microorganisms for composting composting throughout.
is cow dung slurry. However, the
microbial population required for 5. Control of Moisture: Maintaining 60%
composting in cow dung slurry is moisture throughout the composting
generally low, and these microbes must period is crucial. If the composting
compete with other microorganisms material dries out, it will lead to the death
present in the slurry for survival. In of beneficial microorganisms and halt the
contrast, this biomineralizer contains only composting process. Thus, maintaining
the necessary microorganisms essential adequate moisture is essential for
for composting, ensuring a high successful composting
population of these specific microbes.
Therefore, opting for the TNAU 6. Compost maturity: Volume reduction,
biomineralizer is recommended for the presence of an earthy aroma, a dark
efficient composting. brown to black appearance, and a
decrease in particle size are essential
b. Animal dung: Animal dung or fresh criteria for assessing compost maturity.
poultry litter serves as an excellent Once the compost has fully matured, it
nitrogen source to lower the C N ratio should be aerated by turning the heap and
during composting. It is recommended to spreading out the material for curing.
use 50 kilograms of fresh dung per ton of After allowing it to cure for 24 hours, the
sugarcane trash. The dung can be mixed compost can be sieved through a 4 mm
with 100 liters of water and thoroughly mesh to achieve a uniform texture. Any
blended with the sugarcane trash. remaining residues from the sieving
Additionally, adding 5 kilograms of rock process should be reintegrated into the
phosphate per ton of waste enhances the next batch of compost for further
phosphorus content of the compost. This decomposition.
combination ensures optimal nutrient
balance and facilitates effective 7. Application in the field: The nutrient-
composting of sugarcane trash. rich compost can be spread at a rate of 5
tons per hectare as a foundational
3. Heap formation: Once all the inputs are treatment for the field. Regardless of its
thoroughly mixed with sugarcane trash, it origin from sugarcane trash, this compost
is essential to form a heap with a can be incorporated back into sugarcane
minimum height of 4 feet. This height is fields to enhance soil fertility.
necessary to promote higher heat
generation during the composting process,
and it helps in retaining the generated heat
within the material for an extended
period.
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Table. 1: Composition of cane trash of sugarcane processed at a unit. Using
compost pressmud for CBG production offers several
SL. Nutrient Per cent advantages. Firstly, it simplifies the feedstock
No. contribution supply chain compared to agricultural residue,
1. Nitrogen (N) 1.60 which requires specialized biomass harvesting
2. Phosphorus (P) 1.10 equipment for collection and aggregation.
3. Potassium (K) 0.50 Secondly, pressmud is sourced from a limited
4. Calcium (Ca) 1.00 number of sugar mills or producers, unlike
5. Magnesium (Mg) 0.60 agricultural residue that involves multiple
6. Sulphur (S) 0.48 farmers over a short harvest window each
7. Iron 2710 ppm year. Thirdly, pressmud's consistent quality
8. Manganese 450ppm eliminates concerns often associated with
9. Zinc 370ppm municipal solid waste, such as inorganic
10. Copper 80 ppm content that can disrupt anaerobic digesters
and reduce gas output
11. C:N ratio 22:1
([Link]).
(Source: [Link]
[Link] )
Fourthly, pressmud requires no pretreatment
Sugarcane molasses costs due to the absence of lignin, an organic
polymer found in agriresidue. Lastly, in terms
Sugarcane molasses waste is the concentrated of conversion efficiency, approximately 25
liquid remaining after sugar crystallization, tonnes of pressmud are necessary to produce a
typically discharged from factories as a tonne of CBG, compared to 50 tonnes of cattle
residual product. Due to its substantial volume, dung for the same output. Moreover, with
high acidity, and complex composition, direct costs ranging between Rs 0.4-0.6 per
discharge without treatment poses a significant kilogram, pressmud proves more economical
risk of water pollution. Despite these than other feedstocks like agricultural residue
characteristics, it is non-toxic and (Rs 1.5-2/kg) and cattle dung (Rs 1-2/kg).
biodegradable, rich in organic matter and
various trace elements. Recognized for its high Sugarcane press mud is the residue left after
utility value, it has emerged as a valuable raw the filtration process of sugarcane juice.
material for fertilizer production through During clarification, the sugarcane juice is
composting processes. separated into a clear juice used for
processing, and a sediment known as press
Pressmud
mud settles at the bottom. This mud undergoes
further filtration to remove suspended
Pressmud, also known as filter cake or press
materials such as insoluble salts and fine
cake, is a residual byproduct from the sugar
bagasse. Typically, press mud accounts for
industry that has gained recognition for its
approximately 4 percent of the cane crushed in
potential in green energy production. Indian
a sugar mill. It contains significant amounts of
sugar mills can significantly boost their
both major and minor nutrients.
revenue by utilizing pressmud as a feedstock
for biogas production through anaerobic
The application of press mud enhances the
digestion and subsequent purification into
availability of nutrients such as iron, zinc,
compressed biogas (CBG). Typically,
calcium, magnesium, and manganese in the
pressmud constitutes about 3-4% of the weight
soil. In calcareous soils, it contributes to a
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reduction in soil pH, electrical conductivity CONCLUSION
(EC), and exchangeable sodium percentage
(ESP), while simultaneously increasing the In conclusion, the processes of composting
soil's nutrient availability. sugarcane trash and utilizing press mud
represent sustainable practices with multiple
Enrichment of Pressmud by composting benefits for agriculture and the environment.
Composting sugarcane trash not only reduces
Direct application of pressmud is not environmental pollution from burning but also
recommended due to its high carbon to enriches soil fertility through the release of
nitrogen ratio and the potential for generating nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and
excessive heat during decomposition. To potassium. This method contributes to
enhance its suitability for field application, improved soil structure, water retention, and
press mud can be effectively composted using overall crop yield. Similarly, press mud, a
microorganisms. For composting one tonne of byproduct of sugar production, can be
press mud, a pit measuring 2m x 1m x 1m is effectively utilized to generate biogas,
excavated. The press mud is divided into three contributing to renewable energy production
equal portions, with one portion spread evenly and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Its
at the bottom of the pit. Following this, 2 bags application as a feedstock for compressed
(500 g) of Trichoderma viride or 2 bottles of biogas offers economic advantages over other
Pleurotus species culture are added. feedstocks, such as agricultural residue and
Additionally, 5 kg of urea and 50 kg of cow cattle dung. Together, these practices
dung or well-decomposed farmyard manure underscore the importance of integrating waste
(FYM) are layered over the press mud. This management with sustainable agricultural
layering process is repeated twice more, and practices to enhance productivity while
the heap is covered at the top. The composting mitigating environmental impact.
process continues for 45 days, maintaining
adequate moisture levels by periodically REFERENCES
sprinkling water over the heap
([Link].). [Link]
[Link]
Table. 2: Nutrients content of enriched
press mud [Link]
Enriched Total Available Total updates/daily-news-analysis/sugar-s-
pressmud N (%) N (ppm) P (%) pressmud-for-green-energy-production
Pressmud
enriched [Link]
1.19 856 2.90
by Trichoderma
viridae [Link]
Pressmud
enriched 1.26 988 3.13 [Link]
by Pleurotus sp. le-energy/sugarcane-byproduct-
Pressmud-non
enriched
1.03 775 2.76 pressmud-can-be-a-sweet-spot-for-
(Source: [Link] india-s-compressed-biogas-sector-
[Link]) 93022
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