Recycling of Organic Wastes for Sustainable Soil Health and Crop Growth

Abstract

IntroductionA variety of wastes generated through different agricultural and other activities in our day to day life including crop residues in the form of straw, stover, husk, biomass of uncultivated plant species and weeds, forest biomass; animal wastes and by products like dung, urine, bones, fish processing wastes and human habitation wastes like garbage, sewage and sludge etc. (Table 1). Crop residues are abundantly generated in large quantities during crop cultivation. After harvesting the economic part(s) the plants are considered as wastes and are dumped on field side in mound. These accumulated wastes left on the field side causes major unpleasant odours and create disposal problems. They also create environmental problems like occupying vast area, spreading foul odours and forming breeding home for most of the pathogenic microorganism and mosquito vector. Furthermore they are often source of contamination of ground water. However, most of these potentially nutritious wastes are recyclable organic and good source of organic carbon. These huge inexpensive nutrient source or otherwise unused organic waste can be utilized for recycling as valuable resources. Considering growing deficiency of plant nutrients in crop field, higher cost of synthetic fertilizers and poor efficiency of chemical fertilizer, the organic wastes recycling for plant nutrient supply is becoming more essential for replenishment of plant nutrients, sustaining soil health, reducing the pollution problem and creating employment opportunities, which is now being increasingly recognized as a strategy for sustainable crop production. The organic wastes generally showed no adverse effects on crop yield, soil fertility or biological activity, but rather a stimulation of some properties, by reducing dependence on off-farm inputs and creating more balanced nutrient and energy flows, ecosystem resilience is strengthened, food security is increased and additional income are generated [1]. Tandon [2] stated that a sizeable proportion of nutrient needs of agriculture, horticulture, forest and aquaculture can be met through appropriate recycling of a number of wastes and by-product. With the changing scenario recent years have witnessed a renewed interest for sustainable crop production by revitalizing and restoring the soil fertility and reviving the microbial activity to make the soil lively and healthy (Table 1). AbstractEnormous amount of organic wastes are generated from plant, animals and industrial activities in day to day life. A considerable part of which remains unutilized and are either burnt or dumped nearby sites that create pollution, harbours pathogen for diseases and causes severe problem of disposal. Instead of disposing, it can be used as source of organic wastes and effectively recycled for the production of compost to meet the nutritional requirement of crops. Considering growing deficiency of plant nutrients in crop field, higher cost of synthetic fertilizers and poor efficiency of chemical fertilizers, the organic wastes recyc...

Solid fraction of separated digestate as soil improver: implications for soil fertility and carbon sequestration

“…Sustaining an adequate soil organic matter content plays an important role in maintaining and improving soil microbial health and soil structure, which is crucial for attaining sustainable crop production (Chatterjee et al 2017). Moreover, European policy has recognised soil organic carbon (SOC) as an instrument to reduce CO 2 emission through soil C sequestration (Lugato et al 2014).…”

Comparative Performance of Integrated Nutrient Management between Composted Agricultural Wastes, Chemical Fertilizers, and Biofertilizers in Improving Soil Quantitative and Qualitative Properties and Crop Yields under Arid Conditions

“…Tayebeh et al [26] reported that about 30% of the required N fertilizer can be replaced by organic fertilizers, because organic fertilizer application improved N use efficiency, compared with the sole application of chemical fertilizers. Chatterjee et al [27] also reported that the integrated use of chemical and organic (green manure) fertilizers can save 50-75% of the required N fertilizers in rice as well as increasing the availability of several other plant nutrients through its positive effects on various soil properties.…”

Sustainable agriwaste management at farm level through self-reliant farming system

“…The progressive increase in net energy with OF as compared to CF was due to yield improvement with the former practice. This might be attributed to progressive yield improvement under organic farming (Schrama et al, 2018) due to a beneficial residual effect of OF in improving soil physico-chemical properties (Chatterjee et al, 2017).…”

“…As an example, in the African continent reported annual losses include 22, 2.5 and 15 kg ha −1 of N, P and K, respectively (Hilhorst et al, 2003). Considering these, the organic waste recycling for plant nutrient supply is essential for replenishment of plant nutrients, sustaining soil health, reducing the pollution problem, and creating employment opportunities (Chatterjee et al, 2017; Dreschel and Kunze, 2001; Solano et al, 2001). The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture in India is engaged in enhancing agricultural productivity, especially in rainfed areas focusing on integrated farming, water use efficiency, soil health management and resource conservation with emphasis on agriwaste recycling.…”