Exploring Sustainable Waste Solutions: Evaluating Mixing Ratios in Agitated Pile Composting with Sugarcane Agro-Industrial Waste

This study focused deeply on sustainable solid waste management practices, specifically focusing on the co-composting of various organic materials such as sugarcane leaves/ trash, sugarcane bagasse, food waste, cow dung, and press mud (generated from the sugarcane industry). Five trapezoidal shape agitated piles (heap) were prepared with various combinations (Trials 1 to 5). This study investigates the dynamic changes in critical parameters while composting and their implications for compost quality and maturity. The results showed that the percentage increase in total nitrogen (1.76-2.24%, 1.93-2.23%), phosphorus (1.35-3.52%, 1.18-2.62%), and potassium content (4.5-8.7%, 4.7-8.9%) in trial 3 and 5, which underscore their roles in enhancing soil fertility and crop productivity. The decline in carbon-to-nitrogen ratios in trial 3 (45.5-26.3) and trial 5 (46.6-24.3) correlates with the growth of lignocellulose-degrading bacteria, facilitating humic substance formation critical for compost stability. Lignocellulosic degradation, evidenced by cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content changes, further emphasises its importance in compost maturation. Additionally, reductions in CO2 evolution rate (20.9-3.8%, 22.1-3.9%) and volatile solids (81.9-43.8%, 83.8-43.8%) content in trials 3 and 5, reflect microbial activity and compost stabilisation. Trial 3 and 5 were the suitable combinations for the sugarcane agro-industrial waste composting. These findings highlight that effective waste management enhances agricultural productivity and reduces environmental impact by improving soil health using of composted sugarcane waste.