THERMOPHILIC DECOMPOSITION OF PLANT RESIDUES IN COMPOSTS BY PURE AND MIXED CULTURES OF MICROORGANISMS

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Abstract
A comparative study was made of the composition of plant residues for the prepn. of composts as well as of the influence of temp. upon the decomposition process. Addition of 20% of a N-rich plant material such as alfalfa to 80% straw gave a good compost without requiring addition of any mineral salts. When kept at 50[degree]C, straw supplemented with mineral salts and CaCO3 gave an excellent compost in 21-35 days. Inoculation of such a compost with a thermophilic population hastened decomposition. Certain fungi and actinomycetes play highly significant roles in the thermophilic decomposition of composts. Good growth of the edible mushroom Psalliota campestris was obtained on thermophilic composts of plant residues.