Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

CHANGES IN CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS DURING COMPOSTING OF CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA LEAVES ALONG WITH BUFFALO DUNG

Mayur C. Shah, Vipul R. Patel and Prateek G. Shilpkar

Abstract

Leaves of Calotropis gigantea were composted along with buffalo dung in 1:5 proportions. The composting was performed in above ground bricks pit of 2x2 feet size. The pit was filled with a mixture of 10 kg fresh buffalo dung and 2 kg green leaves of Calotropis gigantea. Moisture was maintained upto wetting level of composting material and turning was given fortnightly. At 30, 60 and 90 days samples of composting material withdrawn and analysed for various chemical characteristics viz. pH, electrical conductivity, calcium, magnesium, chloride, available phosphorus, available potassium, total organic carbon, total nitrogen and C:N. Results show that values of pH, electrical conductivity, chloride, total organic carbon, and C:N decreased with maturity of compost whereas the contents of rest of the characteristics increased. It can be concluded that leaves of Calotropis gigantea can be composted successfully with buffalo dung in 90 days of composting period.