الفهرس 
INTRODACTION
Agricultural wastesOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
This study was carried out at Kom Ompo Agricultural Research Station, to investigate the possibility of using cellulose degrading fungi as a starter for composting Sugarcane dry leaves residues with animal waste (cattle dung) to accelerate the process of decomposition and production of high quality compost rich with many essential elements. And to test the impact of the resulted compost on the growth parameters of wheat plants grown on sand and clay soil.
Compost production
Sugarcane dry leaves materials (chopped to pieces 3 – 5 cm length) were thoroughly mixed for homogenization purpose and three piles were prepared. A pile of the Sugarcane dry leaves residues of 1.5 m long, 1.0 m width and 1.0 m height was made for composting process.
Chemical activator, consisted of (20 kg ammonium sulphate, 20.5% + 15 Kg superphosphate 15.5 % + 15 Kg Calcium carbonate/ton) was added to each of the three piles which were then treated as following:
1- Compost 1 (C-1): Control treatment, where traditional method of composting was followed by adding 200 Kg clay soil as source of degrading microorganisms +chemical activator.
2- Compost 2 (C-2): Cellulose-degrading fungi inoculum was used as source of degrading microorganisms + chemical activator.
3-Compost 3 (C-3): 200 Kg of Cattle dung was used as source of degrading microorganisms + chemical activator.
The moisture content of the composted material was adjusted to reach about 60% of their water holding capacity. The composting process was allowed to continue for 12 weeks, including maturation period. The piles were turned for aeration every 2 weeks of composting time. Temperature degree was recorded every 2 days at depth 60 cm. The physical and chemical analyses including: moisture content, pH, EC, organic matter (OM), organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), C/N ratio, content of ash, ammonical-nitrogen (NH+4-N), nitrate (NO-3-N) total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK) were determined at zero time, 4, 6,8,10 and 12 weeks of composting time. . Mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria and fungi, total and fecal coliform bacteria and Salmonella & Shigella were also counted at all sampling time.The obtained results could be briefly summarized as follows
Physical and chemical changes during composting process:
The temperature curve of the composed material within the piles showed three classic phases: mesophilic, thermophilic and cooling down phases. The initial mesophilic phase up to 45°C showed a duration of about (6 to 12) days for all piles. Then, phase of increase in temperature (thermophilic phase) was observed reaching its maximum (60.8-68.3°C) in all piles. Moreover, compost temperature reached its maxima after about 14-20 days in all piles. Compost (C2) with fungi inoculum, showed the highest values of temperature (68.3°C) on day 24. The thermophilic phase continued for about 30-34 days in all composted treatments, then the temperature dropped dramatically reaching the cooling down phase within the ambient temperature of the surrounding air (about 28°C).
The bulk densities increased from 260 to392 kg/m3, 229 to 400 kg/m3and 400 to 452 kg/m3in pile mixtures 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
The initial pH values of all compost piles were 6.84, 6.79 and 7.35 for C-1. C-2 and C-3, respectively .During the first three weeks of composting, the pH values of all compost piles showed little decreases, then gradually increased towards the last week of the composting process, and stabilize at end of the 12 weeks at pH 7.77, 7.54 and 7.63 for composting treatment C-1, C-2 and C-3, respectively.
The initial values of EC for all compost piles were between 3.18 and 3.39 dS/m. The composting material then showed gradual increases in EC during the composting period, and ended with conductivity values of 3.99, 4.1 and 4.08 dS/m for piles mix 1, 2 and3, respectively.
The initial value of total N in piles were 1.31, 1.29 and 1.35 % for composting treatments C-1, C-2 and C-3 respectively. At the end of composting, all treatments showed increase for C-1, C-2 and C-3 in total N content, recording: 1.65, 2.03 and 1.88 %, respectively, as a result of the organic matter decomposition.
Initial values of ammonical-N concentrations varied between 234 and 876 mg/kg. High contents of NH4-N were observed at the thermophilic phase of decomposition period, reaching maximal concentration of 378-1406 mg/kg in all treatments after 2 weeks, Thereafter, NH4-N decreased as the composting process progressed and reached a low level at end of composting time. The final NH4-N contents of all treatments were between172-320 mg/kg,
In this study, gradual decrease in NO3-N was observed at the first month of composting, and then its concentrations markedly increased towards the end of decomposition period, the level of nitrate recorded at the last week of composting, were between 200-231 mg/kg, and compost mixture 2 showed the maximum value (231mg/kg).
Percentages of OM in all composted materials decreased with time from 82.17to 57.71% in C-1 and from 81.34 to 37.10% in C-2 and decreased from 83.99 to 52.10 % in C-3, respectively.
The TOC concentration declined slightly in all treatments. The initial values of TOC were 47.17, 47.18 and 48.72 % for composting treatment C-1, C-2 and C-3 respectively. During the first 8 weeks, the decreases in TOC in all treatments were quite similar, but afterwards, C-2 continued to decrease sharply until week 12, while in C-1, the decrease in rates were slower.
The initial C/N ratio was 36:1 for all composted treatments, and the final values of total C/N ratio at end of the 12 week were 20:1, 11:1 and 18:1 for composting treatments C-1, C-2 and C-3 respectively.
The initial values of P percentages in early composting were 0.37, 0.29 and 0.40 % for composting treatments C-1, C-2 and C-3, respectively. .At the end of composting, total P % were 0.57, 0.57and 0.58 % for C-1, C-2 and C-3 respectively.
the initial values of K at early composting were 0.78, 0.67 and 0.78 % for composting treatments C-1, C-2 and C-3 respectively .The concentrations of total potassium increased gradually in all mixtures by time, and ended to be 0.97, 1.07, and 0.98 for C-1, C -2, and C-3 respectively.
The pot experiment on wheat:
A pot experiment was conducted to test the effect of application of the produced three composts, alone or in combination with mineral-N, on wheat grown on two soils. The seven treatments were distributed in complete block design with four replicates. The tested treatments were:
T1: Recommended dose of N (90 Kg/fed.)
T2: 100% compost-1
T3: 100% compost-2
T4: 100% compost-3
T5: 50% compost-1 + 50% (mineral- N)
T6: 50% compost-2 + 50% (mineral- N)
T7: 50% compost-3 + 50% (mineral- N)
Results obtained from Pot experiment can be summarized in the following:
Data of sand soil:
1. The statistical analysis of the obtained data indicated that both fresh and dry weight of wheat plants were significantly affected by mineral-N and compost application. The highest values of both fresh and dry weight were recorded in T5 (50% C-1 + 50% mineral-N) followed by T7 (50% C-3 + 50% mineral-N).
2. Addition of compost C-2(T3) resulted in the tallest wheat plants and the heaviest 1000-grain wheat.
3. The number of spikes/pot was not significantly affected by any of the fertilization treatments.
4. Data show that T6 (50% C-2 + 50% of mineral-N) produced the highest grain yield. Compared to the other treatments.
5. The highest significant increase in N and P uptake was found in treatment (T7).
6. the highest value of K uptake (2.7 mg/plant) was found in plants that received compost C1+ 50% of mineral-N compared to the other treatments.
Data of clay soil:
1. Spikes No. /pot was not significantly affected by fertilization treatment.
2. Addition of compost C-3 + 50% of mineral-N (T7) scaled the greatest significant values of fresh and dry weight of wheat plants compared with other treatments. Also resulted in the highest plant height as well as 1000-grain weight compared to (T1)
3. Addition of 50% C-3 +50% mineral-N yielded significant increases in grain yield and biological yields (18.00 and 41.7 g/pot respectively) compared to the mineral-N treatment (T1). Also straw yield increased by the same treatment (24.45g/pot) compared to the other treatment.
4. There were no significant differences among the means of grain and biological yield under treatment T2, T3 and T4.
5. There were significant effects on nitrogen and potassium uptake when compost C-3 + 50% mineral-N (T7) was added. The same trend was also found in (T5) fertilized with C-1 + 50% mineral-N.
In conclusion application of compost plus 50% mineral-N exhibited remarkable effect on wheat plants gro