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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #345662
Title: Microbial stability of worm castings and sugarcane filter mud compost blended with biochar

Author
item Lima, Isabel
item Wright, Maureen

Submitted to: Cogent Food & Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/2018
Publication Date: 1/9/2018
Citation: Lima, I.M., Wright, M.S. 2018. Microbial stability of worm castings and sugarcane filter mud compost blended with biochar. Cogent Food & Agriculture. 4(1):1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2018.1423719.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2018.1423719

Interpretive Summary: Organic amendments such as worm castings and filter mud compost (a by-product of sugarcane processing into refined sugars) can provide nutrient rich substrates for enhanced plant growth. Physico-chemical and microbial stability of these substrates might be enhanced with the addition of biochar. Physico-chemical properties and microbial stability were monitored throughout storage time for a series of blends that included different proportions of each amendment and the biochar. No major deleterious effects were found by adding biochar to either substrate, despite decreasing moisture levels for increased biochar additions to each amendment. Biochar might be providing nutrients needed by microbes, as well as possibly bind bacterial waste products that would otherwise be toxic to the microbe population. Larger scale studies are warranted as well as longer storage time to optimize shelf stability. These results are encouraging for the viability of successful commercialization of these biochar and organic amendment mixtures as they seem to withstand storage conditions, as well as realizing yet another possible outlet for these by-products.

Technical Abstract: Organic amendments such as worm castings and filter mud compost can provide nutrient rich substrates for enhanced plant growth. Physico-chemical and microbial stability of these substrates might be enhanced with the addition of biochar. A series of experiments was carried out to determine the stability of microbe populations in both worm castings and mud compost with the addition of biochar made from sugarcane bagasse. Storage studies up to 150 days were carried out with biochar/worm castings and biochar/mud compost blends on a volume basis (100/0; 90/10; 75/25; 50/50; 25/75; 10/90; 0/100). Physico-chemical properties were monitored throughout storage time as well as microbe counts. No major deleterious effects were found by adding biochar to either substrate, despite decreasing moisture levels for increased biochar additions. Biochar might be providing nutrients needed by microbes, as well as possibly bind bacterial waste products that would otherwise be toxic to the microbe population. Larger scale studies are warranted as well as longer storage tine to optimize shelf stability.