Effect of Different Treatments on Composting of Turmeric Leaves: Compost Maturity, C: N Ratio and Microbial Population

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to standardize the composting process for turmeric leaves using various decomposing cultures and nutrients at the Agricultural Research Station, Kasabe Digraj, Sangli, Maharashtra, during 2025. The experiment comprised seven treatments with three replications arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Turmeric leaves were composted with FYM, MPKV decomposing culture, Pusa decomposer, and nutrients (urea and single super phosphate), applied separately and in combinations. Temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, C:N ratio, compost recovery, and maturity period were recorded during composting. The C:N ratio decreased progressively in all treatments and reached 13.14-19.85 at 120 days. Among the treatments, T₇ (turmeric leaves + FYM + Pusa decomposer + urea + SSP) reached maturity in the shortest time (78.77 days), followed by T₄ (83.02 days), whereas T₂ took the longest time (119.84 days). T₇ recorded the maximum compost recovery (45.43%), followed by T₄ (45.13%). Bacterial, fungal, and actinomycete populations increased during the active composting phase, with T₇ generally recording higher populations, followed by T₄, before declining towards maturity. It was concluded that the combination of FYM, decomposing culture, and nutrients improved the composting and stabilization of turmeric leaves.