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Paper Mill Bamboo Sludge (PMBS) and Paper Mill Lime Waste (PMLW) are extensively produced as solid wastes in paper mills. Untreated PMBS and PMLW contain substantial amount of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd, Cr) in soluble forms. Efficiency of vermiconversion and aerobic composting with these wastes is reported here. Adopted bioconversion systems enhanced the availability of some essential nutrients (N, P, K and Zn) in various combinations of cow dung (CD) with PMBS and PMLW. Colonization of nitrogen fixing bacteria and phosphate solubilizing bacteria considerably intensified under the vermiconversion system. Moreover, significant metal detoxification occurred due to vermiconversion. Various combinations of bioconverted PMBS and PMLW were applied to tissue cultured bamboo ( Bambusa tulda ) and chilli ( Capsicum annum ). Accelerated nutrient uptake coupled with improved soil quality resulted in significant production of chilli. Furthermore, vermiconverted PMBS + CD (1:1) and PMLW + CD (1:3) confirmed as potential enriching substrate for tissue cultured bamboo.

Considerable amount of bottom ash (BA) is produced by tea and paper factories in Northeast India. This significantly deteriorates soil and surface water quality through rapid acidification, releasing sulfur compounds and heavy metals. The present investigation endeavoured to convert this waste to organic manure through vermicomposting by Eisenia fetida. Substantial increment in bioavailability of N, P, K, Fe, Mn and Zn along with remarkable decline in toxic metal like Cr due to vermicomposting was noteworthy. Furthermore, vermicomposted mixtures of Tea Factory BA (TFBA) or Paper Mill BA (PMBA) with organic matter (OM) attributed profuse pod yield of French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Hence, bioconversion of TFBA and PMBA is highly feasible through vermicomposting and the converted materials can be utilized as potential organic fertilizer.

Methane flux from rice varieties grown under two identical soils of Assam were monitored. In the first experiment, variety Jaya and GRT was grown in sandy loam soil of Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone of Assam and the second experiment was conducted with variety Jyotiprasad and Bishnuprasad in sandy to sandy loam soils of Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zones of Assam. Methane flux recorded from variety Jyotiprasad and GRT was higher compared to variety Bishnuprasad and Jaya. The seasonal integrated flux recorded was 10.76 gm(-2), 9.98 gm(-2), 9.74 gm(-2) and 11.31 gm(-2) for variety GRT, Jaya, Bishnuprasad and Jyotiprasad, respectively. All the varieties exhibited two methane peaks one at maximum tillering stage and other at panicle initiation stage of the crop. Crop growth parameters such as leaf number, number of tillers and leaf area index (LAI) showed strong positive relationship with total methane flux. In both the experiments it was calculated that CH4 emission was substantially influenced by crop phenology and growth. This study emphasise the relationship of different growth parameters with methane emission.