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Bioconversion of agricultural residual wastes into value added compost for enhancing crop productivity and improving soil health and attaining popularity among the farmers. Therefore, in the present investigation was carried out microorganisms play an important role in the recycling of agricultural wastes for compost production. Cattle dung, biogas slurry and paddy straw had 14.35, 11.85 and 15.94% total solids with organic carbon 45.66, 40.12 and 50.76%, respectively. The C/N ratio was observed 35:1 in cattle dung, 34:1 in biogas slurry and 87:1 in paddy straw. The nitrogen content was 1.04, 1.0 and 0.62%, respectively in cattle dung, biogas slurry and Paddy straw. The C/N ratio dropped from 42.38 to 27.65 and maximum amount of humic acid was observed in T7 treatment after 60 days of composting. Volatile solids ranged from 60 to 67.7% of TS in all treatments after 60 days of composting.

Micronutrient deficiency, micronutrient malnutrition or hidden hunger is an increasingly severe global challenge for humankind. As wheat, rice and maize are the major staple food crops and are frequently consumed, it has become necessary to biofortify cereal crops with micronutrients, especially iron and zinc, in order to fulfill the requirements for better human health. Cellular and molecular mechanisms should be understood to maintain the homeostasis of micronutrients for increasing iron and zinc in plants. For metal ions uptake under deficiency conditions, plants have established strongly regulated two different strategies. Reduction-based strategy-I is followed by non-graminaceous monocots and dicots, whereas chelation-based strategy-II is followed by grasses. Strategy-II plants (graminaceous species) facing Zn, Fe and other micronutrient deficiency have mechanism of Fe chelation which depends on methionine derivative synthesis known as mugineic acid family phytosiderophores. Graminaceous plants also show quantitative and qualitative differences in MAs production. Wheat, rice and maize release only 2-deoxymugineic acid (DMA) in a very small fraction, thus due to low Fe availability these are reported as susceptible. Whereas, in low Fe availability, barley is reported more tolerant due to production of large amounts of different types of MAs, including MA, 3-epi-hydroxymugineic acid and 3-hydroxymugineic acid. In graminaceous plants, chelation and uptake of non-Fe metals are also facilitated by MAs, like Zn in the form of Zn (II)-MAs. Therefore, to solve the above problem, there is a requirement for alternative and eco-friendly technology such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and organic farming practices to enhance zinc solubilization and its availability to plants.

Rice straw, a by-product of the rice production is mainly used as a source of feed for ruminant livestock is the major forage in rice-producing areas in India. The disposal of the rice straw is a serious problem in areas where it is the major agricultural product. It is rich in polysaccharides and has a high lignin and silica content, limiting voluntary intake and reducing degradability by rumen microbes. By rice straw treatment, its quality and digestibility can be improved and enhanced the protein content. Several methods have been used to improve the utilization of rice straw by ruminants or supplemented by other ingredients to increase digestibility and nutrient value before it can be considered a suitable animal feed. In recent years, biological treatments have been investigated for improvement in nutritional value of rice straw. The use of ligninolytic fungi and their extracellular ligninolytic enzymes for treatment of rice straw results in degrading cellulose and hemicelluloses contents which improve its nutritional value. The use of fungi and enzyme treatments is expected to be a practical, cost-effective and environmental-friendly approach for enhancing the nutritive value and digestibility of rice straw. Therefore, the treated rice straw has a good potential as feed for ruminants.