Exploitation of cellulose degrading bacteria in bioconversion of agro-wastes.

The issue of solid waste management has become worse as a result of rapid demographic growth and rising urbanisation. Therefore economical, efficient and quick yielding techniques are essential. In this study, composting of agro-wastes i.e., paddy straw, maize stover and vegetable waste with three strains of cellulolytic bacteria (CBC9, CBD4 and CBG2) was performed. The results showed that the C:N ratio of matured compost produced from bacterial inoculation ranged from 14–17:1, nitrification index (NI) ranged from 0.35 to 0.45, Cation exchange capacity (CEC) ranged from 76 to 88 cmol (P+) kg−1, whereas, total N, P and K content of composts increased by 75–127 %, 20–175% and 42–94%, respectively. The recovery of compost was highest in case of paddy straw compost (39%) produced from CBG2 inoculation which was followed by vegetable waste (38%) and maize stover compost (36%) produced from same bacterial inoculation. FT-IR, SEM and EDS studies suggested that final compost produced from inoculation of bacterial strain was more stabilized as compared to un-inoculated control, characterized by a decrease in aliphatic materials and an increase in aromatic groups, presumably related to bio-synthesis of humic substance. [Display omitted] • Cellulose degrading bacteria were efficient in degrading the agro-wastes. • Cellulose degrading bacteria reduced the C:N ratio of the organic wastes to 14–17:1. • Final composts were biologically active. • Impact of isolates on chemical properties during degradation was positive. • Composts were not phytotoxic in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]