Journal of Environmental Biology

Isolation and evaluation of native cellulose degrading

microorganisms for efficient bioconversion of weed

biomass and rice straw

K. Mahanta¹, D.K. Jha², D.J. Rajkhowa³ and Manoj Kumar⁴*

¹AICRP on Integrated Farming System, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat- 785 013, India

²Microbiology and Ecology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati- 781 014, India

³Division of Natural Resource Management (Agronomy), ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam- 793 103, India

⁴Division of Natural Resource Management (Soil Science), ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam- 793 103, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: mkumar_iari@yahoo.co.in

Publication Data

Paper received:

04 August 2012

Revised received:

20 April 2013

Re-Revised received:

15 June 2013

Accepted:

19 August 2013

Abstract

Cellulose decomposing microorganisms (CDMs) are important for efficient bioconversion of plant biomasses. To this end, we isolated seven fungal isolates (Aspergillus wentii, Fusarium solani, Mucor sp., Penicillum sp., Trichoderma harzaianum, Trichoderma sp.1 and Trichoderma sp.2) and three bacterial isolates (bacterial isolate I, II and III) from partially decomposed farm yard manure, rice straw and vermicompost, and evaluated them for decomposition of rice straw (Oryza sativa), Ipomoea carnea and Eichhornia crassipes biomass. CDMs inoculation, in general, reduced the composting period by 14-28 days in rice straw, 14-34 days in Eichhornia and 10-28 days in Ipomoea biomass over control. Of the 10 CDMs tested, Mucor sp. was found to be the most effective as Mucor-inoculated biomass required minimum time, i.e. 84, 68 and 80 days respectively for composting of rice straw, Eichhornia and Ipomoea biomass as against 112, 102 and 108 days required under their respective control. CDMs inoculation also narrowed down the C:N ratio of the composts which ranged from  19.1-22.7, 12.9-14.7 and 10.5-13.1 in rice straw, Eichhornia and Ipomoea biomass respectively as against 24.1, 17.1 and 16.2 in the corresponding control treatments. Aspergillus wentii, Fusarium solani, Mucor sp., and Penicillum sp. were found most effective (statistically at par) in reducing C:N ratio and causing maximum loss of carbon and dry matter in composted materials. These benefits of CDMs inoculation were also accompanied by significant increase in NPK contents in the composted materials.

 Key words

Biowaste recycling, Cellulolytic microorganisms, Compost quality

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