Md. Murshed Hasan Mustafa1,2, Md. Abul Hashem1, Mahmud Hossain Sumon3, Md. Sazedul Karim Sarker4, Md. Abdur Rashid4 and Md. Mukhlesur Rahman1*
1Department of Animal Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh 2Rural Development Academy (RDA); Ministry of LGRD and Co-operatives, Gopalganj, Bangladesh; 3Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh; 4Strengthening of Poultry Research and Development Project, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka-1341, Bangladesh
*Corresponding author: mmrahman.as@bau.edu.bd
The quality of compost depends on the characteristics of the composting materials (CM) and bulking materials (BM). The present study was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical properties of composting and bulking materials commonly used in Bangladesh. For this purpose, seven types of CT, such as poultry layer manure (T1), broiler litter with sawdust (T2), broiler litter with rice husk (T3), cattle manure (T4), goat manure (T5), horse manure (T6), and municipal solid wastes (T7) were investigated. Similarly, the physical and chemical properties of five BM, such as sawdust (T1), rice straw (T2), dry tree leaves (T3), wood shavings (T4), and rice husk (T5), were analyzed in the laboratory. Parameters studied included dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), ash, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and pH. A total of 21 composting material samples and 15 bulking material samples were analyzed using standard methods. The data were analyzed using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in SAS. Results showed that T1, T2, and T3 of CM contained more N (2.30, 2.21, and 2.04%, respectively) and comparatively less CF (4.98, 6.11, and 9.17%, respectively), with corresponding CN ratios of 19.87, 24.90, and 27.74. In case of BM, very low N was found in T4, T1, and T5 (0.08, 0.12, and 0.21%, respectively) and comparatively very high CN ratio (527.50, 434.17, and 199.57%, respectively). It might be stated that the chemical properties of these composting and bulking materials will help in preparing a high-quality compost mix.