BIO-AGENT SUPPLEMENTATION TO ENHANCE QUALITY AND BIODEGRADATION RATE OF RICE STRAW

Abstract

The increasing generation of rice straw waste due to intensive rice cultivation necessitates efficient decomposition stratagems to enhance compost quality. This study assessed effect of Green Soil, Biozote and Biopower biological agents on composting process and nutrient enrichment of rice straw. Experiment followed RCB Design with four treatments (Control, Green Soil, Biozote and Biopower) and replicated thrice. Compost quality was assessed through temperature variations, pH changes and macronutrient (NPK) composition. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and LSD test (p < 0.05) for significance testing. results showed that treatments incorporating biological agents significantly improved compost quality. Biopower treatment exhibited highest temperature peak (55°C) compared to control (50°C), indicating enhanced microbial activity. pH levels remained relatively stable across treatments (6.8–7.2) during composting. Nutrient analysis revealed that Biopower significantly increased nitrogen (2.40%), phosphorus (0.60%) and potassium (1.80%), followed by Biozote and Green Soil, which also showed improved nutrient content over control. Statistical analysis confirmed significant effect (p < 0.05) of biological agents on temperature and macronutrient content, whereas pH changes were not significantly different (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that applying Biopower, Biozote and Green Soil can accelerate decomposition and improve compost quality, offering effective strategy for sustainable organic waste management and soil fertility enhancement. Future studies should focus on field applications to assess long-term impact of these biological agents on soil health and crop productivity.