Biodegradation of sugarcane trash through use of microbially enhanced compost extracts

Microbially enhanced compost extracts were produced from rumen waste composted for one, three, six and ten months, and from nine month old rumen compost and sugarcane stubble (1:1 v/v mix) further composted for one month. The extracts produced from sugarcane stubble amended compost enhanced the rate of degradation of intact trash mat lying over a red ferrosol over a six month period as indicated by the integral of CO2 release, with a significantly higher total microbial activity recorded on sugarcane amended compost extract compared to other extracts. Increased concentrations of total soil C and dissolved organic C were found in soil samples covered with harvest residue of sugarcane compared to the bare soil. The results of the current study indicate that compost extracts have potential benefits to the ‘green trash’ sugarcane production system.