Bio-enriched compost from cotton micro-dust

Description and Salient Features :

Large amounts of cotton micro-dust are accumulated in textile industries that causes serious environmental problems and health hazards. The cotton industries are expecting to reduce this waste disposal by alternative options for handling this waste. At ICAR-CIRCOT, an augmented composting process for the preparation of bio-enriched compost from cotton micro-dust has been developed. In this process, the cotton micro-dusts are mixed with fresh cow dung (25% w/w) and microbial consortia (1% v/w) to hasten the composting process. The matured compost is ready in 60 days by using the microbial consortia. Thus, the process developed by ICAR-CIRCOT helps in management of cotton micro-dust by converting it into a value-added compost. The microbial consortium has cellulolytic activity and tolerance to 50°C besides possessing phosphate solubilizing ability. These properties have positive effect in enhancing the soil nutrient availability to the crop plants by solubilizing the insoluble phosphate minerals. 

Stakeholders : Farmers; Organic growers; Fertilizer industries

Benefit to Stakeholders : 

• From one tonne of cotton micro-dust stakeholders can get 700-800 kg of compost 
• Farmer/ end user can fetch an income of Rs. 7000/- per tonne of cotton dust
• Effective way of on-farm management of cotton crop wastes
• Reduces environmental pollution that may arise due to burning of cotton stalks in the field

Cost /Benefit Cost Ratio : Cost: Rs. 1.0 lakh Benefit Cost Ratio: 2.30

Status of commercialisation : 

Technology is licensed to M/s. PRB Textiles India Pvt. Ltd., Nagpur for commercial scale production and Marketing