Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education,

Mumbai

A
MICRO PROJECT REPORT
ON

“Various Methods Of Composting”

Submitted By
BALSARAF KUNAL KUNDAN
CHAUDHARI SARTHAK BALU
HINGE JAY SURESH
KUTE BALKRUSHNA VILAS

Under The Guidance Of

Prof. Jadhav M.B.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

J.C.E.I’s

JAIHIND POLYTECHNIC, KURAN

TAL-JUNNAR, DIST-PUNE 410511
(2023 – 2024)
 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education,
Mumbai
J.C.E.I’S
JAIHIND POLYTECHNIC, KURAN
TAL- JUNNAR, DIST-PUNE 410511

Certificate
This is to certify that
BALSARAF KUNAL KUNDAN ROLL NO. 03
CHAUDHARI SARTHAK BALU ROLL NO. 05
HINGE JAY SURESH ROLL NO. 13
KUTE BALKRUSHNA VILAS ROLL NO. 25

Of sixth Semester have satisfactorily completed Micro Project On

“Various Methods Of Composting”
In subject Solid Waste Managements (22605) as per Curriculum of Maharashtra State
Board of Technical Education, Mumbai
For the partial fulfillment of

Diploma in Civil Engineering

In the academic year 2023-2024

Mr. Jadhav M.B. Mr. Benke V.G.

SUBJECT TEACHER H.O.D.

Dr. Pokharkar S.R.

PRINCIPAL
 Contents

Sr. No. Description

1. Micro-Project Proposal(Part A)

2. Micro-Project Report(Part B)

3. Micro-Project Evolution(Part C)
(PART – A)
Micro-Project
Proposal
 Micro-Project Proposal
Various Methods Of Composting

1.0 Brief Introduction :

Composting is a controlled, aerobic (oxygen-required) process that

converts organic materials into a nutrient-rich soil amendment or mulch
through natural decomposition. The end product is compost – a dark, crumbly,
earthy-smelling material.
Composting recycles food scraps, garden waste and other organic wastes
into humus; commonly referred to as compost. Humus is the richest and most
important part of all soils. Composting reduces organic waste in landfill,
helping to reduce issues surrounding leachate and greenhouse gas emissions.
Composting reduces the need for pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.
Because compost enriches soil and promotes healthy plant growth, plants
grown in compost-rich soil tend to be more resilient to diseases, pests, and
fungi.

2.0 Aims of the Micro-Project

a) To get deep knowledge about the methods of composting.

b) To know how to maintain the soil structure and adds nutrients to the

soil.
c) To increase the nutrient density and nutrient availability of

manure with minimal mechanical processing.

3.0 Resources Required
Sr. Name of Resources /
No. Material Specifications Qty. Remarks
Processor Dual Core
1. Computer System G630, RAM 500, HDD 7200 1 Use

2. Operating System Windows 10 1 Use

3. Tool Microsoft Word 1 Use

4. Printer Laser 1 Use

4.0 Action plan

Sr. Details of activity Planned Start Planned Name of
No. date Finish date Responsible
Team Members

1 Search micro project All Members

topics related
To subject.
2 Selection of micro All Members
project title
3 Search & collect All Members
information
Related to selected topic
4 Completion of micro All Members
project topic
Proposal
5 Analyze & finalize All Members
collected data
For micro-project report.
6 Designing, editing, All Members
formatting and
Observing the Wooden
Mobile Stand.
7 Implementation of micro All Members
project
8 Report Preparation, All Members
Finalization,
Submission
Names of Team Members Roll No.

BALSARAF KUNAL KUNDAN ROLL NO. 03

CHAUDHARI SARTHAK BALU ROLL NO. 05
HINGE JAY SURESH ROLL NO. 13
KUTE BALKRUSHNA VILAS ROLL NO. 25

Subject Teacher :-
Mr. Jadhav M. B.
(PART – B)
Micro-Project
Report
 Micro-Project Report
Various Methods Of Composting

Brief Description

Compost is a mixture of ingredients used as plant fertilizer and to

improve soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties. It is commonly
prepared by decomposing plant and food waste, recycling organic materials,
and manure. The resulting mixture is rich in plant nutrients and
beneficial organisms, such as bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, and fungi.
Compost improves soil fertility in gardens, landscaping, horticulture, urban
agriculture, and organic farming, reducing dependency on commercial
chemical fertilizers. The benefits of compost include providing nutrients to
crops as fertilizer, acting as a soil conditioner, increasing the humus or humic
acid contents of the soil, and introducing beneficial microbes that help to
suppress pathogens in the soil and reduce soil- borne diseases.

At the simplest level, composting requires gathering a mix of

"greens" (green waste) and "browns" (brown waste). Greens are materials rich
in nitrogen, such as leaves, grass, and food scraps. Browns are woody
materials rich in carbon, such as stalks, paper, and wood chips. The materials
break down into humus in a process taking months. Composting can be a
multistep, closely monitored process with measured inputs of water, air,
and carbon- and nitrogen-rich materials. The decomposition process is aided
by shredding the plant matter, adding water, and ensuring proper aeration by
regularly turning the mixture in a process using open piles or
"windrows". Fungi, earthworms, and other detritivores further break up the
organic material. Aerobic bacteria and fungi manage the chemical process by
converting the inputs into heat, carbon dioxide, and ammonium ions.
 Composting is an important part of waste management, since food and
other compostable materials make up about 20% of waste in landfills, and due
to anaerobic conditions, these materials take longer to biodegrade in the
landfill. Composting offers an environmentally superior alternative to using
organic material for landfill because composting reduces methane emissions
due to anaerobic conditions, and provides economic and environmental co-
benefits. For example, compost can also be used for land and stream
reclamation, wetland construction, and landfill cover.
 Materials in a compost pile
Food scraps compost heap
Composting is an aerobic method of decomposing organic solid
wastes, so can be used to recycle organic material. The process
involves decomposing organic material into a humus-like material,
known as compost, which is a good fertilizer for plants.
Composting organisms require four equally important ingredients to work
effectively:
a. Carbon is needed for energy; the microbial oxidation of carbon
produces the heat required for other parts of the composting process.
High carbon materials tend to be brown and dry.
b. Nitrogen is needed to grow and reproduce more organisms to
oxidize the carbon. High nitrogen materials tend to be green and wet.
They can also include colourful fruits and vegetables.
c. Oxygen is required for oxidizing the carbon, the decomposition process.
Aerobic bacteria need oxygen levels above 5% to perform the processes
needed for composting.
d. Water is necessary in the right amounts to maintain
activity without causing locally anaerobic conditions.
Bangalore method of composting:

This Bangalore method of composting is developed by scientist Dr. L.N.

Acharya in 1939 (at IISC Bangalore) to make use of town residues and night
soil. It is an anaerobic method that is conventionally carried out by digging
trenches or pits. This method is mainly suitable for scanty rainfall areas.

Pit preparation:

Pits/trenches should be dug 1 m deep while length and breadth can be varied
according to the land availability and volume of wastes to be composted.
Filling the pit:

The pit should be filled with alternate layers of organic residues and night soil
and could be covered/plastered with a layer of soil/earth to protect the compost
from external elements like rain and flies. It is necessary to have sloping walls
and sloping bottom to prevent the waterlogging conditions in the pits/trenches

 Atfirst,15cm of organic refuse is added at the bottom of the trench/pit.

 A 5 cm layer of night soil is spread over the refuse layer.

 This alternate layering is carried out until the pit is full.

 Now, these layers of wastes/pit are covered with 15 - 20 cm of refuse
above the ground level.

 Now the pit is left undisturbed (without turning) for 3 months.

Meanwhile, a reduction in the volume of of the wastes takes place.
 Alternate layers of refuse and night soil are added again on top of
reduced the contents.

 Now the pit/trench is ultimately covered with a layer of soil/earth in a

dome shape. This layer prevents unwanted organisms to enter the
compost and also helps in moisture losses from the compost.
 For initial 8 -10 days, aerobic composting takes place while,
anaerobic composting takes place at a slower rate thereafter.
 Compost will be ready in six to eight months.

Nutrient composition of the Bangalore compost:

 Nitrogen = 1.5%

 Phosphorus = 1%
  Potassium = 1.5%

Advantages:
 Compost is protected from altering weather conditions.

 Problems such as breeding of flies, moisture loss

 No need of turning

 Protected from rains

Disadvantages:
 Requires a long time for the stabilization of the materials

 Need more load space.

 Expensive to follow.

2. Indore method of composting:

Indore method of composting was developed by A. Howard
and Y.D. Wad (at Institute of Plant Industry, Indore). It is an aerobic
composting that is associated with turnings when needed.

Raw materials used for Indore method of composting:

1. Plant residues (all the weeds, prunings, stalks, stems, fallen leaves,
chaff, and fodder leftovers)
2. Animal dung and urine

3. Urine soaked earth/mud

4. inoculum

5. Wood ashes

6. water
 Each type of plant residue is laid out in layers of about 15 cm until the
heap attains a height of 1.5 meters. Now the heap is cut into vertical slices so
that each slice contains all types of wastes. These slices (about 20-25 Kgs) of
organic wastes are spread in the cattle shed to serve as bedding for a complete
night. This bedding along with dung, urine, and urine-soaked mud is collected
on the next day. These materials are used in filling the pits of Indore
composting. This bedding and collections continues until the organic wastes
get over(or until pit gets full).

Location of the Indore composting pit:

The location of the pit should be close to the cattle shed and water
source. If the pit is located in slope areas, rainwater gets collected into the
pits so the level of site of the pit should be a little high to prevent the entry
of rainwater into the pit. Constructing a temporary shed over the pit is
highly recommended to protect the pits from heavy rains.

Measurements of the pit:

Length: 3 - 3.5 m (depends on the
quantity of waste) Breadth: 1.5-2 m
Depth: 1 m

Filling the pits:

 At first, organic materials (dry wastes) that are brought from the cattle
sheds are spread at the bottom for 15-20 cm
 Now a slurry made from 4.5 kgs dung, 3.5 kgs urine-soaked mud, and
4.5 kgs of inoculum from a 15-day old compost pit is added evenly over
the dry waste layer.
 Water is sprinkled to make the materials wet enough (50% moisture should
be maintained)
 In this way, the pit should be filled (within 1 week) until it reaches 1 foot
above the ground level.
 Now the pit should be covered with a thin layer of bedding material
with wood ashes and urine- soaked mud.

Turning:
Turning of the materials should be done to aerate the pits for proper
decomposition of the wastes.

 1st turning: Between the 10th-15th day after filling the pits.

 2nd turning: After 15 days of the first turning.

 3rd turning: After 2 months of the second turning.

Nutrient composition:
 Nitrogen: 0.8%

 Phosphorus: 0.3%

 Potassium: 1.5%

Advantages:

 Requires short period for stabilization of the materials

 Need less land space

 This method is not associated with odour problems

 It is a complete environment friendly process.

Disadvantages:
 No protective layer
  Requires regular turning to ensure proper aeration in the pits

 Composting pit needs to be at an elevated site, near to cattle shed and

water source

 Need manpower for turning

 Associated with problems like moisture loss and breeding of flies.

3. Coimbatore method of composting:

The Coimbatore method of composting was introduced
by Manickam in 1967. Composting occurs mainly in trenches/pits under
shade. In the initial stage of composting, anaerobic decomposition takes place
and it is followed by aerobic decomposition.

Raw materials for the Coimbatore method of composting:

1. Farm wastes (weeds, straw, leaves)

2. Vegetable refuse

3. Animal dung

4. water

Size of the pit:

 Length: 3.6 m (according to the volume of the wastes)

 Breadth: 1.8 m

 Depth: around 1 m
Filling the pit:

a. A layer of farm wastes and vegetable refuse is spread at the bottom of the pit

up to 15 - 20 cm

b. A thin layer of wet cow dung (about 5 cm) is spread over the dry wastes.
c. Water is sprinkled to make sure the materials are well moistened.

d. The pit should have 50-60% moisture to carry out the Coimbatore

method of composting.
e. This process of filling is continued until the mass reaches the height of 0.6 m

above the ground level.

f. Now the mass is covered with a layer of mud to favor the anaerobic

decomposition.

g. Now the pit is left undisturbed for 1 month. Meanwhile, the mass gets

flatten due to the decrease in the volume of the mass (due to

decomposition).
h. Now a turning is given after removing the mud plastering over the heap.

i. Hereafter aerobic decomposition takes place. Within 4 months of time

process of composting will be completed and the compost will be ready to

use.
j. Meanwhile, water can be sprinkled to maintain the moisture in the pit.

4. NADEP method of composting:

The NADEP method of composting was introduced by N.D.
Pandharipande from Maharashtra. This composting takes place in
constructed brick tanks and around 2.5 tons of compost can be prepared
in short period (4 months) using this method.
Raw materials:

1. Agriculture waste (Weeds, crop residues, forest litter) - 1350 - 1400 kgs

2. Cattle dung/biogas slurry - 98-100 kgs

3. Fine sieved soil - 1675 kgs

4. Water - 1350 - 1400 ltrs

Size of the tank:

 Length: 10 feet
 Breadth: 5 feet
 Height: 3 feet

 Tank construction:
 A rectangular tank using bricks and mud (to seal) should be constructed near
to cattle shed or farm. Tanks can be

constructed either using mud or cement mortar.

 To ensure aeration, 6-inch vents are provided by removing alternate

bricks after the height of 1 ft from the bottom of the tank.
 All four walls of the tank need to be plastered with cow dung slurry
before filling it. This helps to facilitate microbial activity from all four
sides of the tank.
Filling the tank:

 First layer:
4 - 6 inches of stems and sticks are spread at the bottom to
facilitate aeration. It is followed by a 4 - 6 inches layer of
agricultural wastes (about 10-100 kg).
 Second layer:
A slurry, that is made using 4 - 5 kgs of cow dung and 100 - 125
liters of water is sprinkled over the dry wastes to facilitate microbial
activity.
 Third layer:
60 kg of sieved dry soil is spread evenly over the second layer for
moisture retention. This layer also acts as a buffer during the
biodegradation of the materials.
 The entire tank needs to be filled by the same process within 24 hours
(not more than 48 hours) of time.
 Now a layer of 3-inch sieved sand should be spread and sealed ultimately
with a layer of cow dung and mud plaster.
 After 15-30 days the volume of the materials gets reduced to 2 feet and is
refilled with the layers of the dry wastes, slurry, and sand.
 Now the entire mass is covered with a thatched roof to prevent the loss of
moisture from the tank.
Now the tank is left undisturbed for 3 months. Meanwhile, water is
added for every 1 - 2 weeks to maintain the moisture percentage in the tank. If
the tank develops any cracks, those can be filled with the slurry to maintain
the quality of the compost.

Advantages:

 A large quantity of Quality compost can be prepared with minimum

human effort.

 Compost can be prepared in less time.

 Decrease the dependence on outside inputs (mineral/chemical

fertilizers, soil amendments)
• Aim of Micro Project
a) To get deep knowledge about the methods of composting.

b) To know how to maintain the soil structure and adds nutrients to the soil.

c) To increase the nutrient density and nutrient availability of manure

with minimal mechanical processing.

• Course Outcomes Integrated

1. Identify the different sources of solid wastes.

2. Execute the relevant method of collection and transportation of solid wastes.

3. Execute an action plan for disposal of solid wastes.

4. Implement the relevant method for disposal of industrial wastes and E-

waste.

• Actual Resources Used

Sr. Name of Resources /

No. Material Specifications Qty. Remarks
Processor Dual Core
1. Computer System G630, RAM 500, HDD 7200 1 Use

2. Operating System Windows 10 1 Use

3. Tool Microsoft Word 1 Use

4. Printer Laser 1 Use

5.0 Skill Developed/ learning out of this Micro-project

• Leadership - Project managers are the project leaders and often, the team
Leaders too. ...
• Communication - Any project management skills list is sure to include
Communication near the top. ...
• Collaboration. ...
• Time management. ...
• Organization. ...
• Problem solving. ...
• Adaptability.