Vol. 7, Issue 9, Part K (2025)

Improper management of agricultural bio-waste such as sugarcane trash, soybean straw, and cow dung leads to environmental degradation, including greenhouse gas emissions and soil quality loss. The present study was conducted to evaluate the decomposition potential of efficient microbes isolated from the rhizosphere of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L) on various agricultural bio-wastes. A total of eight microbial isolates, including six fungal strains (Trichoderma harzianum, T. asperellum, T. koningii, T. virens, Aspergillus niger, and A. flavus) and two bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens), were identified based on morphological and cultural characteristics. Based on growth efficiency, T. harzianum and P. fluorescens were selected and applied individually and in consortia to three different organic substrates sugarcane trash, cow dung, and soybean straw and monitored over a 120-day, during which parameters such as pH, EC, C:N ratio and macro/micro-nutrient content (N, P, K, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe) were evaluated. 
The combination of T. harzianum and P. fluorescens demonstrated superior biodegradation efficiency across all substrates. Among the treatments, soybean straw treated with both microbes (T9) showed the highest degradation rate (50%), fastest decomposition (81 days), and significant improvements in compost quality, including reductions in C:N ratio (24.35) and increases in nitrogen (1.04%), phosphorus (0.48%), potassium (1.38%), copper (284 ppm), and iron (3420 ppm) contents.
These findings suggest that microbial consortia enhance compost maturity and nutrient enrichment, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for agricultural waste management and soil fertility improvement.