Abstract:
In the current situation, there is a growing interest in reducing the use of chemical fertilizers
and pesticides for the development of organic agriculture. The use of biomass and plant
growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is an environmentally friendly alternative that can
improve soil conditions and increase ecosystem productivity. However, the impact of biochar
and PGPR fertilization on forest plantations is not well understood. Mass production of
agricultural by-products, i.e. pressed mud. These are either burned or thrown directly into
landfills. Management of agricultural by-products can be managed through solid state
fermentation, turning them into value-added products such as soil conditioners, compost,
single-cell proteins, fungi, enzymes, organic acids, biogas, wax, feed for animals and plants.
growing materials etc. This study focuses on the management of press mud by converting
sugar industry by-products into various value-added. Therefore, this study focuses on the
agro-industrial by-product of pressed mud for value-added products. This study is important
because it covers the management and added value of press mud, a by-product of the
agricultural industry. It is not only environmentally friendly, but also economical. The aim of
this study is to investigate the effects of biochar, press mud and PGPR application on soil
nutrients and bacterial communities. To achieve this goal, we used following treatments of
only seed and seed + PGPR as controls and 1%,3%,5%,7% of biochar and 1%, 5%, 10%,
15% of press mud with PGPR and without PGPR . For each plant sample, various physical
and biochemical properties (Plant height, root length, shoot length, number of leaves, number
of shoots, no of roots, dry weight and fresh weight) (Sugar content, total chlorophyll, protein
content and proline content) were analysed. The results showed that the simultaneous
application of biochar, press mud and PGPR fertilization significantly increased soil fertility
as compare to that of control. Biochar and press mud treatment also improved physical and
biochemical parameters of ground nut plant as compare to control plant.
