Agricultural activities tend to generate a substantial volume of animal and crop residues. Composting is the most economical and ecologically sustainable option to manage farmyard waste. However, it takes approximately three months to complete decomposition and contains lower plant nutrient percentages than inorganic fertilisers. This study aimed to reduce the decomposition time and improve the nutrient content of compost. Aerobic decomposition was enhanced by aeration inside the pile using a blower with 0.5 l/min/kg airflow. Paddy straw, poultry manure, goat manure, cattle manure and paddy husk ash were mixed in 3:1:1:1:1 ratio respectively as the raw materials and 3% of Eppawala Rock Phosphate was added to the mixture in weight basis. Six piles; (150 X 100 X 80 cm) were prepared, and three piles were aerated for six hours per day while other three piles were left to decompose under the ambient condition as the control. According to the results, aerated and control piles took 35 days and 65 days to complete the decomposition. Total N, available P, exchangeable K, C:N ratio, pH, EC and CEC were analysed in compost samples from aerated (after 35 days) and controls, and the results were, 20.5 g kg-1, 1.8 g kg-1, 10.4 g kg-1, 7, 8.8, 4.3 mS cm-1, 19.3 cmol kg-1 and 17.8 g kg-1, 1.5 g kg-1, 9.9 g kg-1, 8.5, 8.8, 3.64 mS cm-1, 21.3 cmol kg-1 respectively. Data were analysed using SAS 9.0 software with a 95% confidence interval. The results revealed a significant increment in total N, exchangeable K, C:N ratio, EC and CEC in aerated piles compared to controls. And the nutrient composition of both methods was significantly higher than the commercial compost. Therefore, it can be concluded that decomposition time can be effectively reduced and the nutrient level can be increased by artificial aeration and nutrient enrichment, respectively. However, further studies are recommended to study the economic feasibility.
Decomposition, Enriched compost, Forced air circulation, Plant nutrients
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