Thumburmuzhy Model Aerobic Composting Technique

Thumburmuzhy Model Aerobic Composting Technique 

INTRODUCTION

The usual livestock waste management systems like burial, incineration, land fill, anaerobic composting etc. often causes eco-damage basically polluting land, water and air affecting the carbon footprint. In a state like Kerala fragmented land holding poses an impasse in waste disposal. The callous ways in waste handling, increases the straying of dogs, smaller wild carnivores, birds and pathogenic fauna. Usual waste disposal systems adopted are incineration, burial, landfill, biogas plants and composting. Due to the fragmented land holdings and Monsoon climate the waste generated becomes an ecological problem. The waste often lands up in public roads, rivers, water bodies and abandoned lands .Pollution of land, water and air along with the indirect proliferation of stray animals, birds and pathogens affects the public health. Compared to the existing modalities of waste management the aerobic system is an eco-friendly method. Aerobic composting is a global technology widely adopted by many countries.

THUMBURMUZHY MODEL

Thumburmuzhy Model aerobic composting technique developed by Dr Francis Xavier at Thumburmuzhy Cattle breeding Farm is a farmer friendly cost effective and eco-friendly livestock Waste management system imbibed into the Kerala Agroecozone. This rural technology is a recommended model by the UNDP Climate change community among the four ideal rural technologies for farmers of India. The composting Technology, the ideal fero-cement Bin and the microbial Consortium developed are the major achievements. Based on the average humidity, wind speed and ambient temperature, a 4 ft x 4ft x 4ft ferro-cement binwith airspace and grooves utilizing bacterial consortium from cow dung and carbon source, from dry leaves, hay, straw and dry paper bits, worked well in all Kerala climatic zones witha roof to prevent rain water during monsoons. The layering system had also been modified sothat labour need is minimised, the core temperature maintained at 70 degree Celsius had a self-limiting cycle after the composting process was over. The ferro-cement mouldedinstallation is named “Thumburmuzhy Bins” and the layering system named“Thumburmuzhy Model Aerobic Composting Technique (TMACT)”.

 LAYERING TECHNIQUE IN THUMBURMUZHY MODEL

The layering technique was mainly utilizing cow dung bacteria consortium which worked very well in all changing climatic conditions. The ambient temperature was the only factor that slowed down or hastened the growth of bacterial consortium. The six inch layer of fresh cow dung as the first layer with a 6 inch layer of dried leaves/hay/straw/paper bits provided the carbon source for the bacteria to flourish. Above that another six inch layer of waste is converted into compost by aerobic method. The core temperature built up in this layering system varied from 65-70^oC, under this ambient conditions. Since the temperature is high; breeding of flies and parasites was prevented. Moreover due to aerobic functioning no putrid smell was there even in case of carcass and other non-green wastes. The 6 inch layering systems is an easy way for remembering also. After reaching the thermophilic range the peak temperature starts falling down below 40^oC and starts a cooling phase.After collecting data from different districts an average holding time of 90 days was fixed for Thumburmuzhy model

REFERENCES:

1.    Epstein,E.1997,The Science of Composting,TechnomicPubl.co.Inc.Lancaster,Pennsy.

2.    Francis Xavier, 2011, Farm Harms; Living with livestock and withering waste,KeyNoteaddress. Procd. National Symposium on Waste Management- Experiences and Strategies,Thrissur, Kerala. India , p. 30

3.    Girija D, Francis Xavier, Sunil E. Deepa K., Jisharaj K., Anju Paul, 2011, Screening of Bacterial isolates for management of municipal and urban solid waste. Procd.National Symposium on Waste Management- Experiences and Strategies, Thrissur, Kerala. p. 33

4.    Girija, D., Ambili K. A., Sunil, E. and Deepa, K. 2011, Isolation and screening of celluloseand lignin degrading bacteria from decayed plant materials for vegetable waste degradation.Procd. National Symposium on Waste Management- Experiences and Strategies, Thrissur,Kerala p. 34

5.    Sivakumar, K Rameshsaravanakumar, V. 2011, Aerobic composting of biological solidwaste from livestock farming.Procd.National Symposium on Waste Management-Experiences and Strategies, Thrissur, Kerala. Keynote paper.

6.    Sumi M.G., Vani, M. Donna V. Idicula and Mini, K.D 2011, Solid waste management usingvermicompostingkodimics bio-pedestal column and it’s utility as organic manure. Procd.National Symposium on Waste Management- Experiences and Strategies, Thrissur, Kerala.p.35.