An assessment of biocomposting potentiality of Termite Mound soil on different Semi Urban wastes

Abstract

Termite mound soil consist lots of Microorganisms (Bacteria, Actinomycetes, Fungus, etc,) and
they are the mutualistic symbionts. Termites gut and nest have the all degradative microorganisms and
enzymes to degrade the substances like cellulose, Hemicellulose, lignin and lignocellulosic substances
from wood, plants, dead animals and soil. The most effective degraders can be isolated from the termite
gut, termite nest/mound and the adjacent soils. In this study, the termite nest soil was used as an
accelerator for an effective composting process. Different wastes were used to analyze multilevel
degradation through natural composting process by Physio- chemical and Microbial study. Earlier
studies have emphasized the role of termite on soil, soil texture and chemical properties, the
microorganisms associated with termite mounds and termite gut, enumerating the microorganisms
occurring in termite berms soils or a comparison of microbes occurring in termite mound soil and
surface soil adjacent to a mound showed marked variations in number of Colony Forming Units (CFUs).
This study results reveals that, physio -chemical and microbial parameters have greater impact on the
biocomposting process of different wastes added with termite soil as an accelerator. Hence, the wastes
along with termite soil is potential for good yield of composts